Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers laid beside each other in the queen sized bed. Both looked up at the ceiling.
-'They tried to sterilize her, with medication' Joyce said blankly, -'Experimented new ways of massive castration treatments for poor overpopulated places...she wasn't on it long enough so it would work...Owens said it damaged some parts of her reproductive system...which is why this situation is so dangerous. It's better to stay still for a while if we don't wanna lose this baby. Or her'.
Hopper didn't realized tears were falling down his face, -'She doesn't deserve this...being a lab rat in the name of social engineering'.
-'Nobody does. We'll get through this together, and at the end they'll be great parents okay?', Joyce's calm and serene voice soothed him. the man nodded silently and rolled over to get some sleep.
-'So now we make a Punnet chart, right?' Mike's pencil scribbled quickly down a worksheet. He analysed things in the blink of an eye and had an answer to the genetics problem presented before him.
-'Right...I hate those'
He was helping El with her biology homework since she was too tired to feel like doing anything, -'I'm sorry you have to do my homework' she pouted watching him write the answers (most likely correct, since his score in biology was damn well near flawless)
-'No, this is what I'm good at. I'm a nerd remember?' He chuckled to himself, El blushed -'You're my nerd though' she pinched his cheek, -'Pretty' she yawned and laid back on her bed.
-'You okay?' Mike asked, looking up from the Punnet charts.
-'Yeah I'm better than yesterday, vomited all day',
-'You're thin...I can see your shoulder bones and your hipbones',
-'Yeah. Shit happens',
-'You need to eat, El',
The girl frowned, -'I have been eating Michael, what part of I have permanent vomits do you not understand?'.
Mike looked down at his lap, El could see the anguish settling into his fine features -'Sorry...I'm just worried...my hair's been falling out, mom says it's because of stress...', -'Stress? Stress, Mike? Are you serious?', -'What-',
-'You don't know what stress is, Michael. Stress is having to go to the doctor once a week to see if the baby is still alive, stress is vomiting everything you eat and having your throat burn every second of it. You know what they told me and Joyce the last time we went? Papa gave me experimental sterilizing pills...I'm fucked up, Mike. The baby's fucked up...THAT is stress'.
Surprised by El's nervous outburst, Mike's cheeks got red, tears falling down his face, -'I'm sorry I haven't been here for you, I've just been so busy with school, trying to get more opportunities so I-I can sustain you two later on!', El sighed deeply, -'...I understand. I love you, I'm just incredibly nervous. Like am I gonna be a good mom? Is the baby gonna come out okay? Or even ALIVE? Like...and-'
-'Hey. I love you too. You're gonna be great. WE are gonna be great, okay? But I need you to relax'
he nestled his head between her chest and her barely there belly, -'You two are my everything. Even if I'm still scared shitless about all this'.
When Joyce came into El's room she saw Mike sitting on a chair beside her, with half of his body resting against El's upper body and stomach. It was adorable and endearing.
_•••_
-'Baby's coming next month' El sighed an anxious breath, her knee going up and down as she tried to keep the mashed potatoes ans chicken dish in her stomach. Hopper nodded, -'Yeah...You okay with sharing your room with a baby?', El started laughing, -'Dad! Of course I am! Theres no one I would want to share it with more!'
-'Good. I'll put a small fridge and a microwave in there so-so you don't have to walk out at night when it wakes up'
El nodded, -'What do you think it's gonna be?', -'I bet Mike $10 it was a girl',
-'YOU? Dad? Hopper? Jim Hopper? THE chief? Made a bet with Michael Wheeler?'
-'Listen we must make the best out of this situation ok? Might as well have a little fun with it'
El cackled this time, -'Okay okay, so you think it's a girl'
-'Yeah. Your boyfriend thinks it's a boy. Have you thought of names yet?'
she tapped her lip with her finger-'Not really...the party is!'
-'Don't listen to those kids, they'll wanna name the kid Knight or Gandalf or some shit',
-'DAD!'.
_••••_
-'Are you still good for the movie night?' Mike asked as he laid his head on her lap.
El nodded, -'Sure. As long as I finish this paper in time'
-'How many chapters do you have left to do?', -'One and a half. Give me an hour'. And no, don't even offer to do my homework again, I'm fine'
-'Okay..how do you feel today?', he asked curiously. Always so thoughtful.
-'I'm good, the medicine is working I guess. I'm still low weight'
-'Just fifteen pounds you said you gained', -'Yeah, so I'm 113 pounds now...it sucks'
-'As long as you feel good and the baby's fine then I'll take it. It shouldn't matter, I think'
El nodded and caressed his hair,
-'I hope it doesnt have your mop of hair, this is unacceptable Mike' her fingers kept getting tangled in his dark curls.
She secretly hoped their kid looked like him. He was...pretty.
-'Like a girl' she whispered, dancing her fingers along his face.
Mike frowned, -'What like a girl?'
-'Nothing. You...you look like a girl. Pretty', -'...What do I do with this information, El', -'Live with it!' She chuckled, pinching his nose, -'Cute nose! Cute cheeks! Cute face stars!-', -'FRECKLES'
-'I said face stars!',
-'Okay okay! Face stars...' Mike blushed and kissed her hand, -'I love you', -'I love you too'.
El shook her head when Max tried to touch her belly, -'I don't-I don't really like people touching...it. If that's okay'.
Max's eyes widened, -'Of course! I won't insist then', El smiled kindly at the girl and sat down on the couch with her
-'They're gonna be here a month from now' El said quietly.
Max looked at her, -'Already? Isn't it too soon?', -'They don't want me to be any sicker for two more months so...they'll take the baby out in a month',
-'Oooh...are you excited? Do you have the room ready?' The redhead asked eagerly, -'Kinda...It's gonna be in my room you know? There's not much I can do about it' El chuckled, -'Karen bought us a...what's it called...ugh, come on' El got up from the couch and took Max's hand, dragging her to her bedroom.
It was colored light pink, with some Madonna pop art on the walls, a pin board with polaroids of her and the party, Hopper and Joyce and even Steve, Jonathan and Nancy.
In the center though was a picture she had framed herself of Mike giving her a piggyback ride a few months back. It was her favorite picture in the world.
Max cleared her throat, -'Karen bought you a crib?'
-'Baby bed, yes'
The redhead chuckled -'Okay, baby bed. It's cute! All shiny white and new and expensive', El sighed and rolled her eyes at Max,
-'Ain't gonna lie, the Wheelers do know how to gift stuff!'
-'They're NICE. Okay?', -'Of course they are. And kind of rich' Max giggled and looked into El's drawers,. She found all kinds of teenager clothes, some scattered printed bras, and even stray hair ties.
'You need to make space for baby clothes El, what the fuck?'
-'Wha-is there not space in there?'
-'Do you have any idea of what you're gonna need for a kid?' You need pj's, onesies, day clothes...',
El looked At her friend with wide eyes.
-'...I'm perplexed by your obliviousness. We gotta go baby shopping one day'
-'I'm technically on bed rest Max, can't be out for long'
-'Well then I'll bring the shopping to you! Ask your little boyfriend for some cash and I'll do the rest, ok?', El nodded still unsure,
-'Okay, she responded in defeat but a bit curious as to what Max would choose to buy for her kid.
-'Are you excited, dad?' Dustin punched his friend in the shoulder playfully.
-'Please don't call me that, I'm gonna vomit', Will chuckled -'Mike's a sensitive pimple with this topic, guys!'
-'The hell I am...I mean...I'm happy now if that's what you mean! Few months ago I would be passing out cold if you asked me this',
Lucas shook his head, -'It's gonna be great...have you chosen names yet?'
-'Not really. We don't even know if its a boy or a girl. I bet Hopper $10 that it was a boy though'.
Will's eyes widened, -'We should go in on a bet as well then!'.
Lucas and Dustin smiled and scooped change out of their pockets, -'Are you seriously gonna bet for this?' Mike frowned
-'YES' they all responded. -'I say it's a girl' Will put a crumpled dollar on the table, -'Boy' Dustin said, -'Girl, definitely. And she'll be called El Two' Lucas slapped a dollar bill too, Mike punched him playfully, -'Douchebag!'.
Dustin was curious about what his friend thought of becoming a parent.
-'So what do you expect from all this...what excites you? There must he something positive you feel, kiddo'.
Mike played with his own hands, -'I don't know I guess it'll be fun to teach it everything I know...to be a good person...that's all'.
-'God I hope it doesn't come out looking like you, poor kid', Dustin sighed, faking exhaustion, Will cackled and Mike glared at him.
-'You guys are fucking evil, did y'all know that?!'.
El sat beside Mike, Hopper passed her a big bowl of popcorn and some water as he headed to his bedroom he shared with Joyce.
-'Don't stay up so late kids',
-'Copy that, Chief' Licas responded while absently looking at the movie playing on the TV.
Max cupped her hands around her mouth, -'DON'T BE LOUD' she spat
Hopper choked, -'I swear I'm gonna kill you kids', Max chuckled, and stole some popcorn from Lucas.
-'...So I'm like E.T and you're Elliot' El mumbled at Mike, not taking her eyes off the screen. Mike chuckled, -'I guess. You're not an alien are you?'
El laughed, -'You're a dummy' she cuddled into him gently.
Mike yawned and rested his head on El's desk, -'I am...not functional right now' he rubbed his eyes lazily and pouted
-'What do you think about Isabella?' El asked him, with a pencil and a pad in her hands, -'Pretty' he mumbled, half asleep.
-'Mike, you're not paying attention to me!'
-'El it's midnight. I have a calculus test tomorrow and-'
-'AND baby's gonna be here by next week and it doesn't have a name!'
-'...We can just make one up when its born, huh? Sounds good?',
El rolled her eyes, -'I'm thinking Isabella, or Mikayla...'.
the boy chuckled, high in tiredness -'Mike-ayla', El looked over at him and flipped his notebook with her mind
-'HEY! What did I say!'
-'You're being dumb. Come here', Mike unglued his face from the desk and dragged his feet over to her.
-'I bet your dad that it's a boy',
-'I hear you? Have you thought of boy names then?'
-'I like Aleks...and Levi, maybe...I'm not sure', -'Those are good names',
-'Mhhm, you have good names too. But now I just think I'm gonna go home, it's late and I have a test tomorrow'
-'Okay, drive safely...and good luck!',
-'Sure, goodnight El, love you', -'Love you too'.
Joyce came into El's room that night.
She was feeling sick again but that was the usual, -'Meds can only work for so long huh?' The older woman chuckled, while rubbing her back soothingly.
El nodded and sighed deeply
-'I think I'm just nervous...',
-'Which is normal. What are you nervous about? We have everything'
-'I just-I know I haven't been healthy and I know I'll get sterilisation surgery soon too and it's just a lot, okay?',
Joyce nodded and held her hands, -'Just...think about when all that is done. You'll have a cute baby and you'll be free of danger forever'.
The girl flashed her a half smile, -'Mike likes to pretend he's not excited. But he is. I know he is', -'Mike's a very special young man. Mature one too'
-'He's making bets with our friends. One dollar bets, he says the baby's a boy everyone else thinks it's a girl I don't know why'.
-'Happened to me as well, and look. Two boys', El chuckled again and cuddled back into the pillows, -'I just want this to be over, Joyce' she mumbled quietly -'I know I've been underweight and sick but it's not my fault' she wiped away some tears.
-'Oh we know that honey. Everyone knows that. We love you so much and we appreciate you! Never forGet that. You're doing your best, everything is gonna be okay, I promise. I'll make sure of that'.