Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from Stranger Things or its plots or characters.

EPILOGUE: THE SNOWBALL

This was so stupid.

Mike stood at the bottom of the stairs in his sweater and tan blazer, tolerating his mother taking pictures, 'for posterity,' as she called it.

The Polaroid clicked and flashed, the picture printing out the front and falling to the floor and his mom bent down to pick it up quickly. Mike should have used that as his escape, but he wasn't quick enough.

"All right, that's enough," Mike groaned as she brought the camera back up to her face.

"One more, okay, just one more," she insisted.

"Why?" Mike growled in frustration.

"You look so handsome," his mother squealed in delight, bringing the camera up to her face again, squinting to look through the viewfinder.

"Mom!"

"Mike," she whined right back at him, snapping another picture.

There was not much he could do to get out of this situation, she was his ride to the dance. Nancy had said she was going to hanging out with Jonathan up until the dance and then going with the Byers.' So, that left Mike to get dropped off by his mom which was definitely not ideal, but she said he'd ruin his nice clothes if he rode his bike.

Eventually he was able to convince her that they'd be late if they didn't leave and she finally put the camera away. Thankfully, his mother drove him there in relative silence, aside from her pestering him to make sure Jonathan got pictures of him while he was at the dance, which Mike ignored.

He wasn't super excited about tonight, but his friends had all but forced him to go. They said it was their last dance before high school and he had to go or, as Dustin had told him, 'you'll regret it the rest of your life.' But Mike highly doubted that. All this night was going to do was remind him of his failed promise to El over a year ago to take her.

The stab of pain he felt whenever he thought about her never got any easier to handle. It was slightly less intense than the agony he had felt before when he hadn't known whether she was dead or alive, but not by much. It was just a different kind of pain; it was the kind of raw ache knowing that she was so close, less than a couple miles away, and he wasn't allowed to see her. But Hopper assured him it wasn't forever, and Mike was willing to wait for her for forever if that's what it took to keep her safe. It was just days like today, the day of the Snow Ball, that were particularly tough without her. It made him think of the last time he had seen her.

As the headlights of Billy's car shone, blinding them all, Mike knew. It was over.

Then, slowly the beams dimmed back to their normal brightness. El had done it; he knew she would be able to close the gate. The adrenaline from their mission to draw the demo-dogs away never even had a chance to leave his blood stream as another fear gripped him.

The gate was close, but had she survived it?

"Let's go!" Mike shouted, already yanking the bandana and goggles from around his neck and rushing to back to Billy's car. Flinging open the passenger door, Mike turned to see no one had followed him. They were still all staring dumbfounded beside the portal. Well, they could stand there as long as they wanted but Mike needed to see El, needed to lay his eyes on her again to convince himself she was okay.

"Steve! Guys! Come on!" he screamed, finally getting their attentions.

"Mike, calm down. She closed it!" Lucas called back to him as he and the others made their way to the car, much slower than Mike preferred.

Mike was losing patience. Of course, she had closed the gate, but at what cost? As long as he lived, Mike would never forget the way she looked last year after she had killed all of those bad men with her powers. She had been so drained, her skin deathly pale, blood oozing from her nose and ears, her breathing shallow. The gate and the Mind Flayer were much bigger enemies and probably required a lot more effort. El was easily the strongest person he knew but she wasn't invincible.

But the thing that scared Mike the most was that he couldn't feel her presence anymore. This past year he had been comforted by the feeling of her near him, even if he thought he was going crazy, now he knew he hadn't been.

"Guys, please, I just need to see her. I need to make sure she's okay," Mike begged, his chest heaving as he tried to fill his lungs with much needed air, but it was difficult. Every breath was a struggle and it had nothing to do with just being in the Upside Down. No, Mike felt the crushing fear of possibly losing El again.

Even in the darkness, Mike could see Steve give him a look, as if considering him, but he didn't argue, just opening the driver's side door and leaning on it, ordering them, "You heard the man. Get in, shitheads."

There was no more debate. Mike sat in the front, his ears barely registering the excited conversation of Lucas, Dustin, and Max in the backseat as they rehashed their real-life campaign tonight. Mike's mind was too busy racing through all the possible scenarios of where she could be, but ultimately, they decided that everyone would have met back up at the Byers' house so that's where they headed.

Sitting there, clenching his hands together so tightly his knuckles had turned white, Mike could feel Steve's gaze on him every few minutes.

"I'm sure she's fine," Steve's attempt to comfort him took Mike off guard, but he couldn't manage a response as his throat had gone completely dry.

As they pulled up the Byers' long drive, Jonathan's car could be seen parked out front alongside Bob's, but also…Hopper's truck.

The car hadn't even come to a complete stop when Mike unbuckled the seat belt and began opening the door.

"Hey!" Steve shouted to him, but Mike was already out the door, stumbling a little as his feet hit the ground. But in his rush to get out of the car he almost missed the dark figure coming around the side of the truck. When Mike did notice he was already in a full sprint and he skidded to a halt in surprise. It was Hopper.

The chief seemed to have just noticed him too because he paused in front of the back-passenger door, his face a mask of emotion. Mike's chest was tightening and the only thing that would make him feel better was to see her.

Hopper said nothing, just gave him a slight nod, acknowledging Mike's presence, and then turned to the truck. Mike craned his neck to see around him, but he didn't have to wait long. When Hopper turned around El was laying lifelessly in his arms, her head hanging limply over his arm.

It felt as though his heart had been slashed open and Mike felt like his chest was being crushed; he couldn't breathe, he couldn't think.

"Is she…?" Mike choked but he couldn't say it.

Hopper gave him a hard look and told him gruffly after a slight pause, "She'll be fine after she gets some rest."

If Mike's own emotions weren't making it impossible to see anything else but El, he would have noticed the slight strain to the chief's voice. Kicking the door closed, Hopper began carrying her towards the house and Mike was finally able get his feet to move. He had to basically jog to keep up with Hopper's long strides, but he wasn't going to let El out of his sight.

Then the most welcome sound met his ears: El's voice.

"Mike…?" her normally soft voice was even softer. It made Mike's heart ache and all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and never let her go.

"I'm here, El. I'm right here," Mike assured her urgently, holding the door open for Hopper so he could maneuver her through the doorway. Once inside Hopper went straight for the couch and set her down carefully. Mike was beside her instantly, lacing his fingers with hers.

Hopper stepped back just a little and Mike could feel him staring down at the two of them, but he said nothing and eventually walked away quietly to give them some space.

Mike's eyes were glued to El finally having the time to really get a good look at her. Her hair was still slicked back but a little more disheveled than when she had first appeared after defeating the demo-dogs. The dark eye makeup she wore was slightly smudged from what looked like sweat and maybe tears. Dried blood covered most of her upper lip as well as her ears in stark contrast to her pallid skin. Then El's eyelids fluttered and so did Mike's heart at the movement.

"Mike…," she croaked before her eyes had even fallen on him. She turned her head, so her eyes could meet his and shifted as though she were going to try to sit up. Her brow was creased with the effort and in response, Mike placed his free hand on her shoulder while the other gave her hand a comforting squeeze.

"Hey, it's okay. You're safe now. Just rest," he tried to comfort her, but he could feel the back of his eyes burning as he tried to hold back tears of relief. She had promised that he wouldn't lose her again and she had kept that promise.

"I closed it," she told him just above a whisper, her eyelids were still droopy as she struggled to stay conscious. Mike smiled down at her, losing the battle against his tears as several slipped silently down his cheeks. He was so very proud of her and he had no idea how to put into words exactly the enormity what he felt for her.

"You saved us, El, you saved all of us," he told her passionately, which elicited a sleepy smile from her. Mike wiped his tears with the back of the hand not holding hers and reminded himself that as much as he wanted to stare into her eyes for the rest of forever, she was completely drained.

"Now you should sleep," he told her gently, and he watched her relax back into the cushions. She still seemed to be fighting sleep as the sliver of her mahogany colored eyes gazed back at him and she slurred sleepily,

"Stay…please?"

Those words made Mike's heart beat erratically in his chest and he was certain he had never felt happier in his entire life.

"I'm not going anywhere, El," he said firmly. He meant it. Hopper would have to physically remove him from her at this point.

"Promise?" her eyes searched his, but this was a promise that would be easy for him to keep.

"I promise," he swore. With that assurance, El lost the battle with sleep and her eyelids slid closed. Mike didn't have a chance to breathe because a moment later he heard someone step up behind him, and he just assumed it was Hopper. He still hadn't forgiven the cop, and maybe he never would, but he was grateful he had gotten El to the gate and back safely.

"Hey, can you-," Mike began to say but cut himself off when he turned his head and his eyes were met with a damp dishtowel over his shoulder. He followed the person's arm up to see that it was Nancy.

"Here, she looks like she's been through hell," she thrust the dishtowel in his direction again, and Mike took it slowly. His sister didn't say anything else to him, just gave him a knowing smile, and walked away to help Jonathan tidy up the house.

Mike watched her walk away with an astonished look before directing his attention back to the girl on the couch. She was completely asleep now, her lips slightly parted as she inhaled and exhaled lightly.

Shifting his body sideways, Mike nervously lifted the damp dishtowel and paused so it hovered over her skin. The last thing he wanted to do was touch her without her permission while she slept, but he also didn't think she'd enjoy having this dried blood caked on her skin all night either.

As if she could hear his inner turmoil, El's eyelids fluttered a little again until they slowly opened, and her eyes found his.

"You stayed," she said, her voice hoarse and a small smile curving her lips He smiled right back at her and reminded her,

"I promised, remember?"

Her smile widened, and her eyes closed again, so before she fell back asleep he wanted to ask her.

"Hey, El, is it- is it okay if I-if I clean the blood…," Mike stuttered, unsure of how to proceed, as he gestured to his own nose. It wasn't a question most people asked their…whatever El was to him. He really didn't know what he was doing here.

"Yes," was her simple response and he knew she had fallen asleep again as her face relaxed.

Just because El gave him consent didn't make his nerves go away, but he felt a little better knowing she was okay. Bringing the towel up again, Mike gently began to dab at the dried blood on El's upper lip.

The nerves eased as Mike continued tenderly making sure she was all cleaned up. So encompassed with his task that he didn't notice the others behind him laying out sleeping bags and blankets on the living room floor.

Before he had met El he would've been embarrassed to be this close to a girl in front of his friends but now he could care less. All he cared about was El and her well-being. Mike swore to himself that he would spend every second he could with her, taking care of her and trying to make her happy.

Mike was forced back into the present when the car came to a sudden stop. His mom gave him an excited smile, but Mike made a hasty exit. He checked in with Mr. Clarke and went inside the gym and it took him a moment in the crowd but eventually he caught sight of Will, Lucas, and Max, quickly making his way over to them.

The combination of all of the memories of El-being in this very gym where she had used her powers on Troy to protect him and then again to help them find Will- on top of watching Lucas make googly eyes at Max was making it difficult for Mike to see the point in being here.

It was going to be a long, miserable night.

This was so amazing.

El stood as still as humanly possible while Nancy brushed the makeup on her eyelids, but as hard as she tried, she couldn't stop the wide grin that kept spreading across her face. This is the moment she had been waiting for ever since Mike had asked her last year: the Snow Ball.

The memory of the last time she saw him floated to the surface of her mind as Nancy then began carefully brushing her hair.

Warmth. That was the first thing El became aware of as darkness seeped away into light. She was still so very tired, and she felt as though she had been run over by a big truck. The idea of opening her eyes seemed like an impossible task, one she wasn't ready to undertake quite yet. Instead she allowed her mind to focus on the senses that allowed her to keep her eyelids closed for just a little longer.

There was something soft and warm pressed into her side and El fixated on figuring out what it was exactly. Her hand had the same warmth but there was also the distinct feeling of fingers wrapped around hers. Curiosity got the better of her and with effort she forced her eyelids open.

Light filtered in through a window above her, forcing her eyes to blink rapidly until they adjusted, her free hand rubbing the sleep from them. Once the fuzziness had cleared from her vision, El was able to look at her surroundings. Glancing down, El's heart raced at what she saw, or rather who.

Mike's hand was clasped in hers, his head rested on the edge of the couch, pressed into her side. The sight of the boy so close to her was effective at fully waking her up, so she lifted herself up on her elbows to get a better look at him.

He was still sound asleep from what she could tell, his dark hair swept across his forehead, his face completely relaxed. That made her happy. This past year she had seen him in her mind visits and he always looked so sad, his brow almost always creased. So, to see Mike so tranquil was a welcome sight.

Thinking back to last night, El remembered Mike's heartfelt words and then another memory occurred to her. Slowly with her free hand, El touched the tips of her fingers to just below her nostrils, feeling nothing. So, it hadn't been a dream. El's lips curled into a smile but it was short lived.

For the first time, she noticed several things. One, she was at the Byers' house and two, they weren't alone. Hopper stood off to the side, hands on his hips as he watched the two of them. She shifted slightly so she could look up at him better, a deep frown on his face.

"Hey, kid," he greeted, stepping closer to them, his eyes shifting to Mike briefly before continuing, sounding regretful, "I gotta get you back to the cabin. They'll come looking for you here."

El's heart sunk into her stomach. He didn't have to ask who he was referring to, she knew he was talking about the bad men, but she wasn't ready to go back to the cabin, not now that she had Mike again. But she also couldn't deny that he was right. The bad men had to know that she had closed the gate and would be trying to find her.

Mike began to stir a little, nuzzling his face into their joined hands before he really woke up. El watched as the dark-haired boy lifted his head and seemed to stare uncomprehendingly at her. His eyes went from bleary to wide as he seemed to realize where he was or remembered the events of last night.

El kept her gaze on his pretty face; she couldn't believe he had stayed by her side all night, sleeping in what must have been an extremely uncomfortable position leant against the edge of the couch. But he didn't seem bothered at all, far from it. After the shock had worn off, Mike then gave her a wide smile and the butterflies fluttered around in her stomach once more, a feeling that she had desperately missed while they were apart.

Using her free hand, El pushed herself up into a sitting position, but Mike kept his eyes on her, glancing up at her from his spot on the floor.

His smile was short-lived too though.

Mike must have felt Hopper's presence as well because he turned to look over his shoulder, a scowl appearing on his perfect features.

"We have to go," Hopper told him firmly, leaving no room for debate. Even El knew after their conversation last night that Hopper was just trying to keep her safe the best way he knew how, but that didn't make it any easier for her or for Mike apparently to hear.

Mike didn't argue, he didn't say anything at all, instead he just turned his face back to El, and lifted himself to sit next to her on the couch. Taking both of her hands in both of his, Mike's anger with Hopper seemed to have evaporated. He didn't meet her eyes but she could see his expression on his downturned face. He looked so unbelievably crushed, but also his eyes were full of acceptance, as if he knew this was how it had to be.

"Not until she's had breakfast first," a familiar voice piped up from behind them, and El tore her eyes from Mike just long enough to see Mrs. Byers stepping up beside Hopper. Jonathan was there too, two steaming plates of food in either hand, which he offered to both of them. Mike let go of her hands reluctantly so they could both accept the food.

Mrs. Byers began a hushed conversation with Hopper, so she and Mike ate wordlessly. She was starving, and he had to be too, but she could see out of the corner of her eye that he just pushed the scrambled eggs around his plate morosely.

"It was you, wasn't it?" she began, breaking the silence that had descended between them. Mike lifted his depressed dark eyes to hers questioningly, so she elaborated, "You drew the monsters away."

El hadn't really given it a lot of thought before she said it, but it was a statement that applied to more than just the demo-dogs. Mike had taken her out of the rain and slowly chased away all of her monsters.

Mike seemed to realize what she was saying and lowered his eyes again as he replied glumly, "Oh yeah, the whole party did."

El set her plate down and turned her body more fully towards Mike. He must have sensed her movement because he glanced up and mimicked her action. She took his hands once more, wanting to memorize every detail of this moment to save during those long lonely days in the cabin to come.

His hands were soft in hers, his thumb tenderly stroking her knuckles, making her heart feel as if it were going to burst from her chest. They were so close on the couch, their shoulders and thighs touching, the contact warming her entire body and holding off the icy chill that threatened to overtake her. She wanted to say so many things to him, but words just completely left her. So, instead she leaned her head against his shoulder, burrowing her face in his neck, trying to block out reality.

That had been a month ago. A month without seeing Mike's soft brown eyes, a month since she had held his hand, a month since he had held her close to his chest.

It had been completely and utter agony. At first.

Ever since that night she closed the gate, she and Hopper had promised to try to be honest and communicate better. So, when she had a mind visit with Mike one night and she came to the dinner table with tears on her cheeks afterwards, she told him the truth. Mike had told her that the Snow Ball was next week and El had to explain to Hopper why it meant so much to her.

And he did something surprising. The day after that he came home with an envelope for her which contained a birth certificate stating she, Jane Hopper, was the daughter of Terry Ives and James Hopper. He had to explain exactly what that meant to her, but then tears had spilled down her face because she knew that not only had she found home, but also a family. So had Hopper.

That night he also gave her his daughter, Sarah's, bracelet off his own wrist, telling her that he would never forget her but he would stop being a black hole, and if she wanted he could be her Dad. El had been so happy, but he wasn't done there. He said that, if she still wanted to go, El could go to the Snow Ball with Mike.

El was certain she had never been happier in her entire life. She wasn't used to that much happy and it felt as though her heart would burst. That's what being all the way happy instead of half-way happy must feel like. It was a feeling she hoped would never go away.

"All done!" Nancy told her cheerfully, setting down the brush. "Take a look at yourself."

El was sitting nervously on the lid of the toilet in the cabin's cramped bathroom. Slowly, she stood apprehensive about seeing what she looked like, so her eyes avoided the mirror until finally she couldn't any longer.

She almost didn't recognize her own face in the mirror, so different was she from the girl with the shaved head from the lab.

"I'm so jealous. I wish I had naturally curly hair like yours," Nancy added and El could see her in the reflection. Her heart swelled at Nancy's words and a pleased smile crept onto her face at the compliment.

Nancy had already helped her by helping Hopper pick out a dress for her to wear and doing her makeup, but for some reason her hair had been the one thing she was most anxious about.

From the first time she had seen Nancy's picture, El had been envious of her long hair. In the last year El's hair had grown quite a bit, but not nearly to the length of Nancy's. So, to hear that Nancy was jealous of her hair made her happy.

She was ready.

This was absolute torture.

Max, Lucas, Will, and Mike found a table to claim before they were all taken and sat. While the others had animated conversations, Mike moped at the table, unable to think about anything else but how El wasn't here with him. Then he spotted Dustin coming to them, at least he thought it was Dustin.

"Holy shit! What happened to you?" Mike swore, staring wide-eyed at his friend, who had completely changed his hair. Dustin had somehow styled it into a strange pompadour mullet thing and Mike had a hard time believing that was the look he was actually going for.

"What do you mean, 'what happened?'" Dustin asked, apparently ignorant to what they were referring to.

"What?" Mike hissed in disbelief.

"Dude," Lucas began but Max beat him to it,

"Your hair…"

"It's terrible," Lucas continued, reaching out to touch the pile of curls on top of his head. "Is there a bird nesting in there?"

"What do you mean, 'what's wrong?' There's nothing wrong with my hair! There's no bird nesting in here, assholes," Dustin told them defensively as he patted his hair down. "I worked hard."

The dreaded sound of 'Time After Time' coming on the speakers made them all freeze. This was a slow song and slow songs required slow dancing. As Mike watched their classmates couple up and dance it made him feel even more miserable not have El there if that was possible. Before he had met her he thought these dances were stupid and he'd never want to dance with a girl, but El wasn't just any girl. But if he couldn't dance with her then he didn't want to dance with anyone. Dances really were stupid.

Mike's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Lucas' dramatic exhale.

"Max, hey," Lucas spun to face her with a cheesy, nervous smile on his face. Max glanced over her shoulder at him her eyes looking at him as if he were ill. "It's-uh- it's nice right?"

Mike watched as Lucas stumbled over himself to ask Max to dance.

"You want to uhm…You want to like…you know? Like just you and me?"

"Are you trying to ask me to dance, stalker?" Max asked incredulously.

"No, of course, not," Lucas backtracked quickly, before adding hopefully, "unless you want to..."

"So smooth," Max sighed, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the dance floor. "Come on."

Mike watched them walk, hand in hand towards the dance floor. He couldn't really blame Lucas for everything that had happened with Max, but it definitely made the absence of El more prominent.

None of them noticed the brunette girl approach until she spoke, "Hey, Zombie Boy, do you want to dance?"

Mike recognized her but he couldn't remember her name, but Will needed his help. He was frozen and stuttering, glancing to Mike for assistance.

"Uhm I don't… I mean… yeah, sure," Will stumbled over his words, requiring a light shove from Mike. With that, they both walked out onto the dance floor and awkwardly moved to the music.

Mike merely watched his friends dance when Dustin took a deep breath and turned to him, "Wish me luck, Mike, I'm going in."

Dustin gave him an uncharacteristic wink, which elicited what Mike knew must have been a confused look from himself, before Dustin marched over to Stacey. From this distance Mike couldn't hear their exchange but he knew that it couldn't be good, so he turned to look away.

Now that all of his friends had left him, Mike was allowed to sit and be miserable alone.

Nancy had long gone to get to the dance, leaving her and Hopper alone in the cabin once more. She could tell he was anxious about letting her go to the Snow Ball, but she could also tell he was trying to hide it for her benefit.

They had already gone over multiple times what she should say when she got to the front and that Hopper would be waiting outside for her and everything possible scenario he could think of. Now, there were no more words to be said, so they rode in relative silence to Mike's school, her heart racing a mile a minute as he imagined what their reunion would be like, something she had thought of so many times, both before she had closed the gate and after. Whenever she wasn't with Mike, El was imagining what it would be like when they were back together.

Hopper pulled up in front of the school and cut the engine. He looked as if he wanted to say so many things to her, the fear clear in his eyes, even in the darkness, but with a nervous smile, all he said was,

"Have fun, kid."

Every breath you take…

Mike was only peripherally aware that the song had changed. It didn't matter. None of this mattered without El. He briefly considered just getting up and walking home. Being here was only making him feel worse. But then he felt something. A familiar presence that he had felt for the past year.

Every move you make…

El stepped through the double doors, taking a calming breath, but it did nothing to ease her nerves.

Every bond you break…

Mike thought he saw something out of the corner of his eyes, so he shifted his gaze slightly to his left when all of the air was sucked out of his lungs. It was her.

Every step you take…

She was immediately overwhelmed by all of it: the sheer amount of other kids dancing together, the bright streamers hanging from the ceiling, the loud music, but nothing would stop her from finding Mike.

I'll be watching you...

Mike stared, not believing his eyes. But it was El. She was always easily the most beautiful girl in the room but standing there in the front of the double doors to the gym, she was literally breathtaking. She hadn't seen him yet, even as he shot to his feet of their own accord. He wanted to run to her to pull her in his arms and never let her go. But he was also frozen in place, fearing if he moved it would break this perfect illusion he had created for himself apparently.

Every single day…

She could feel his presence. Mike was definitely nearby, so she followed that feeling, scanning the crowd until her eyes landed on the dark-haired boy, her heart stopped beating.

Every word you say…

As if in slow motion, Mike watched as El's face turned and her eyes found him across the crowded room. A small smile formed on her lips, shiny with lipstick, lip gloss, or whatever, he couldn't take his eyes off of them, off of her. Just like a pair of magnets, they were drawn together once again, until they were mere feet from one another. His heart was pounding so loud that he was certain she had to be able to hear it over the music. Mike fiddled with the hem of his blazer in order to keep himself from just throwing his arms around her and crushing her to his chest.

Every game you play…

Breathing became next to impossible. El wasn't even sure how she had been able to get her feet to move but her body had been drawn forward to Mike. All she wanted to do was fall forward into his arms and hold him for the rest of forever, but she just gazed up at him taking in his appearance. He looked so handsome in a fancy jacket and even a tie, his dark hair swept across his forehead. But it was his warm eyes looking down at her that made her feel like the usual butterflies she felt around him were caught in a tornado in her stomach.

Every night you stay…

"You look beautiful," Mike told her, unashamed, not nearly as nervous as he imagined he would be telling a girl this. But this wasn't just any girl. This was El. She really was beautiful in blue dress with a pink belt that accentuated her waist. Not to mention her gorgeous curly hair that was styled back gracefully. Mike's eyes were fixed on her, unaware of anything else in the room, as she averted her eyes, her skin flushing just slightly. What looked like a pleased smile curved her lips, a small dimple creasing her cheek. It made his heart swell with happiness to see her smile. It was all he ever wanted from her, was for her to be happy.

I'll be watching you…

El could feel warmth creep up her neck into her cheeks at Mike's words. Beautiful was even better than pretty. Even if she wanted to El couldn't have hidden the shy smile that curled her lips. She wanted to tell him he was beautiful too, but words seemed to have escaped her as she looked back up at him.

Oh, can't you see…

Then Mike remembered they were finally at the Snow Ball together. The one thing he had wanted for over a year. He wouldn't squander this moment. Glancing around, finally noticing the people around them, he asked her, "Do you want to dance?" Mike watched as the smile disappeared from her face as she too noticed they weren't alone. He would do anything to bring that smile back to her face.

You belong to me…

El knew that dancing was of course part of a dance, but still her heart sunk a little. She didn't want Mike to feel embarrassed to be dancing with someone who didn't know how, so slowly, she admitted, "I don't know how."

How my poor heart aches…

"I don't either," Mike assured her honestly with an encouraging smile. Mike didn't care if everyone danced around them and he just stared into her eyes for hours on end, but he wanted her to feel comfortable and that she was in control of the situation. "Do you want to figure it out?"

With every step you take…

Her heart was thudding against her ribcage in anticipation of this moment. She adored all the little ways Mike made her feel safe. He never made her do anything she didn't want to do, but was always there for her when she was uncomfortable or scared.

Every move you make…

The smile had returned to her face and she gave him a slight nod, making his stomach flutter with happiness. Reaching down, he slipped his hand over hers, the electricity sparking between them, and he led her into the crowd of other slow dancing couples. Once he had found a good spot, he turned to face her, not daring to release her hand.

Every vow you break…

Glancing around for a moment at the other couples dancing, El tried to get a sense of how this was supposed to work. But her nerves were completely unnecessary because Mike was there every step of the way.

Every smile you fake…

"I think- like this," Mike told her, gently taking her hands and guiding them onto his shoulders one at a time. "Yeah, like that." He gave her an encouraging smile, reveling in the feeling of being this close to her again. Slowly, he began swaying them back and forth to the music, never taking his eyes off of hers.

Every claim you stake…

It didn't take very long for her to get lost in the rhythm of the song as Mike guided them in lazy circles. She was mostly entranced by the way his soft brown eyes were looking at her, as if she were the only girl in the entire world.

I'll be watching you…

They were the only two people in the room; at least as far as Mike was concerned. He memorized every detail of this moment, but he knew he'd never forget this night. Her light brown eyes stared back at him, reflecting everything he was feeling for her.

Since you've gone I've been lost without a trace…

Her fingers curled around the back of his neck and entwined in the back of his hair a little. She was so close, his hands securely around her waist. That magnet feeling was happening again. El could feel the pull of Mike that she got whenever they were close but not quite close enough.

I dream at night, I can only see your face…

Mike leaned forward and softly pressed his lips to hers. It was nothing like the first time he kissed her in the cafeteria over a year ago. That had been a quick, nervous peck compared to this. This was full of something else entirely. This was the kiss of two people who had waited more than 353 days to see each other again, who had never given up on each other, who had found each other.

I look around but it's you I can't replace…

Mike gazed down at her, with a happy smile as El tried to take in air, breathless from their kiss. She smiled up at him, and she felt that every single one of those days was worth it. She'd wait an eternity just to see that smile again. In that moment, in Mike's arms, El realized she was feeling something she had never experienced in her short life, but she knew…

I feel so cold and I long for your embrace…

After Mike broke the kiss, El had leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his, and he was utterly content. That moment, dancing with El at the Snow Ball, the moment Mike had waited so long for, the moment he dreamed about all of those nights he had no idea if she was alive or dead, that's when Mike knew…

I keep crying, "Baby, baby, please…"

She loved him.

He loved her.

A/N: And that's the end! I really hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you all for your ideas for season 3! I've found that most of them line up with where I was headed anyway so I guess great minds think alike. In an effort to make sure you guys don't have to wait crazy long in between chapters (since writing 100% original material is so much more time consuming) I'll be taking some time to get a head start on my season 3 story. I'm not sure if I'll just title it Stranger Things 3 or what (since there are a lot of those on here) or something different, but either way I'll post an update to this story when I've posted the first chapter. Again, you all are amazing and I've loved every single review. You guys give me the confidence to keep writing, so thank you!