Author's note: Hello everyone, like all of you I am getting restless while waiting for Stranger Things 4. I thought about writing my own version but I'm not good with the sci-fi part of the story. So, I decided to make this story.

Context: It takes place the same time as season 4 but with a few changes. First, the Russians/upside down are no longer a threat (but we may see some other parts of the first few seasons show up). Second, Hopper is still alive. This story will mainly focus on our lovely characters as they move on from their lives after season 3. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Aftermath (July 6th 1985)

El tossed and turned in her sleep as she relived the previous few days events. The horror of the mindflayer, Billy, and almost losing Hop. She remembers watching Joyce run out of the mall, she looked around for Hop as she felt her heart sink. She began breathing heavier and heavier in a panic.

Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes shot open brining her out of her less than peaceful slumber. She met the eyes of her adoptive father, then breathed a sigh of relief.

"You okay kid?" He asked in a hushed tone.

"Yeah," She responded sitting up and rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hand. "What time is it?"

"Almost 8," He explained standing up then El noticed he was in his uniform. "I'm just getting ready for work."

El yawed and nodded, this was his first day back since the incident at the mall.

"Are we still going this afternoon?" She asked.

"Yup," He said sipping his coffee. "Unless you changed your mind?"

"No," El said quickly and slightly louder. "I want to go."

"Okay," He smirked turning towards the kitchen. "Want me to make you some Eggos before I go?"

"Yes please," El said moving herself off the couch. She knew there was no use in trying to fall back asleep now as the rest of the household would be up soon.

As Hop got to work, El made her way to the kitchen table. She and Hop were staying with the Byers for now. After the attack destroyed their cabin, they really had nowhere else to go. Joyce was kind enough to let them stay with her and the boys while Hop figured things out. He promised El that Owens was on it and would help them in any way that he could. El didn't mind sleeping on the couches with Hop for now.

"Thanks," El smiled as Hop placed a plate of Eggos in front of her while simultaneously shoving one into his mouth.

They sat in a comfortable silence, enjoying a quiet moment with just the two of them.

"I'm gonna head in early," He grunted getting up from the table. "Lots of paperwork piling up on my desk I'm sure."

Hop leaned forward and kissed her forehead quickly. "I'll pick you up at 2, okay?"

"Okay," El said watching him leave the house.

She finished her breakfast alone then heard Joyce coming down the hallway from her room.

"Morning sweetie," She smiled.

"Morning," El smiled then a yawn escaped out of her mouth.

"Still not sleeping great?" Joyce frowned.

"I'm okay," El said reassuring her mother-like figure.

Joyce didn't look convinced but poured her coffee without another word.

"Did Hop leave already?"

"Yeah," El said cleaning off her plate. "I think there's a lot of work on his plate."

"I'd imagine," Joyce sighed. "After all that's happened in this town."

Just then the boys came into the kitchen.

"Morning," They said as they grabbed food and took a seat at the table.

Johnathan and Nancy both got their summer internships back at the paper. After everything that happened with Tom they needed all the help they could get.

"I have to run to pick up Nancy before work," Jonathan said rushing to finish his cereal. "I'll see you guys later."

"You two got any big plans today while everyone goes back to work?" Joyce asked Will and El.

Will shrugged his shoulders, "I think everyone is meeting here later this morning."

"Hop and I are going to the cabin today," El said suddenly.

"Oh that's right," Joyce said putting her coffee down. "Are you sure you want to go?"

"Yeah," El said with a small smile.

Although they didn't say anything El knew everyone was worried about her going back there after all that happened. Truth be told she was nervous too, see her only real home destroyed was going to be hard. She needed to say goodbye to it properly though. In the meantime, she hoped to spend some time with her friends.

"Okay then I'm off," Joyce said grabbing her keys. "Have a good day,"

"Bye," they both answered before returning to silence.

El wandered away to get ready for the day. She opened a small duffle bag that Joyce has filled with some new clothes as well as some Max gave her to wear until she went back to the cabin today. She brought her clothes into the washroom and jumped into the shower. She let the warm water run over her body, soothing her anxiety. Showering quickly she dressed in tan high waisted shorts and a green fitted t-shirt. She cuffed the shorts at the bottom and brushed through her hair, and brushed her teeth.

When she returned her things to their place in the living room she noticed will was also ready for the day sitting on the couch.

"Hey," El said sitting across from him.

"Hey," Will smiled looking up from the magazine he had in his hand.

El shifted slightly uncomfortably. Will wasn't being mean to her but she could sense some tension from before the attack just hanging in the air, she needed to talk to him about it.

"Can I talk to you for a minute," El said timidly.

"Yeah," Will said nervously putting his magazine down. "You okay?"

"Yeah," El said not quite sure how to start. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" Will's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "For what?"

"For making you feel left out all summer," El said playing with her fingers. "I took Mike away from you."

Will smiled sadly, understanding exactly what she meant.

"I didn't mean to hurt you," She continued. "I love Mike and between not being able to leave the cabin for so long, Hop's rules and school we just didn't get to see each other a lot. I was so excited to spend more time with him this summer. But I know that wasn't fair to you and the rest of the party and I'm sorry."

"Thanks El," Will said honestly. "I need to apologize too though; I was just upset because things were changing and I took it out on you and Mike. I really like you and I know you mean a lot to Mike, of course you guys want to spend time together. I understand now I just wanted things to stay the same but were all getting older, and things need to change."

"So were still friends?" El asked meeting Will's eye.

"Of course," Will said smiling at El.

A few hours later

Hop pulled up to Joyce's place a few minutes earlier than expected. They did a great job at the department while he was gone. Owens gave him a cover up to go with about the cabin, so they were giving him a break at work.

He saw the bikes all piled out front of the house and knew what he was in for as soon as he opened the door. All six teens were sitting around the coffee table playing a board game. Hop was at least happy to see they were all in good spirits, especially after all that happened. They were just kids, they deserved to have fun. His eyes then went to his daughter who was wrapped up in her boyfriend.

He closed the front door and all eyes turned to him, he saw Mike's arm move from around El's shoulder to the small of her back.

"Hey kids," Hop said. "Time to go El."

"You sure you don't need any help?" Lucas offered.

"From what you've told me I don't think there's much to help with," Hop said sadly.

Lucas nodded remembering what he had said to Hop at the mall. El turned her head to give Mike a quick peck on the lips.

"I'll see you guys later," El said walking to her father carefully. She still had a slight limp from mindflayer bite on her leg.

They were silent in the car as the took a familiar path towards the cabin. They held their breath as they pulled up to what used to be their home.

"Well shit," Hop said seeing the damage for the first time. El at least had an idea of what it looked like from last time she was here.

"Alright," Hop said jumping out of the car and taking some empty boxes from the back. "Here pack up whatever you'd like."

As she walked up the steps, box in hand she had a flashback of the mindflayer grabbing her by the leg. She stopped as a shiver went through her spine. Hop was there instantly with a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Looks like a lot went down here," Hop said gently. "You okay? You want to talk about it?"

El just shook her head as she headed inside, she could already feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

"This was my first real home," She said sadly looking around what was left of the cabin.

"I know," Hop said feeling a tear run down his cheek but quickly wiping it away. "I remember bringing you out here like it was yesterday."

They did the living room/kitchen first since it was the most destroyed. They were able to salvage a few things but most of the furniture broken into pieces.

"Hey look what survived," Hop laughed taking out a box of old records that he had hidden in a cabinet.

El smiled, flashing back to her first day in the cabin when they were cleaning and listening to music.

Hop moved into his room to gather stuff and El opened her bedroom door. Most of her room was still in tact. She packed up her desk, all her memories, her books and pictures. She was packing her clothes when Hop came in holding a box.

"How's it going in here?" He asked.

"Good," El smiled folding a shirt on the floor in front of her.

Hop was glad that El's room didn't have much damage, she had lost so much in her life already. He watched as she folded some old flannel shirts and t-shirts, she'd been wearing the past few years, mostly hand me downs.

"I'm gonna get Joyce to take you shopping," He said suddenly.

"Huh?" El asked confused looking up at her dad.

"You're getting to be a teenager now," Hop explained pointing to the outfit she was currently wearing. "You obviously found a new style you enjoy."

"Max helped me," El smiled.

"Then the girls can find you some other stuff that's more….El," He said with a smile before turning to put more boxes in the car.

What he didn't realize was that a note he had found in a shirt pocket fell out of the box when he picked it up again.

El was packing up piles of things she had on the floor into boxes, suddenly she saw the folded piece of paper.

Her curiosity peaking, she opened it, it looked like a note or a letter.

There's something I've been wanting to talk to you both about. I know this is a difficult conversation and I care about you both very much. I know you care about each other very much and that's why its important that we set these boundaries moving forward, so we can build an environment where we all feel comfortable, trusted and open to sharing our feelings.

El's brows furrowed together, it was in Hops writing but it didn't sound like him. These words, they reminded her of what Hop was trying to say to her and Mike before the whole "Nana" incident. That must have been what he was trying to say, but Mike made him angry.

Feelings. Jesus, the truth is for so long I'd forgotten what those even were.

El smiled to herself, now this sounded like her Dad.

I'd been stuck in one place, in a cave you might day, a deep dark cave. And then I left some eggos out in the words and you came along into my life. For the first time, in a long time, I started to feel things again. I started to feel happy.

El smiled to herself but felt some emotion rising up inside her.

But lately, I guess I've been feeling distant from you. Like you're pulling away from me or something, I miss playing board games every night, making triple-decker eggo extravaganzas at sunrise, watching westerns together before we doze off.

Tears began to run down her cheeks. She never meant to make her dad feel this way.

But I know you're getting older, growing, changing. And I guess if I'm being really honest, that's what scares me. I don't want things to change. So, I think that's maybe why I came in here. To try and maybe stop that change. To turn back the block, to make things go back to how they were. But I know that's naïve, its just not how life works. Its moving, always moving, whether you like it or not. And yeah, something its painful, sometimes it's sad and sometimes its surprising, happy. So, you know what? Keep on growing up kid, don't let me stop you. Make mistakes, learn from 'em, and when life hurts you, because it will, remember the hurt. Hurt is good, it means you're out of that cave. But please, if you don't mind, for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open 3 inches.

El carefully folded the letter back up and let her tears fall for a moment.

"Hey," Hop said re-entering the room then stopped when he saw his daughter crying. "Hey what's wrong?"

"I'm okay," she said drying her eyes and motioning for him to sit.

He pulled up the desk chair across from her spot on the bed. He saw she was holding something in her hands.

"I think you dropped this," El said handing him the letter.

He took it in his hands and opened it, confirming his initial suspicion that he dropped it somewhere in the house.

"I'm so sorry," El said as new tears began to form in her eyes. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"Aw kid," Hop said as he heart began to break a little. He took her hands in his own and looked her in the eyes.

"It's okay, you're growing up that's what I realized while writing that," He explained. "I know you never meant to hurt me."

"You meant to tell his to Mike and I?" El asked as she dried her eyes again. "The other night?"

"Yeah," Hop said looking down at the floor. "I was just feeling so distant from you so Joyce helped me write the first part. Then I got to thinking and wrote the rest. I'm not good at these heart-to-heart things like Joyce is."

"Heart-to-heart?" El repeated not quite understanding what it meant.

"Talking," Hop explained. "Sharing my feelings."

"Oh," El said quietly. "I'm glad you did."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," El smiled. "I like those things too by the way."

"What?" Hop smirked.

"Board games, watching tv and making eggos." She explained. "I still like those things, I just like hanging out with my friends too. I've never had friends and now I'm starting to be able to have freedom to hang out with everyone and experience new things. But I still like being here, with you."

"I know kid," He said pushing her hair behind her ear. "I want you to do it all, experience new things, I just worry about you too, that's my job as your dad."

"I'm sorry about making Mike lie to you by the way," Hop continued leaning back in the chair. "My temper got the better of me. When it comes down to it, he's a good kid and I know he'd do anything to protect you. I'll try and be more patient I promise."

"Thanks," El smiled. "I promise to not spend as much time with just Mike. And to keep the door open 3 inches."

"That's all I ask," Hop laughed standing up. "Ready to go?"

"Yup," El said grabbing her boxes and following her dad out to the truck.

Hop got in the truck and watched as El stood there staring at the cabin. He knew it was hard to say goodbye to her first home.

She eventually got in and smiled at him. He knew they would be okay. Onto the next chapter of their lives together.

Meanwhile at the Byers house

The gang had finished their game and decided to watch a movie since it was beginning to rain outside. While Lucas, Max and Dustin argued over the movie Will and Mike went to make popcorn and get snacks.

"Hey Mike," Will as after he placed the popcorn in microwave. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Sure" Mike said taken a back slightly. Things had been a bit awkward the past few days after everything that had happened between them.

"I talked to El this morning," Will explained. "But I wanted to make sure you knew I was sorry too."

"I'm the one who should be sorry," Mike said looking down at his shoe. "What I said to you at my house the other day was wrong and I didn't mean it."

"Apology accepted," Will smiled. "I understand things need to change, we can't keep things the same forever."

"Yeah but that doesn't mean we won't be friends," Mike reassured. "And I'm sorry about spending so much time with El…I just… we haven't been able to be together until the summer and….I dunno.."

"It's okay, I get it you love her," Will said slightly teasing.

Mikes cheeks turned the slightest bit red at the memory of blurting out that he loved El to everyone, including his older sister.

"Yeah," Mike laughed awkwardly. "I do but I'll try to stop being such a mouth breather about it."

"Deal," Will said taking the popcorn out of the microwave and putting it into a bowl. "You don't spend every waking minute with El and I'll stop trying to keep everything the same."

"Deal," Mike said swiping a piece of popcorn and throwing it into his mouth.

A few days later

Hop finally got the call he had been waiting for while he was at work. Owens told him he was outside the station with something to show him. He told Flo he wouldn't be long, and he exited the office to see Dr. Owens leaning against his car.

"Morning," He said with a smirk.

"I hope you have good news," Hop said in a bit of a gruff voice. Sleeping on a couch for a week will do that to you.

"Get in and you tell me," Owens said simple getting into the driver's seat.

Hop jumped into the passage side, still a little skeptical.

"I went through your short list of requests, and I think I found the perfect thing," Owens explained as they drove through town.

"Yeah?" Hop said getting a little more hopeful.

He really didn't ask for much, he and El made do with the cabin for so long he didn't need anything fancy.

"Yup it was a miracle it went on the market when it did," Owens said as he pulled up to the house. "People were planning to retire in Florida anyways."

Before Hop could even look out the window Owens was out of the car. Hop stepped out and looked up at the house, it was beautiful.

"Wow," Hop said looking up at the 1.5 story house. It had a brown roof, blue siding, navy shutters and a nice porch.

"What do you think?" Owens asked with excitement.

"Looks great," Hop said honestly. "Do I have to get a lawyer and stuff to put in the offer?"

"Usually yes," Owens said crossing his arms. He didn't say anything for a moment but then took a set of keys out of his pocket and threw them to Hop. "But it's been taken care of."

"What?" Hop asked super confused as he looked at the keys in his hands.

"Its all done," Owens said handing over the paperwork to prove it. "House is in your name, move in whenever you want, it's yours."

"I really appreciate this," Hop said shaking Owens hand. "Really I do."

"Don't mention it," He laughed. "Really."

Hop laughed still in awe as he looked at the house.

"Also, now that you're going to be living in town, I think its time to start bringing the girl around." Owens said carefully.

"You sure?" Hop asked, they did just have an attack where El was the target.

"I think enough time has passed," he said truthfully. "No one saw anything at Starcourt, he no longer has her abilities, time to let the girl live."

Hop smiled at the thought of letting his daughter live a normal life.

"Of course, we will be here if anything goes wrong," Owens smirked. "But from what I can tell, its safe."

That's all Hopper needed to hear, as long as things were safe for El that's all the mattered.

"You think she can go to school?" Owens asked pulling Hop out of his trance.

"Huh?"

"The girl," Owens repeated. "Would she be intellectually capable of going to public high school?"

"I think so," Hop said confidently. "We will work on it the next few months. I will get her a tutor if I have to."

"Good," Owens said. "It would draw more suspicion of she remained hidden, if she didn't attend school, especially now that you live here."

Hop nodded, El had some so far over time he knew they would make it work. He couldn't tell if she would be scared or excited about going to school with her friends. It was going to be different and there would be challenges but they would handle them together.

"I'll give you a lift back to work," Owens said getting back in the car.

"Thanks again for everything," Hop said as they drove back to the station.

"Anytime," Owens replied. "Do you think she will like it? Your daughter I mean."

"Oh yes," Hop laughed. "She will love the house, especially since its 2 streets away from her boyfriend."

"Oh boy," Owens laughed. "Teenagers…good luck."

AN: That's where we will end it off for now, but this is only the beginning. El and Hop are moving to town, and she's going to school! Let me know if there is anything you really want to see from this story. I always love hearing idea to add to the ones I already have in mind. Please review, it makes my heart happy then I write faster!