Steve kept his hands on the wheel, tapping his fingers to a random beat as he drove. The slight smell of blood entered his nose, but he was used to it by now, as he had been near the bloodstained seats for a couple of hours already.

Robin was staring out the window, watching the scenery fly by in silence. She played absently with the bottom of her shirt, like she didn't know what to do.

Boredom was the worst on car trips like this.

Steve's finger reached for the radio, but he decided against it, knowing that, like all of the other times he had checked in the past hour, it would have nothing good playing. He sighed, wishing that he could think of something to say, something to talk about. He could think about anything.

So, he also sat in silence, keeping his eyes on the road and making sure that they were still on course for Hawkins, Indiana. Home.

It still felt surreal. For the months that he had spent in the lab, home had felt like a dream, a memory, one that he wouldn't return to again. He could remember the feeling of hopelessness that washed over him as he underwent test after test, knowing that he may never return back to Hawkins again.

But, now, as they made their way back, free of Brenner, free of the Russians, he couldn't help but bring good memories to light, focusing on the good that he left behind, but was now returning to. Dustin's bright smile, Nancy's determination, Hopper's gruff kindness, Joyce's motherly nature, Jonathan's protectiveness, Will's gentle and silent personality, El's urge to protect, Max's strong will, Lucas' maturity, and even Mike's prickly attitudes.

He missed a lot about Hawkins, but he missed the people there the most.

He just hoped that they would accept him for who he was now. He knew that they had accepted El, yet their situations were so different. They had only known the El with her powers, they didn't know her before, if there even was a before, but Steve? They knew him when all he had for him was a mop of good hair and a bat. Now he had powers, now bullet's couldn't even hurt him.

He knew that he was a freak. He was a freak and there was nothing that he could do. El was incredible, she could always save the day with a gesture of a hand and a thrust of her powers, she was an everyday superhero. Steve wasn't. He was just a guy who could take a hit even more now, could withstand any weapon used against him. And that could heal people, which was the one part of his powers that he thought was cool.

Nonetheless, he wondered how long it would take for them to all realize that he wasn't a hero like El, that he was basically a better punching bag for bad guys. He hoped that they never would.

"Do you think Tom's going to be okay?" Robin suddenly asked, bringing Steve out of his thoughts, and Steve shrugged.

"I mean, he seemed to believe that he was. He's staying at his friend's house, far from the lab, so he should be okay."

Robin nodded hesitantly, and he knew that his words probably weren't as comforting as they should've been. But he was worried too, if he was being honest.

Earlier this morning, Tom had packed up all of his precious belongings, with Steve and Robin's help, and drove them a couple of hours away. He had a friend, who was previously in the army, that was willing to let Tom stay with him. They had all believed that it would be best that he relocated, just in case. Steve and Robin followed him there, and then dropped him off and took his truck, the truck that had been driven and saved them so many times, to go to Hawkins by themselves.

Their goodbyes to Tom were tough, riddled with tears and hugs galore, as well as a million thank-yous. Steve cried, and Robin did, too, but Tom promised to come visit them one day. They had his new phone number, so they could call him whenever, but it was still hard. It was like saying goodbye to a father, someone who did everything for them. Someone that had risked everything he had to save people that he didn't even know.

But Steve knew that this wasn't goodbye, if anything, Steve would visit him again. He would make sure of it.

Tom had let them keep the clothes that he had lent them, and provided them with a lot of food for the trip. Because, it turned out that they were far from Hawkins. Very far.

They had a lot of driving ahead of them.

Robin yawned, reaching into the bag at her feet and taking out a couple of granola bars. She opened one and gave the other to Steve.

"I'm not hungry." He said simply, and he wasn't. He didn't need to eat, not right now.

Her eyes took on a no nonsense look about them. "It's been hours. Eat, or I'll shove it down your throat. I'm not having you collapse like last time. And, if you're pulling all nighters, which, by the way, I'm still not happy about, you need to be in tip top shape and full of food."

Steve sighed in defeat, opening it and taking a bite. It tasted a bit dry in his mouth, but instantly he could feel his body take it in greedily, his stomach finally allowing him to feel hungry. The sensation hit him in the gut, and, as if on instinct, Robin passed him another one.

"Thanks, Buckley. How you know more about me than I do is beyond me."

"Well, I can't tell when you're hungry, but I can tell time, you know."

Steve smiled, "At least you can. I think I skipped that class."

She laughed, and whacked him gently on the shoulder.

"You probably did, Harrington, you seem to have a hard time reading a clock."

"Oh, be quiet." He said with a chuckle, shoving her back, and he hadn't seen her with such a big of a smile.

But then the image changed to a sandy road, thick blood falling from his fingers as her face grew more and more pale, the bullet in her back killing her. It changed to her scared face, her screaming in agony as electricity shot through her, Robin warning him and being hurt because of it.

"Steve? Are you okay?"

He inhaled sharply, turning his eyes back to the road as quickly as he could. He could feel tears burn in his eyes, and, as much as he wanted to will them away, knew that it would make him feel nothing. So he let them fall, and felt Robin's gentle hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?"

"Sorry." He muttered, wiping the tears away. "I just…I think it was a flashback? I don't know."

He risked a glance to her, and she was frowning, compassion and kindness in her eyes.

"It's okay. I get it."

He swallowed. "You…you get them too?"

She shook her head no. "But, I get nightmares. Bad ones. Mainly about the electrocutions, the needles, and some of them about you. I just…" She sighed. "I just wish that it'll get better quickly, but I know that it won't. But it will, eventually."

"You seem optimistic about it all." Steve commented softly.

"I guess, but maybe I just have hope."

"Hope. That's something I haven't had in a while, well, until Tom said that we could go home. It feels good."

Robin smiled softly. "It does, it really does. Speaking of which, where are we going first?"

Steve had put a lot of thought into it, so he was happy that she asked. "I'm thinking about the Byers' place. Mrs. Byers…have I told you about Mrs. Byers?"

"A bit."

"Right. So, she's the best. She's such a good person, an amazing mother, and she helped patch me up after Billy beat me up. Her, or Will and Jonathan, her sons, would be home, well, at least one of them. And, it's a bit out of town, so we likely wouldn't run into anyone."

She hummed in agreement. She had already known that she couldn't see her parents right away, because they needed to be proclaimed alive first, and come up with a cover story, so Mrs. Byers seemed like a good idea.

"What about Chief Hopper?"

"See, he's my alternative, but I honestly don't know where he lives."

"Then the Byers' it is, then."

They went silent for a couple of minutes, Robin taking the trash and putting it back into the bag, her hair falling in front of her face. It was basically like what it was before now, and Steve, who had been terrified, had managed to help it return to what it originally looked like. It was like nothing ever happened, now, except for the tattoos on their skin and the trauma in their minds.

"Hey, Steve?" Robin asked quietly, and he looked at her, noticing how serious she had gotten.

"Yeah?"

"I…can I ask you something?"

Steve nodded. "Always."

"I…um…I was wondering if we could just stay friends? Nothing more? It's just that, not like I don't trust you, I just really don't….I don't want to be anything more."

"Hey." Steve reached over the center console and gripped her hand reassuringly, noticing her panic and wanting to comfort her. "It's okay. I'm honestly relieved that you say that, I don't really like you like that. Maybe before, sure, but now? You're my best friend, you're like my sister, and I don't want anything more. I can't imagine anything more."

He was encouraged to continue to talk as Robin's features softened, relief evident on her face.

"And, why is it such a big deal? Boys and girls can be friends without that pressure, right?" He added helpfully.

"Right."

"So, I don't see a problem with it. We'll be best friends, and that's all we'll ever be. Sounds good?"

She smiled, nodding and agreeing with him. "Platonic with a capital 'P', then?"

"Absolutely. Platonic with a capital 'P'."

Steve picked up the take out cup of coffee he had, and Robin, knowing what he was doing, picked up her water bottle.

"Cheers to friendship!" Steve proclaimed loudly, and Robin laughed.

"Cheers to friendship and capital 'P' platonicness!"

They both drank their drinks, beaming, and continued to drive. With every moment they came closer and closer to home, their hearts becoming lighter and lighter.

The last time Hopper felt this hopelessness was when he watched Sarah die. But, then, there were no chances for the outcome to change, and everyone knew about it. He didn't have to share that his daughter was dying, and he didn't have to really tell anyone when she was dead. Word traveled fast.

But, now, as he sat in the Byers' living room, which was full of kids and teens alike, waiting for any sign of life, any sign of hope, he felt horrible. He couldn't give them anything to hold onto, not even a promise that it would get better.

It had been about six months, six months since Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley were taken by Russians, never to be seen again. It had been a couple of days since Robin's funeral, and the Harrington's money burned a hole in his pocket, waiting to be used on another.

He wouldn't, though. He wouldn't use it until everyone agreed that they would finally say goodbye.

It still didn't stop the hopelessness, though. The feeling that there was nothing they could do now.

Owens hadn't found anything, it was as if Steve and Robin were gone, disappeared off the face of the planet. Dustin still held onto hope, as well as Erica, Max and El, but everyone else was slowly losing theirs. Joyce held on to hers pretty well, too, but they were all getting worried. Jonathan and Nancy, two who clung onto each other desperately, had barely spoken for a while, Nancy completely giving up, and Jonathan resorting to silence. Hopper wasn't sure if he even wanted to know how dark his thoughts had gotten.

Yet, here they all were, waiting for Hopper to have some news.

He didn't have any. He didn't have any and it broke his heart.

"Guys. I…" He took a deep breath, feeling everyone's eyes on him. "I don't…I don't have any good news. Owens hasn't uncovered anything, all of the calls Joyce and I have made were fruitless, and there's nothing else we can do."

"So, are we just going to give up? Like that?" Dustin asked, his brows furrowing in anger. "They wouldn't give up on us!"

"We're not giving up." Hopper said sternly. But he then sighted, rubbing his forehead, a small headache developing. "We've tried everything we can. We don't know what else we can do for them."

Dustin went silent at the words, no doubt remembering how all of his attempts to use his Cerebro were useless. He frowned, leaned back further into the couch, and let Joyce rub his shoulder comfortingly.

"And El's not getting better." Hopper said. "I think the only chance we have now is to let Owens try and heal her, and then El will find them. We just have to hope that Steve and Robin can hold on a bit longer."

El nodded. "It'll work when I'm better. I promise."

Mike held her hand, casting a concerned glance to her leg. "We just don't want you to get hurt, either."

"We'll find a balance, Wheeler. We always do." Hopper said, and Mike opened his mouth to say more, but that was until they could all hear a vehicle come into the driveway, loud and unfamiliar. Joyce gave Hopper a confused and concerned glance, and he got worried too.

Random vehicles didn't come here, no one should be here right now. Something was going on.

He got up from the chair he was sitting in, pulling out his gun and gesturing for everyone to be quiet. They all complied, many of them looking scared.

He was going to protect them. He wouldn't let anyone else get hurt.

He walked over to the window, glancing out to see a beat up truck, two people in the front seat. He took a deep breath as one of them hopped out of the driver's seat, perfect hair waving gently in the breeze, and looked at him, giving him a small wave, a huge smile on his face.

Steve Harrington. That was Steve Harrington.

That was Steve Harrington.

He was alive. He was here.

"Well, I'll be…" Hopper muttered, and that was all Dustin needed to get out of his seat.

"What is it? Who is it?" Dustin rushed to the window, mouth falling open at the sight. "Steve? Is that…is that Steve?"

Hopper could barely believe his eyes. "That's Steve, and Robin across from him. How is this possible? How?"

And there Robin was, standing beside the vehicle after getting out herself, full of smiles, and Dustin didn't waste a second running out the door.

"Steve! Robin!"

"It's Steve?" Mike asked, and Hopper nodded in disbelief.

"They're home. They're both home."

The room became a flurry of shock and activity, everyone bolted out of the house, Joyce helping El to her feet.

He still couldn't believe it. He felt like there was something else going on, something that he needed to be aware of, but all he could focus on was the fact that they were back. After all this time they were back.

"Steve! Robin!"

Steve barely had a second to react before a small body crashed into him in a bone breaking hug. Steve held onto Dustin and laughed, letting the two of them fall to the ground as they embraced.

"You're back, you're back, I missed you so much!" Dustin exclaimed, and Steve could hear more footsteps come down the porch and to the grass. He didn't pay attention to it, though, only focusing on the boy in his arms. How good it felt to be home and to see him again.

"I missed you too, buddy, I missed you more than anything!"

Steve could feel Dustin's tears collect on his shirt, but he didn't care, he knew that he was crying, too. His heart felt full as he held the kid that had changed his life, that had made him better, and that was basically his little brother. He held on tighter, unwilling to let go as he drank in the moment.

He was home. He had finally seen Dustin again and was hugging him, brother's reunited. He had never been happier.

Dustin suddenly pulled away, punching Steve in shoulder, but then pulling him back into a hug.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Don't leave again! Promise me! You were gone for so long and I…it was so hard! But I knew that you were coming back, I knew it! I never gave up!"

He nodded. "I promise I won't, Dustin. I promise."

He looked up to see Erica embrace Robin, who couldn't contain her joy, and everyone raced towards them.

"Steve!" Nancy said, joining his hug with Dustin on the ground, and Jonathan followed, collapsing Steve's shoulder.

"Dude, we thought we lost you!"

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Byer's. I thought you knew that."

Jonathan laughed, tears in his eyes, and Dustin let go long enough for the older teens to share a hug. Steve then gave Nancy a quick hug, too, hoping that she wouldn't mind.

Even if their relationship was over, he did miss her. He really did miss her.

"What happened?" Nancy asked, clutching his hand desperately, and Steve shook his head.

"I don't want to talk about it now, okay?"

She nodded, a blush covering her cheeks. "Right. Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm just happy to be home."

Dusin latched himself back onto Steve, holding his arm in a death grip, but Steve didn't mind. It gave him the opportunity to greet Mike, Lucas, Will, and Max, who all gave him quick hugs, too.

"You better not leave again, you hear me?" Max said, fiery anger in her tone, but Steve knew that it came from a place of fear and love.

"I hear you loud and clear, Mayfield. It's really good to see you again."

She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes as she gave her another hug, a small smile on her face.

Mike seemed a bit hesitant to talk to Steve, and fought in the hug that Steve gave him, but Lucas and Will were more accepting of the embrace.

"We're really glad you're back." Will said quietly. "We really missed you."

"I missed you too, I missed everyone. I can't express how happy I am right now."

Will beamed at the words, and Steve's heart became even fuller.

He had seen the kids again. He had seen them smile again.

"You must be Robin, it's so great to finally meet you. I'm Joyce." He heard, and he looked around to see Mrs. Byer's talking to Robin, hugging her, and the two looked happier than ever. Robin was shining with joy as more and more people came to her, giving her hugs and talking to her, as if they were a part of this group now. Maybe she was.

Steve really hoped so.

As he glanced around, he noticed only two people missing. Hopper and El. He had known that Hopper was here, he had waved at him through the window, but where was El? Was she okay?

"El. Where's El?" Steve said, worry bleeding into his tone, and Dustin pointed to the house, where Hopper helped El stand. Steve could see a mess of bandages on her legs, and he knew instantly that this was the injury that had been hurting her. Something about the way she held herself, the way Hopper was so protective of her, told him that it was serious.

"She hurt her leg badly. She's still recovering." Dustin explained, and Steve nodded in understanding.

"Alright, let go of me, Henderson, I'm going to go say hello."

Dustin shook his head. "I'm coming."

Steve knew that he couldn't argue, so he excused himself from Nancy and Jonthan, though he could still tell that they watched him as he went, and made his way to El, who looked to be holding back tears.

"Steve." She said, reaching to him, and he wrapped her in a hug.

"Hey, El. How are you? I heard you're not feeling the best."

"Slowly healing. I'll be better soon." She said simply, and he nodded, letting her go reluctantly.

His eyes glanced down to her wrist, where her tattoo sat under a bracelet, and subconsciously covered his own with his sleeve. It was strange, knowing that they now had something in common. That they had the same scars now, even if they were a bit different.

"I'm glad to see that you're back, Harrington." Hopper said, offering his hand out, and Steve took it, the handshake firm yet comforting.

"I'm glad to be back. Thanks for taking care of them while I was gone."

"You act like that's only your job? Come on, kid, that's my job."

"Well, now that I'm back, I might have to take that job." Steve said with a smile, and Hopper laughed.

"Good luck with that."

Dustin tugged Steve's arm, his bright and hope filled eyes boring into Steve's.

"Can we go see Robin?"

"Absolutely!" Steve said, and he led Henderson back to where Robin was surrounded by kids, the teens, and Joyce.

Joyce gave him the biggest hug ever when he got to her, holding him like a mother, and he felt like crying all over again.

"Welcome back, Steve. I'm so happy to see you home."

He tried to speak, but he couldn't, only giving her the best smile that he could, though it was shaky with emotion. He hadn't even realized how much he missed her until now, when she was standing in front of him, welcoming him home.

Even though he couldn't talk, she understood. He knew that she understood his smile more than anything.

For once in Steve's life, everything felt complete. And he had never been happier. He had a new best friend, he was back home with the kids that he adored, the adults that cared for him, and two of his peers that he could become better friends with now that he had the opportunity. There was still a lot to work out, a lot to fix, to explain, but it would all be solved in time.

For now, he would allow himself to live in the moment, because he was home. He was finally home.