I hope you enjoy this edited chapter! As always, I only own my OC.

OH MY GOD! OKAY, IT'S HAPPENING! EVERYBODY STAY CALM! (What's the procedure, everyone? What's the procedure?) STAY FUCKING CALM!

Sorry, I had to. If a quote from The Office matches the moment, I'm going to use it. Okay, y'all already know what the main event of this chapter is - Steve and Veronica finally get their shit together! Just be aware this update starts a little bittersweet, opening with Barb's funeral.

Also, with Season Four retconning Steve to have been co-captain of the swim team, I put in a brief reference. However, given Veronica's life-changing incident involving a pool, it makes complete sense that she wouldn't have gone to any of his recent meets.

December 9, 1984

I've only ever been to one funeral, for Grandpa Henderson. It was raining then, and I was surrounded by military men and trying not to flinch at the sound of the twenty-one gun salute. I was nine at the time, and the family only went to support my dad. I barely even knew Grandpa H. Just that he was a dick, which is why dad never let us around him. Or him around us.

Which is kind of ironic, if you think about it.

This isn't what I pictured, though, when it finally happened. When the Hollands finally got their closure. The sun is shining despite the December chill. The birds that didn't migrate are chirping on the snow-clinging branches.

And I wouldn't change a thing. Barbara wouldn't want the occasion to be more miserable than it already is.

The article Nancy and Jonathan worked on came out only a week ago, but in that week Hawkins Lab was permanently shut down and this strange, quiet town made the national news. Murray Bauman made good on his money and promise, anonymously releasing Dr. Owens taped confession. The high ranking members of the "Department of Energy" admitted to Barbara's death and cover up, Bauman reporting to the Hollands that she was accidentally exposed to an experimental asphyxiant and was unable to recover. The news article, co-written by Bauman and Nancy, reported that, "These high-ranking officials also admitted to the abduction of Ms. Holland and an unnamed friend, who was fortunately not exposed to the chemical leak. A settlement was reached out of court."

Everyone in Hawkins knows that survivor's me. I don't know if my name will end up getting out - probably not, if the government has anything to say about it. But since the article came out, more kids at school have started talking to me, pushing past their fear of the "Ice Queen's wrath." Robin nearly bit off Keith's head when he kept trying to ask me shit in physics.

I don't like it. The pity, the questions I can't ever answer truthfully. But I'm living with it. If that's the price I have to pay for Hawkins Lab admitting to their crimes, then I'm willing to pay it ten-times over.

Nancy sniffles next to me, wiping her tears with one hand while the priest lays our fallen friend to rest. Jonathan is on her other side, tightly gripping her hand. The Hollands stand by the funeral wreath, occasionally looking at their daughter's school photo.

Steve stands on my other side, an arm around my waist and his other hand in the pocket of his black slacks. My black lace dress swirls at my knees, brushing over my sheer black tights.

"In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through Our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God Barbara, and we commit her body to the ground: earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless her and keep her, the Lord make His Face to shine upon her and be gracious to her, the Lord lift up His countenance upon her and give her peace. Amen."

"Amen." The gathering silently murmurs, and I watch the Holland's gently place a white rose each on their daughter's casket, silently crying as they return to their original spot. Nancy and I go next, and I place a palm next to my flower, eyes closed in a silent prayer.

I've never been particularly religious. I'm still not, but… It feels right.

Steve places his flower down next, then Jonathan even though he knew her less than Steve did. I watch as a few other classmates do the same, kids I never really spoke to before. I should check on them. If they're here, Barb must've been important to them, too. It's easy to think you're alone in your grief.

The last of the family and friends leave their flowers and Barbara's coffin is lowered gently into its final resting place. A few church choir members sing Amazing Grace as we each gather a fistful of dirt to scatter down. When our friend's casket is finally buried, the rest of the gathering leaves. Steve squeezes my waist, Jonathan kisses his girlfriend's cheek, and the two guys leave to stand by their cars.

Nancy and I come forward, next to the crying Hollands. Not that we're dry-eyed ourselves.

"We'd like to thank you two, for everything. Thank you for being such a good friend to our girl, even though she's gone." Mr. Holland roughly thanks us, voice husky with tears.

"She's always going to be our friend." I promise them, hand tight around Nancy's. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her."

"Veronica, you will never be blamed for what happened to-to Barbara. I hope one day you can believe that." Marsha comforts me.

Comforts me, at her daughter's grave. "She's always going to be with us." I swear. Marsha sniffs and hugs Nancy and I to her.

"Yes, she will."

"She was too stubborn not to be." Nancy comments, voice soft and cracking from disuse. Mr. Holland laughs wetly. "We'll let you talk to her, now."

I nod in agreement. "We can have dinner this weekend, if you'd like."

"Yes, that would be wonderful. You haven't seen the new house yet." Compensation from the government, I'm sure. I got more, too, Hawkins Lab concerned I'd go more public.

All of it went in our college funds, split evenly. I wanted to use it to buy the Hollands their new home, but Marcia insisted the settlement they received was more than enough to help them afford their house and keep them from falling into debt.

With one last hug Nancy and I leave Barb's parents at their daughter's grave, wrapped around each other. We find the boys leaning against Steve's Beemer, and I let Nancy go to Jonathan while I'm pulled like a magnet to Steve. As soon as I'm near his grasp, he tugs me into his chest, my head tucking under his chin as he leans back against his car, legs spread. I stand between them, trying to avoid staining his white shirt with my tears. I'd decided against wearing makeup today, knowing I'd only end up looking like a raccoon.

"I've got you, Roni." He mumbles into my ear, hand brushing down the back of my head, fingers tangling in my straightened blonde hair. Noticing I'm still shaking, even in my black trench, his arms tighten around me even more. "I think the plan's to go to Jonathan's. Are you up for that?" He asks me gently, and I turn my head to look over at the couple across from us. Nancy's nodding, her cheeks cupped by Jonathan's hands, a small smile on her face.

I turn my head and look up, Steve watching me. "Yeah. That sounds perfect." My smile is soft and sad, but I'm still happy. Well, as happy as I can be. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being you." I whisper, then kiss his jaw. He smiles and kisses my forehead and the tip of my nose, holding me for a little longer.

December 15, 1984

I hum as I turn onto the beaten trail to Hopper's cabin, Christmas music filling my car until I cut the engine off, ready to make the trek in just my dad's bomber jacket and blue knit sweater dress. I'm not planning on being outside for long, or else I'd be bundled like Randy from A Christmas Story.

There isn't much snow on the ground, so I left my snowshoes at home in favor of my new thigh high boots. The leaves and sticks crunch under me as I walk through the woods, ducking under branches and hopping over patches of ice. The sun set an hour ago, but the Snow Ball won't start for another two hours. I can't imagine it'll take El more time than that, but on the other hand dramatic entrances are important. There's nothing wrong with being fashionably late.

I want Mike to faint when he sees her.

I readjust the strap on my backpack, letting it rest on one shoulder as I make the trek through the woods, flashlight in hand. Having memorized where every tripwire trap is, I still take my time finding them in case Hopper got even more paranoid.

When I reach the front door, I do my own special knock. Tap. Tap. Bam. Tap.

"El! Calm down!" I hear Hopper shout, and the door practically bursts open, revealing our favorite superpowered girl wiping the blood away from her nose.

"Hey, sweetheart. Oof." She slams into me, hugging me close. Ever since Dr. Owens told Jim that "Jane Hopper'' was his legal, bonafide adopted daughter, the two of them have been happier than I've ever seen. Especially Hopper, who's beaming at the energetic girl.

I laugh and hold her close. "You have your dress? You take a shower?"

"Yes. And yes." She steps back and blinks at me. "What's in there?" She points to my bag.

"Oh. Makeup and some hair stuff."

"Like my sister's?"

Right. Kali, the lab-sister El found in Chicago during our first annual week of Hell. "Not as dark, but yes."

"Will I look bitchin'?" I snort as Hopper rolls his eyes, huffing over to the kitchen.

"Absolutely. Come on, let's get you ready."

"You girl's going to need anything?" Hopper gruffs out.

I smile. "Music. But not your old man shit."

He swipes at me with a kitchen towel and I yelp, jumping out of the way. El tugs me into her room, getting us straight to business. "Is this pretty?" She asks, holding up a steel blue dress with burgundy polka dots and puffed sleeves.

I hum, taking it in my hands. The fabric's a little scratchy and faded, but it's still a nice dress. Simple, but it won't make her look plain. "I think you're going to look very pretty. And bitchin'." I amend. She smiles, big and happy. "Did you eat yet? Real food, not Eggos."

"No." She answers.

I snort and storm out of her room where Hopper is unhelpfully munching on popcorn, drinking a beer, and watching an episode of E/R. Without asking I pick up his second bowl and march into the kitchen to grab some soda for El and me. A quick check of the fridge tells me Hopper hasn't been the best at grocery shopping. "Whoa, where are you going with that? It's my popcorn!"

"You only need one bowl. Plus, it's not our fault you don't have food with some nutritious value!" I argue with him.

"Hey, watch it hooligan."

I narrow my eyes. "I'm going to tell Joyce you've been slacking on healthy foods."

"Now, what a second - get back here, Robin Hood!" Hopper stammers after me. I laugh and practically skip back to El's room to find her already dressed in her outfit.

"It's too big." She mutters sadly, the dress bunching out around her like a little tent. It's so cute I want to laugh, but I hold it in because her eyes have grown big with worry and fear.

"Oh, sweetheart, it's okay. We can fix it. You really think I was going to show up here without any accessories?"

She perks up a bit and jumps onto her bed, crossing her legs. I pick up a towel and wrap it around her, offering her the bowl of popcorn while I get the stuff for her hair ready. "What's that?" She points at my Aquanet.

"Hairspray, to make your hair stay in place. It's less heavy than that gel you used to slick your hair back, badass."

She smiles and nods, mouth bulging with popcorn as she chews before sipping from her can of coke. "Okay."

I smile and sit on the bed behind her, supplies laid out on the plaid comforter. "You may want to put your popcorn down. This stuff can get everywhere." She nods and sets the bowl down on her carpet, the coke going on her bedside table. When she straightens I run my fingers through her curls, detangling and stretching them a bit so her locks reach the nape of her neck. "You like the curls, right?"

"Right." She responds, voice sure and serious.

I grin, even though she can't see me, and give her hair a quick puff of Aquanet - light enough that it won't get crunchy - and twist the brown locks with my fingers, creating new curls. I do it a couple of times, until her curls are big and shiny despite how short her hair is. Noticing a few strands on the right side are being stubborn, I pin them back with a few bobby pins. Getting off the bed to walk around and face El, I sweep her bangs to the right, giving them some volume at the roots with a light teasing.

On the corner of her bedside table rests a blue bow pin. Taking a small section of hair at the top left side, I pin it back with the plastic clip. "There. Your hair is done. Have some more popcorn, then we'll brush your teeth and do your makeup, okay?"

"Okay." She smiles at me and stands, taking the mirror I'd placed on the bed and checking her reflection. She grins even wider and gives me a quick hug before going back to her snack. To my complete horror, You Don't Mess Around With Jim starts playing in the living room.

Look, I got nothing against Jim Croce, but every time Hopper drives me someplace, he plays this song at least once. And he does a weird dance, too, behind the wheel. Whenever I point out that someone can see him, he gestures to his gun and winks.

El starts laughing at my face and I roll my eyes, tapping her nose with my finger. She offers me the bowl and I take some popcorn while we sit in a comfortable silence. "I know you can't really… go out yet. Except for tonight. Do you want me to go shopping for you? Get more clothes and things for your room?" I ask, taking note of the limited items in her vicinity.

"Hop said he would do it."

"Do you want him to?"

"No."

I snort at her honesty. "Tell you what. I'll bring you some magazines, and you can pick out clothes that you like. I'll find similar ones with Hop, and if you two argue I'll be the mediator."

"Mediator?"

"A person who helps resolve a conflict. An argument. They try to keep the peace between two fighting people."

"Keep the peace. Mediator." She tells herself out loud, memorizing the new word.

"I'm sure the kids will help you learn more. Hopper probably hasn't been teaching you math or science, right?"

"No math or science. Just words and spelling. And time."

I smile. "Dustin can help you with science. Mike and Lucas are better at math. Will's great at history and English, and so's Max."

"Okay." She mumbles.

"Nancy and I are going to have girls' nights soon. With Max. I can talk to Hopper, see if you can join us. It'll probably be at my house, to keep you safe. Limit questions 'till everything with you and the Lab is settled. Would that be fun?"

"Yes."

I'd imagined it would be, considering she's only had Hopper to talk to this past year. "Okay." I perk up. "I'm really happy you're here, El. I don't know if I told you before. But thank you for coming home."

She nods and sets aside the empty bowl, the towel still covering her dress as she hugs me. "Didn't want to go. Had to save you, though."

"Next time, I'm saving you."

"No next time." She swears. "I closed the gate."

"Well, I can at least save you from looking like you're wearing a tent." I tease, a warm smile on my face. She flashes one back. "Go brush your teeth, sweetheart. Then I'll do your makeup and fix the dress, okay?"

"Okay." She flounces off to the bathroom with her towel wrapped around her protectively. At least Hopper taught her good hygiene, because when she comes back into the room her teeth are pearly white and the gums are gunk-free.

"Minty fresh. Nice, sweetheart." We high-five and she sits down. "Okay, let's do some dark pink eyeshadow. Eyes closed." She nods like she understands and moves her legs so I can comfortably stand in front of her. Dabbing my middle finger in the shimmery powder, I gently tap it onto her now closed lids, careful not to make it too heavy or uneven. With careful strokes of my index finger, I lighten and sweep it gently under her eyes, too, giving the look some dimension by tapping a little bit of the lighter pink on her inner lid, and some purple on the outer corners. "Okay, open. But look up and stay very still." She nods and does as I ask. I take out the mascara and lift it close to her face, stopping when she flinches. "Shh, it's okay. It's mascara. I'm only going to do a little, but don't move, okay?" She breathes in and looks up, and I carefully swipe some product on her lashes. "There, done." She blinks a bit, bringing moisture back to her eyes, and I pull out a small compact of blush as well as a little makeup brush. I gently pat the rouge on the apples of her cheeks, smiling so she copies me. A small tap of product goes on her nose, too. She doesn't look like Rudolph, but there's color on her pale face.

"All done. We'll do some pink gloss, okay?"

"Okay."

I have her purse her lips and paint some onto them, watching as she dramatically smacks her lips. "There, makeup is done, sweetheart!" She smiles and jumps up, dropping the towel to the ground.

"My dress." She reminds me, twirling with the skirt poofing out around her like a tiny parachute. I nod and go over to my bag, pulling out some belts and a few necklaces.

"Okay, I found some cute accessories from when I was younger. These should fit." I mention, laying out her options.

"Pretty." She points to Steve's necklace, her fingers barely touching the tiny gardenia. I smile at her distraction.

"Thank you. Steve gave it to me, for my birthday."

"He only got you cards. He laughed. Why did he do that?" She asks, eyes furrowed in anger.

Kind of wanting to see what she'd do to him for that stunt, but also not wanting the guy I love to end up attacked by Hawkin's resident superhero, I squeeze her hands in mine. "He was pranking me. It was only a joke. I'd been pranking him for a few weeks now, so it was payback. Karma." She tilts her head like a confused puppy, and it's near-identical to Dustin's, almost making me crack up. "This was his real gift. He's a good guy, El. I can bring him around sometime, let you get to know him."

"He's your Mike?" She asks, and I bite my lip.

"Kind of. It's a little different."

"Oh. But he's… a good man?"

"One of the best I know. Even when he was a dick, he was good to me."

"He makes you happy."

"He's always made me happy. Even when he pissed me off. I just never admitted it to myself."

"So, he's your boyfriend?" She tests out the word, like it's something foreign - which it is.

I shake my head. "No."

"Why not?" She asks, confused and frustrated. "He makes you happy."

"Guess we're both scared."

"Why?"

I pause. "Because we don't want to lose each other."

"Stupid." I blink at her, and she frowns. "That's stupid. He makes you happy. So be happy. With him. Don't be scared. Be brave." She pokes at my heart, and I smile, tearing up with pride as I cup her chin.

"How did you get so wise?"

"TV."

I snort, loudly, laughing even though she doesn't get why. She lets her confusion go, though, and joins me, soft bell-like giggles peeling out of her. "Okay. I have to talk to Hopper about his teaching methods. Let's finish getting you ready, sweetheart."

She nods and smiles, holding up different belts and waiting for my response. I frown and shake my head until she finds a dark pink one, the color almost matching the polkadots on her dress. "Alright, that should work! It's a little long, though." She pouts worriedly. "But we'll figure it out." She nods and walks over to me, handing me the belt. I gently wrap the plastic-coated material around her waist, just tight enough to give her dress some shape. I have to wrap the belt twice, but it all works out and I'm left with a very smiley girl.

"Thank you!" She tells me, and I stop her from leaving the room.

"Wait! One last thing." El stops and looks at me, eyebrows furrowed. I find a tiny box buried under the other jewelry and open it, pulling out a necklace from my childhood, one I'd forgotten about until last night, when I was getting El's stuff together. "My dad gave me this, when I was younger. I took it off when he… when he left. I found it the other day, and I couldn't bring myself to wear it. But then I thought about you, and how much I missed you this past year. I want you to have it." I hold the silver necklace up, a chain attached to either side of the arrow so the pendant rests horizontally. She looks at it in wonder, and I smile. "So you know I'm always going to be with you."

"Thank you." She whispers in wonder, and I hold it open. She steps forward and I carefully clasp it together. "I'll keep it safe." She promises, and I don't know how to tell her that isn't necessary. This is for her, not for me.

"Everything I brought, you can keep." El stares at me in surprise. "I'm serious. It's yours. The accessories are old, but the makeup's new."

"Thank you."

"Welcome home, El." I pull her into a hug. "Do you have shoes?"

"Mhmm. Joyce got me a pair. Flats." She lets go to find them and carefully slips the dark blue shoes on, and like that she's ready to go. "Do I look pretty?"

"Pretty bitchin'." I promise, then grin. "Come on, let's go give your old man a heart attack."

"My old man? Heart attack?"

"I'll explain it later." I promise, and lead her out of her bedroom, my bag clutched in my hand. "Hopper, she's ready!"

"Jesus, that took way too long… oh, wow." He comments, arms crossed in his police jacket as he stares at the girl. "You look great, kiddo. Thank you." Hopper tells me as she flounces off to the bathroom. "Seriously. I'd never be able to do that." I watch his eyes get teary, and realizing who he's thinking about, I give the large man a daughterly hug.

"You'll learn. You know, you're going to be a really good father to her."

"Yeah? How's that?" He questions, amusement leaking out of his voice, along with some self-deprecation.

"She's angry, and lost. I was too, for five whole years. You helped me, you did right by me. You'll do even better for her."

"Veronica -"

I step away from him and smile. "I know you'll be an amazing dad to El, because you're just as good for me. Thank you for sticking by me, even when I was at my worst. You're a good man, Jim Hopper."

He wipes away his tears and pulls me back into a hug. "God, Veronica, I just wanted to take you home that night to avoid paperwork. If I knew you'd end up making me all mushy I would have just let you go." I snort, and we separate when footsteps approach us.

"Are you okay? Crying." El points up at Jim, who glares down at me. "Sad."

"No."

"Half-way happy?" She asks.

His lips twitch and he comes forward, hugging El to him. "Happy." He corrects. "I have something for you. It belonged to Sara." I look down at his wrist as he slips off the thick blue hair tie that's been around it since I met him. "I think you should have it."

El takes it wordlessly, sliding her hand through it and letting the blue braided tie rest on her own wrist. Her fingers trace over it in awe, and she smiles with big eyes at her adoptive father. "Thanks."

"Yeah kid." He turns to me. "You coming with us, or going home?"

"Home, probably."

"Your mom taking Dustin to the dance?"

I shake my head. "No, Steve promised him he'd be the chauffeur. I think mom's picking him up, though. What's with the third degree?" I ask.

Hopper smirks and pats my shoulder. "Just curious, hooligan." I narrow my eyebrows but choose to focus on El.

"Before I go, I need a couple of pictures. Stand right there." I move her to stand in front of the door. "Smile, sweetheart." She does as I say, lips twitching shyly. I take two photos with my Polaroid before letting them develop, handing one over to the police Chief. "Alright, I'm off to go watch some reruns with my mom. You have fun." I hug El briefly, then Hopper. "And you, don't terrorize Mike. They're awkward enough at that age."

Hop snorts and packs my back. "Yeah, sure. Get home safe."

I walk to the front door, only to be briefly stopped by El. "You okay?"

"You're brave. Be brave." She tells me, a clear order. I blink at her, then nod.

"Okay, sweetheart. Okay. Goodnight, guys." I walk out the door in a bit of a daze, reminding myself to focus on the traps as I make my way to the Falcon.

It takes me turning onto my road to realize exactly where I should be going, even if it still scares me to the core. With a sharp turn and an even sharper intake of breath, I'm heading to Loch Nora. I don't stop until I reach the house I've been dead-set on avoiding. The driveway is empty, save for the Beemer, and I pull up next to it. I quietly turn off the engine and get out, my backpack on my back. Be brave, be brave. I murmur to myself, walking up to the front door.

"What are you waiting for, Smarties?" I swear I hear Barb ask behind me, and I smile.

Absolutely nothing, Barb.

I press the doorbell and bounce on my heels, bare legs shaking in the breeze. "I'm coming, hang on!" Steve shouts on the other side. He opens the door, eyes focused on the cash in his hands. "It's $25, yeah?"

"I'm that cheap?" I joke, and he jolts, eyes roving up from my shoes to my eyes. His own hazel orbs are wider than Bambi's.

"Roni? What are you doing here?"

"It's you or bad reruns with my mom, Steven." I offer. "You going to let me in, handsome?"

"Yeah, uh, yes." He steps out of the way and I walk in. "Here, I can take your coat. And your bag."

"Thank you." I smile and hand both over, watching as he delicately hangs everything up on the coat rack. When he's done, we stare at each other awkwardly.

"Um, I'm going to go get some snacks. I ordered pizza, it should be here -" the doorbell rings "now. It's here now. Um, I'll meet you in the living room." The bell rings again, and he rolls his eyes. "I'm coming!" He shouts, turning towards the door to deal with the impatient delivery guy.

I walk down the hall and into the living room, bigger than any I've ever been in. The blinds have been pulled out of the way to reveal the pool, and while my stomach twists with telltale anxiety, I'm done being scared. I'm ready to be brave.

So with a small exhale I open the glass door and walk through, finding myself on the edge of the heated pool, staring out at the forest behind Steve's home. I look over to the diving board, and it's like I'm back at that night, facing away from Barb as she checks her open wound. It hurts, but I don't feel wrong. Like I'm going to die… like my brain is telling me I'm going to die. What happened to me, I'm never going to "get over it". I'm probably never going to stop having bad dreams.

But I can choose to remember the good stuff when that happens. I can remember Barb's smile, her stubbornness. I can think about how smart Nancy is, how loyal she's been. How fiercely she fights. Or Jonathan's kindness, how much we love each other. Literally every moment we've ever spent together, good or bad, because he's my brother and we'll always have each other's back. My little brother's bite, my mom's hugs. Lucas and Mike's debates, Max's red hair and courage. El's strength, her big eyes, her innocence and her wisdom. I can think about Hopper looking out for me, and strawberry milkshakes. I can think about Will, how big his heart is even after everything he's gone through. I can choose to think about Joyce - how she manages to overcook and undertook her food, how she always seems to know how I'm feeling before I do. Or how I was at her house when I got my first period, and she was with me the whole time I cried or moaned in pain.

I'll even think about the good years I shared with my dad. The first time I held a bow, the first time I made a bullseye. How prepared he made me for what I'd go through without even knowing I'd go through it. Even though it ended the way it did, I'll think about Billy listening to me when he didn't have to.

I can think about Steve. I can remember his hazel eyes, how they always remind me of home. I'll focus on how every time he looks at me, I feel my heart practically bursting with love. I'll think about his hands cupping my face when I'm having a panic attack, how protective he is of Dustin. I'll think about every argument and every time he's comforted me.

So I take off my thigh high boots and my fluffy socks and sit down by the pool, the skirt of my dress pulled up a bit as I gently lower my feet into the heated water. There's that initial fear of a clawed hand reaching up to grab me, of vines crawling around the sides. The Harrington's have lights in their pool, though, and they're bright enough to show me I'm going to be okay. I don't want to get all the way in - not even if I was wearing a bathing suit - but this feels like a good start.

"Roni! Veronica, where'd you go?" Steve shouts from inside the house. I turn a bit, looking through the open glass door, his back to it.

"Outside!" I yell back. He jumps and turns, nearly dropping the two beers and box of pizza.

"Jesus Christ, you trying to give me a heart attack?" He asks, cheeks flushed with anger. I smile a little and shake my head, patting the concrete next to me.

"Sorry, baby." I apologize. He sighs and walks over, setting the pizza and two cans behind me before slipping off his socks and rolling up his jeans. They can't go very high up, so the bunched hemming under his knees still gets wet.

"I didn't think you'd come out here." He murmurs, looking at me warily.

I shrug. "Me either. But… I'm tired of being scared. Of letting my fears rule my life, you know? Besides, I never even got to check out your heated pool last year."

He nods and looks down at his knees, picking at the denim fabric. "No. You didn't."

"Steve, don't do that. It wasn't your fault. None of it was your fault."

"I was being a stupid teenager, and two people paid the price - one with their life. So yes, it was." He opens his can and takes a swig of beer, Adam's Apple bobbing as it goes down.

With a soft sigh I lift my hand, placing it on the back of his head and stroking the surprisingly soft locks. "I never blamed you. Not once." He sets the beer down between us but doesn't look at me. Instead his head lifts so he can gaze out at the trees. "I could never, ever blame you."

"You should." He whispers. I sigh sadly and move his beer towards the pizza so I can press our sides together. I lean up and kiss his cheek, twice. He shudders a bit.

"Don't tell me what to do." I warn him, words harsh but tone light and amused. He grins, staring down at me a bit.

"Pretty sure no one can do that."

"Damn straight." I reach back to open my own can of beer and hand Steve his, my head leaning against his bicep as we look out at the forest. "Thank you for dropping off Dustin, by the way."

"Hey, the little shit's grown on me."

"How'd the Farrah Fawcett spray work? He manage to capture your signature style?" Steve jumps away in shock and I laugh at his betrayed expression.

"He told you? Sorry princess, I'm going to have to kill him."

I snort and giggle, shaking my head. "No. He didn't tell me anything. He did make me drive him out of town to pick up a can. I pieced it all together from there. You just confirmed it, though, so thank you for that baby."

Steve pouts. "You suck." Then he holds up a finger. "Nope. Don't say it." I grin and wiggle my eyebrows, drinking some more beer. "How much are you judging me?"

"I'm not." He raises an eyebrow. "No, seriously. I'll probably tease you endlessly about it, but I don't care. Farrah Fawcett's awesome. Though it does explain your hair." I run a hand through his locks and he smiles at me warmly. "I am mad that Nance never told me. It would've made shopping for your birthday even easier."

"Nancy doesn't know." I blink in surprise.

"Oh. Huh."

"Yeah." There's an awkwardness rolling in, surrounding us in a thick fog.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah. Just… thinking. I saw Nancy when I was dropping Dustin off. She just looked so happy. Happier than she's ever really looked around me. And it's all thanks to Jonathan." I can feel my heart cracking a little, but I pretend that everything's alright inside while I nod for Steve to continue, even though he isn't looking at me. "It got me thinking, that's all. About being happy, with the right person. The person you should be with, because they make the most sense. And then I thought about you, and Hargrove. Even if it was only for a few weeks, you laughed louder and you smiled bigger, and even though you're ice, you were also running hot. But it was dangerous and scary, Roni." Then he looks at me, really looks at me. "Looking at you now, though… you're different. Almost like how you were before. A good different, but…"

"Different." I look down at my feet as they kick underwater. "I don't know who I am anymore. I'm not sure I ever did. And I get that kids shouldn't have themselves figured out, but who I became was all I knew. It was so easy after my dad left to just close myself off. To be the Ice Queen, or whatever. It was even easier to act like that's who I am. Letting myself get angry and explosive was fun. But I don't want to be like that anymore. I don't want to be the Ice Queen, I don't want to yell and fight more than I've already had to. I'm tired of it." I admit, and a large hand covers my smaller limb. "I feel different, too. Like the old me."

"You are her. You never really stopped being her, not with the people you care about." Steve tells me, his voice soft.

"I just don't know who I'm supposed to be." I whisper back, still not looking at him.

"Hey, you'll figure it out. It's like, I don't know, damn, what's the friggin' word? Oh yeah, a scale. Maybe you can be both. Find the balance and shit. It's okay to be all three people, you know. You don't ever have to be just one thing."

I look away from the water and up into hazel eyes. "Has anyone ever told you how incredibly smart you are?" I ask, a little breathless. Steve only rolls his eyes and blushes, like I'm teasing him or something. Oh. "You're so incredibly smart."

He blinks and snorts. "I thought I was a dumbass?"

Remembering one of my favorite nicknames for him, I shake my head. "I mean, you are one sometimes, but that doesn't mean you're an idiot. Or stupid. I'm a dumbass, too. Jonathan and Nancy can be dumbasses, especially Johnny. Dustin's the biggest dumbass I know." I smile warmly at Steve. "You're my smart dumbass, Steven."

He nods, then smiles with me. "I can work with that. As long as I'm yours."

"And are you?" I ask, voice barely loud enough to be considered a whisper. Before I can stop him he stands up, shaking the water off his legs.

"Stay here! I'll be right back!" I blink in confusion as he rushes to the house. He stops briefly to turn around, like he thought I'd moved from my frozen state. "Stay! Okay." He runs inside and my eyebrows furrow.

He's gone a few minutes. In that time I've tried to at least reach over and eat a slice of the rapidly cooling pizza, but I can't find it in myself to move. Finally, he returns with his boombox in hand. He sets it down by one of the pool chairs and pops in a cassette. His back is to me as he messes with it, but he still talks. "We should have our own Snow Ball. I know I don't have any lights up or decorations, but this can work, right? Yeah, it'll work." It's almost like he's talking out loud, and he probably is, but I'm watching him too fondly to ask.

When the intro to You And I by Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle begins, he stands and turns, hair a little wild, the curl in the front flopping everywhere. He brushes a hand through his locks to fix it, then holds out his hand. "Dance with me, Roni?"

I smile, cheeks practically burning, and take my feet out of the water. They're instantly cold, but I don't care, because soon Steve's left hand is gently holding my right, and his right arm is around my lower back, and my left arm is around his neck. I'm standing on the balls of my feet so I can look at him, and he smiles that amazing smile of his, hazel eyes shining as we begin to sway.

Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle sing about building dreams together, about being alright. The whole of the first verse and chorus, Steve and I just sway to the soft crooning. "And I remember our first embrace, that smile that was on your face" Rabbitt and Gayle sing, and Steve pulls me in even closer.

"I want to, I mean I need to tell you something. It's, uh, important, alright?" I nod, and he sucks in a deep breath. "And I'm not sure how you'll respond, but I'm hoping I don't ruin shit by saying it."

"Steve, it's okay." I promise.

He nods. "Right. So… I know I made it seem like I was moping about Nancy and Jonathan, but… I was really just being a coward. Again. I'm tired of being one."

"Steve, c'mon, you're one of the bravest people I know."

He only laughs sardonically. "You'd be surprised."

"Hey, you know I hate it when you get down about yourself." I gently remind him.

"I know, I know. But this time I have to be. God, I screwed up so bad these past five years. I should've just been honest from the start, but shit was I scared."

"Scared of what?"

He breathes in then carefully exhales, pressing his forehead to mine and closing his eyes. The action has my heels lowering to the ground. "I was scared I wasn't good enough for you." He opens his eyes and looks into mine, unblinking. "So I acted like a dick to you instead, because I thought if I acted like I didn't care things would be easier. I was so, so wrong. By the time I got it through my thick head that I messed up and should've just been honest it was too late. I was just happy you'd given into bantering with me. There's a reason I would always seek you out, and it wasn't because I hated you or wanted to knock you down a peg or any of the other shit I said. Jesus Christ this is hard. What I'm trying to say is -"

"I love you." I exhale the words, interrupting him, being brave like El and Nance said to be. His forehead moves off of mine.

Steve blinks and sputters, speechless. "I… you… what?"

"I love you, Steven Theodore Harrington. So much." I vow, voice unwavering. "I've loved you for almost four years. I love you."

"Oh. Oh. Tha-that's good. That's great. Wow."

I blink up at him as we stop swaying, biting my lip as I anxiously wait for him to finally say it, because I'm sure I know how he feels but damn it I need to be right. "Steve?"

"Yeah?" His eyes focus back on mine.

I swallow and release my lip from my teeth. "I need you to tell me."

"Tell you what?" Steve's all confused and out of breath, like he doesn't know exactly where he is.

My eyes get misty. "That you love me."

He nods and starts to lean down, dropping my right hand in favor of cupping the back of my neck. My left hand slides down to grab onto his maroon sweater, the right one raising to rest next to the left. "I love you, Veronica Leigh Henderson. I've loved you since middle school. And I never stopped loving you. I love you so much that sometimes it hurts to look at you because my heart's pumping fast enough to explode."

"You've loved me that long?"

"Yes." He insists.

"Right." I nod, then glare. "If you don't kiss me right now I swear -" Quicker than a bolt of lightning, his lips are pressed against mine.

It feels like every cliché I can think of; fireworks, a rollercoaster, going into a freefall. My whole body feels like it's glowing, every nerve's awake and lit up brighter than the sky on the Fourth of July. Our lips move like that's what they were made to do, like they've known each other their whole lives. My fingers clutch the soft fabric of his sweater even more, and Steve's practically lifting me off my feet, only my toes touching the ground.

We break apart for air, Steve not letting go of me. His left hand comes up to curve around my cheek, thumb stroking my skin like I'm something precious. Before I can stop myself, the words I'd been cut off from come rolling out. "I'll have to kill you." I feel myself burning up with embarrassment but Steve only laughs, smiling and closing his eyes as our foreheads are pressed together. It takes my breath away even more than the kiss did.

"Please don't."

"I won't. I'd rather kiss you, anyway." He nods and grins, eyes still closed when he presses our lips together. Mine shut, too, and Steve laughs into the kiss, this time lifting me completely off the ground, just like he did when we hugged outside of the tunnels. When I hear what song is playing, I laugh. "You Can't Run From Love? I can't believe you Radio Romanced me."

He smirks as he lowers me back down, left hand now tugging the ends of my hair. "Eddie Rabbitt's great, Roni."

I roll my eyes and shove his chest lightly, frowning playfully. "God, we're such dumbasses. We could've been doing that for years."

Steve laughs even louder, nodding in agreement. "Well, we got our shit together now. You can't run from love." He teasingly sings along with Eddie Rabbit and I smile.

"No more running." I promise.

He licks his lips and leans down. "Only together."

"Together. Together's good."

3rd Person POV (Steve's)...

Steve's eyes blink open, and he groans a bit at the light pouring in from the blinds he didn't close. He feels warm and grounded, like something's keeping him down in the best way. A soft murmur has his head lifting a bit from its uncomfortable position on the couch pillow, and an explosion of blonde princess curls are splayed all over his chest.

Everything that happened last night comes rushing back to him, and Steve's almost overwhelmed by it all. Roni's here, with him. Finally. Of course, there's more physical proof that he's happy, and it takes a few moments for Steve to think very unhappy thoughts instead. The demodogs work like a charm, which is good to know.

He wiggles down a little more on the couch, careful not to wake his sleeping Roni. When her face is pressed into his neck he smiles, rubbing his jaw against her forehead in a way he'll totally deny later on. Probably.

No, he won't.

Steve closes his eyes, happy to just lay there even though he knows he needs to brush his teeth, and she's sort of crushing his ribs with her elbow, and her breath's a little warm against his neck. He doesn't even know how late he woke up, only that it's Sunday and he's happy to just spend it right here.

With both arms around this girl, this amazingly complex and wonderful girl, Steve's empty house feels like a home. He strokes his hands along her back, over the shirt he leant her. Their sweatpant-clad legs are wrapped together and he bends his right knee up to keep her even closer.

Roni murmurs into his neck, smacking her lips cutely and letting out a tiny snore. He grins and opens his eyes, her sun kissed skin glowing in the morning light.

"Goddamn, you're so gorgeous." He whispers, and she nuzzles into him.

It could be minutes, it could be hours, but her eyes flutter and she tilts her head back, brilliant green orbs a little glazed. "Hi baby." Her voice comes out husky and light, breaking the silent spell.

"Mornin' princess."

She smiles and hums, and there's nothing to keep him from pressing their lips together sweetly, sleepy pecks turning into lips moving in perfect harmony. "Mmm. Steve. Steve. Steven. We need to brush our teeth -"

Steve just kisses her deeper, cutting her off. She's already half on top of him, but it's not enough. He shifts her body, laughing when she yelps and lands completely on her front. He scoots back, propping himself up on the forgotten pillow with his head resting on his left hand. The fingers on his right hand lift up to trace over the scar on her temple, down her cheek, all the way down to where her necklace rests, having been pulled out from under her shirt when he'd moved her. As he traces over the tiny flower and the pearls, Roni's fingers trace over his face, the digits on her left hand tracing along his square jaw, his nose, across his lips. He smiles and kisses her fingertips, completely at peace. "I did good with your present, huh?" Steve asks rhetorically.

"Lucky for you. That card trick was just mean." She complains, but he knows she's messing with him. Steve grins, trying not to lose himself in those bright green eyes, at the little spark of mischief she's only recently gotten back. There's also no way of mistaking the love in her eyes for anything else, and fuck it's all for him.

"Sorry, gorgeous." It's smooth and totally a lie. A lie that gets him a grin and a little chuckle.

"You suck."

"That's my line."

She snorts, and the fact she doesn't blush about it or apologize like any other teenage girl around a guy would makes him fall even more in love with her. This is real, everything about her is real. He's spent five years cataloging all her imperfections like a damn jerk because he thought pointing them out to himself would make the feelings go away. Not that it worked or anything. He's watched her grow so much since he met her - not in height, because damn she's shorter than the kids they watch, but as a person and shit.

"What's going on in that big head of yours?" Steve blinks out of his thoughts as Roni taps at his forehead, next to the scarred-up cut.

"You're amazing."

She rolls her eyes and blushes. "Yeah, well, so are you."

Steve finds himself making a small noise of doubt, wanting to believe her even though his dad's voice is screaming in his mind, calling him a brainless moron who'll never amount to anything. "You're only saying that because I said it."

Her right eyebrow starts to quiver, a warning that she's getting pissed. It's adorable and scary. It isn't until she clenches her fists that he knows she's upset, too. Before he can say anything she slides up, her legs bracketing his waist in a way that's both sexy and calming. Steve sits up more, bringing his legs closer together while keeping them bent to support his girl. He softly unfurls her fists, inspecting them for moon-shaped bloody marks. No skin was broken though, and he kisses her palms gently.

"Steven." He looks up at Roni, unable to keep looking away as her right eyebrow twitches more and her eyes get a little darker. "You're amazing. Everything about you is amazing. How well you know me is amazing. How well you know me is amazing. How much you care about my brother is amazing. How protective you are of everyone you care about - even if they've hurt you - is amazing. Your heart is amazing, how brave you are is amazing, your mind is amazing." She leans forward and kisses between his brows, then moves back a bit. "Do you remember what you said to me at Tina's party?"

"The fight?"

"All of it." Steve makes a sad noise, heart breaking a little at the memory because he made his girl cry, and he didn't even stop to ask if she was alright before he laid into her. Especially because she was having not-hallucinations and had convinced herself she'd lost her mind. "Hey, no, look at me." His eyes reopen, and she gives him a soft smile. "I know you, too. You can't stand still when you sense danger. You always have to be moving, and you shift your weight when you can't hide how nervous you are. When you're concentrating, your tongue pokes out like a little dog's, and it shouldn't be attractive but it totally is. Your eyes are more brown when you're sad. They get greener if you're happy or about to do something reckless." She smiles at him and it's like looking at the stars on a clear night. "You love Wham! and Duran Duran, but you lose your shit over REO Speedwagon. It's gross and I totally don't like your taste in music, but I love the way you bop around like the kids on sugar. You've got a great voice, too, when you're not messing around. Two weeks ago I almost went to heaven because you were singing along to Girls On Film, and I wanted to shut off the actual song and just hear you because you make Duran Duran good."

"What's with all the Duran Duran hate?" Steve jokes, trying to distract himself from the butterflies in his stomach.

Her lips twitch into an amused grin. "They're awful, Steve."

"Please, you know every word of Hungry Like The Wolf. Admit it, you like them."

"Never. Now stop interrupting me, I'm trying to be romantic!" She scolds him, and he feels himself starting to smile like a crazy person. "Thank you. Things I know about you… Oh, right. When I'm about to do something stupid you let out this special huff just for me and bite your lip like you're trying to stop me, even though you know that probably won't happen. You like cats and dogs, and you're scared of birds. I've seen you walk away from them way too often for you to deny it."

"They're creepy." He defends himself, but it goes ignored.

"You like chocolate milkshakes, but that's obvious. You don't like onion rings because you think they're slimy on the inside, and you're right but they're still yummy, Steve. You only wear Nike shoes unless you've gotta dress up for something, and you hate basketball but you do it because you're good at it and it keeps you in shape." She peers down at him with a happy smile. "You love baseball, but actually prefer pitching to batting. That's also a little obvious - I used to go to your little league games because my dad was friends with the coach. You're good. You're really good." Then she frowns, but still keeps her eyes on him. "I know why else you play basketball. Well, why you even decided to try out for the team. You were hoping your dad would show up for the games, because he's the former captain. I went to every single one of your games when I got to high school, even before we became friends. Jonathan wanted company while he took pictures for the school paper and yearbook. I'd lie to myself and say I was only going to keep Jonathan from getting bullied. But I also went for you. Because that first time Johnny took me was your first game as captain, and my heart broke when you looked over at the bleachers and I saw your parents weren't there." Her eyes well with tears, just like his. "I didn't want you to think you were alone, so even though you never noticed me at the games, I still kept going."

"I noticed you." Steve breathes out, his voice working again. He nods shakily. "I mean, I didn't know that's why you were there, but I saw you." He feels himself get a little wistful, mind back on those darker, lonelier days. "Sometimes - a lot of the times - I'd pretend you were there for me."

"I was." She promises to him, all open and honest. He watches her collect herself a little trying to do the same. "I haven't been to any of your swim meets since last year, but you're an incredible swimmer. Probably the best Hawkins has to offer, co-captain. I… you favorite color is blue. Like, dark blue. Or royal blue, I guess. You like green a lot, too -"

"Especially when you're wearing it." Steve interrupts her, thinking about her green dress. "I love you in green, and lace, and my ratty clothes that look supermodel worthy on you."

"Stop it, this is supposed to be about you." She complains, and he jostles her as he sits up all the way.

"You've already proved you know me. It's kind of creepy."

"Yeah, well, you're the same when it comes to me, you hypocrite." She pouts, and he grabs her into a quick kiss.

"Mhmm. And I wouldn't change it for the world." Steve murmurs against her lips, smiling as she shudders a bit before pressing their lips together harder, for much longer.

She's the first to pull away, catching her breath. A second later both of their stomachs growl, and Steve grins as she laughs, clutching her belly as it rumbles in hunger. His does the same, again, and he takes their bodies' hint. "Does my girlfriend want some breakfast?" He asks, feeling a little timid. They hadn't exactly verbally labeled what they are, but he knows it isn't messing around or anything casual.

His smoothness is rewarded with a somehow shy-and-confident smile as Roni regrettably stands up, her hand outstretched for him to take. "Only if my boyfriend makes it."

If Steve wasn't so excited about this finally happening, he'd be a little embarrassed about the tiny bop he does as he takes her hand and gets off the couch. "Two orders of chocolate chip pancakes and bacon coming up. And because I'm feeling nice today, a coffee with milk and three sugars." Steve taps her nose with his free fingers and smiles before tugging her through the empty house to the kitchen.

"I love you." She swears, and he stops walking for a moment to turn and look down at her.

"I love you, too, Ronniekins."

She immediately huffs, and he grins as he whisks her away once more. "I take back everything I said."

"No, you don't."

"Don't tell me how I feel." He grins, waiting for it. "Fuck, I don't. I hate you."

"You love me." He sings, and Steve doesn't need to turn around to know she's smiling as big as he is.

"So much."

They sit in a comfortable silence as he gets to work, and he finds himself kissing the top of her head every time he walks past. When he sets the hot coffee down in front of his still-sleepy girlfriend, he's rewarded with a kiss that almost makes him forget about the bacon.

"Saved it!" He calls over from the stove, smiling as Roni laughs. She laughs even harder when she catches him stacking the pancakes high up on a plate, arguing that the only one capable of eating all that is Dustin.

"Baby, seriously, that's way too many pancakes."

Steve can't help but smile like a dork, setting the pile down in front of her. "I love it when you call me that."

"What, 'baby'?" He gulps as she smirks. "Baby, baby, baby, baby." She purrs, and he knows he's flushing so Steve rolls his eyes and walks away, trying to tell his buddy to calm down a bit because damn, she's too much.

"Yeah. Baby."

"So won't you, please, be my, be my baby." Roni sings teasingly, a little off-key but smiling and humming the rest of The Ronettes' classic, grabbing three pancakes when Steve sets a plate down in front of her. He snorts when she takes nearly half the bacon, munching down on it.

"You're such a beautiful eater." She looks at him with deer-caught-in-headlights eyes and cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's, carefully chewing the syrupy pancakes and salty bacon. "Really. I should've borrowed Jonathan's camera and documented it."

She glares, but it's way less intimidating thanks to her puffy cheeks. It takes a few minutes for her to swallow. "Bite me."

"Okay." Steve shrugs and leans towards where she's sitting. His girlfriend jolts and tries to run out of the kitchen, but he's got longer legs so he twirls her into him and bends her back in a half-dip, looming over her.

"St-Steven! Stop!" She laughs as he pokes at her sides. Then she gulps, holding her stomach, and he stops.

"Shit, Roni, are you okay?"

Without missing a beat, she jumps on top of him and begins stabbing at his ribs with her thin fingers, laughing as he screams and tries to wiggle away. "Fooled ya!"

"Sc-screw y-you… AH!... scre-screw y-you, R-Ro-RONI!" She lets him go and Steve tries to swallow as much air as physically possible, glaring at her. "That was mean."

"You knew what you were getting into, Steven." She pats his shoulder and returns to the table, standing as she finishes her coffee. "I'm going to go brush my teeth."

"Yeah, yeah." He waves her off as she walks away, pointedly walking in the direction of the stairs and not the bathroom down the hall. Not that he blames her, or has said anything about it. He's just happy she was able to be by the pool, but that bathroom… he can't imagine what it's like for her, being back in his house after a year of avoiding it. All the ghosts that are there that he can't even see.

Steve sighs and stands up, stretching as he puts the leftover pancakes away and puts the dirty dishes, cups, and forks in the dishwasher, resolving to do it tonight.

He looks around his house, the one place in the neighborhood not decorated for Christmas. It's not that he hates the holiday - it's his favorite, actually - but he's spent four years without his parents there. Last Christmas Eve he spent at the Wheeler house with Nancy, and it was pretty fun if not a little stressful and awkward thanks to Mrs. Wheeler's questions and protective hovering. But that was just for dinner. He didn't open presents with them, he didn't relax in front of an open fire and drink hot chocolate and watch stupid Christmas movies.

No, he was at home with unwrapped presents his parents kept for him by the TV a week before, when they left town. He had a couple of beers, heated up a frozen dinner because he was too lazy to cook, and watched random adventure movies he'd picked up from Family Video, including Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jaws. He did sit in front of the open fire, but that was more so because he knew fire kills monsters, and for weeks he'd been scared it came back.

The nail bat had been by his side the whole time, ready to use.

But this year, the gate was closed. The Lab was shut down. He's got better friends than he ever did, people who made him good. And he has Roni, hopefully for a long time. Look, he knows their young, but something about them just feels right.

"What's the plan for today, baby? Baby?" He turns to look at his girlfriend, Roni worriedly playing with her fingers when they make eye contact. "You okay?"

"I wasn't planning on doing anything."

She just nods and walks closer to him, arms wrapped around the back of his neck. "What's wrong, handsome?"

"Just thinking. That's all. Hey, why don't we go to yours for a bit. We can go out to the forest if you want, walk around. We don't have to stay inside all day."

She starts to smile, pearly white teeth flashing up at him. "Okay. I'm wearing this to mine, though. You're never getting this outfit back." She gestures to his shirt and sweatpants, and Steve laughs before kissing the tip of her nose.

"That's fine. I'll be down soon." She lets him go and he walks away, not even bothering to hide the slight skip in his steps.

3rd Person POV (Steve's)...

Steve lets go of Roni's hand when she stops her car, her front yard even more festive than last year. She gets out and he follows her, the dress from last night flipped over his shoulder while his hand finds hers again. The watch on her left wrist glints under the porch lights as she opens the front door. "Mom, D, I'm home!" She calls, and his eyes focus on the giant Christmas tree in the corner of the room, covered in tinsel and ornaments with presents shoved underneath.

Steve feels eyes on him and turns to look at Roni. "What's up?"

Before she can answer, a door down the hall opens. "Leia! Dude, I've got so much to tell you. So those girls last night were freaking awful, and I was all sad, but then Nance asked me to dance. Stacy was so totally - Steve, hi. I mean it went great. I got so many numbers. I was the belle of the ball."

Steve tries to hide his laugh, but it's a little difficult considering Dustin clearly made the mistake of brushing out his hair after the dance instead of washing it, because it's sticking all over the place like the Bride of Frankenstein's monster. "Hey buddy. So the look worked?" He pretends like he didn't hear that the girls rejected him, because if Steve focuses on that he knows he'll be giving those stupid middle schoolers a piece of his mind.

Roni, however, looks pissed. "Give me names. I want their names. And I'll get Nancy some flowers. Those goddamn bitches."

"Hey, I'm all good. I mean, Will and I are the only two who didn't get kissed, but -"

"You're too young to be kissing anyone, D!"

Steve blinks down at his girlfriend. "You just threatened to kill the girls who were rude to him."

He jumps when she turns on him and pokes his chest. "I can feel both ways, Steven."

"I'm sorry gorgeous, you're totally right." Steve just goes ahead and agrees, knowing first hand there's nothing more dangerous than Roni when she gets protective of her little brother.

"Thank you baby." She leans up and kisses him quickly, before she jolts back and blinks. "I, uh…"

"No fucking way! Holy shit!" Dustin shouts, and both of the older teens jump at the volume. Any fears Steve had are wiped away when he sees the youngest Henderson grinning wide, blue eyes sparkling. "Dude, you told her! Good for you, buddy! And you," he turns to Roni and the next thing Steve knows his girlfriend and her brother are slamming into the front door, "I'm so happy for you!"

Roni blinks over at Steve before smiling and wrapping herself around her little brother. "Thanks, D. I'm sorry those girls were -"

"Oh, who cares, my sister got the guy!" Then Dustin's releasing her and running towards his room. "I'm calling the Party! Holy shit this is awesome." He disappears for only a second before coming out of his room, pointing at Steve. "Hurt her, and I kill you."

"That's fair." Steve responds, but it goes unheard by Dustin as the kid slams his bedroom door shut.

"So, he took that well." Roni comments, her jacket off as she rubs her bare arms. Steve smiles and pulls her into him, planting one on her.

"Mhmm." He releases his girlfriend and - feeling a little frisky - slaps her butt. "Go, get dressed. And tell your brother to get ready, too!"

She yelps and bats at his hand, but she's still smiling. "Why? Where are you taking us?"

"Wear something warm! And better boots, too. Your hiking ones." Steve ignores her question and Roni grumbles, stalking off. In the distance Steve can hear her and Dustin yelling at each other. He smiles and sits down on the couch, Tews - Claudia's new cat, who apparently loves Roni the most - rubbing against his leg and purring.

He sits there for a while, completely at peace as Tews jumps onto his lap and he scratches her back. Dustin's the first one to come out of his room, signature trucker cap covering the mess that is his hair. "Please tell me you're not making me a third wheel." The kid gripes, but he's still smiling at the idea of being included so Steve doesn't take him seriously.

"Whatever, kid. Roni, princess, how much longer?"

"As long as I want, Steven!" She shouts back. "Screw you!" He rolls his eyes at Dustin, amused when the kid does the same. Roni's door opens and she pokes her head out. "I love you, baby."

It warms Steve inside-out. "I love you too."

"Aw gross. No, you two together's definitely going to be worse." Dustin complains, but he still pats Steve's back. "I am happy for you. Glad our talk helped."

"Hey, you remember how I said to act like you don't care?" Dustin nods up at him, and Steve's once again blown away by the fact someone finds him worthy of being looked up to. "I was wrong. You care about a girl, I mean really care, you tell her. Even if she doesn't feel the same, it's better to know. It means you don't have to make up for lost time."

Dustin nods, smiling softly. "Okay. I will, Steve."

"You're a good kid, Dustin." Steve swears, and footsteps click towards them.

"This okay, baby?" Roni asks, violet winter jacket zipped up over what's probably a sweater and her thickest pair of jeans are tucked into her hunting boots.

"How are you so gorgeous?" Steve responds, smirking at her when she blushes.

"Genetics. Let's go." She answers shortly, stomping past the two guys who exchange happy grins. "Now!"

"God, you're bossy."

"Coming Roni." Dustin and Steve follow after her, the kid ducking when Steve tries to smack at him. It'd totally be an earned hit, he made a cracking noise and mouthed "whipped" to Steve.

"So, where am I driving to?" Roni asks when everyone's inside and the car's warming up.

"The Christmas tree farm, just outside Hawkins. My house is missing one. Then we'll go back to mine. I have some decorations to put up." He watches her smile grow, green eyes sparkling, because of course she knows exactly why his house is bare of all acknowledgment of Christmas. "I'll need some help, though." He turns to Dustin, watching the kid as he reads him like his older sister can. "Mind calling the dipshits? I'll order us all pizza."

"Yeah, buddy, I'll call them. Now, milady, I believe King Steve requires our assistance. Tally forth, good woman."

Steve laughs, that stupid nickname sounding much better coming out of Dustin's mouth. "Yeah, yeah. Buckle up."

"Don't tell me what to - ow, son of a bitch!" Steve hears the seatbelt click in place, and smiles warmly as his girlfriend smirks at her kid brother's loud complaints. The lyrics from that Rabbitt and Gayle song ring in his head, distracting him from whatever song is actually playing on the radio.

Just you and I
Sharing our love together
And I know in time
We'll build the dreams we treasure
And we'll be alright
Just you and I

You and I, and all our friends. Steve amends, taking his girlfriend's hand. And we'll be alright.