Chapter Sixteen
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Happily Ever... After?

            When Olivia, Dustin, and Steve first came home, Claudia was a crying mess. "Livy and Dusty Henderson!" She exclaimed, disappointment written in her tone. Olivia and Dustin looked at each other wearily, knowing fully well that they were in trouble if their mom was using their full names on them. "A series of murders happened and you had the audacity to leave the house without my consent! And for days, might I add."

             "Mom," Olivia said calmly. "We're okay, we promise." Her words were partly true. Physically, yes, she was okay, but emotionally, she most likely would never be the same again.

          "Don't you guys ever scare me like that again," Claudia sighed heavily. "So, I suppose you guys aren't going to tell me where you've been these last few days?" She asked, giving each of them a pointed look.

            Standing in the middle of Dustin and Steve, Olivia exchanged looks between them and pursed her lips, trying to hold back from blurting out everything. She nearly died almost two times, and her mother had no idea of it. Her mom deserved to know everything, and she wanted to tell her, really, but she knew it was for the best if they kept their mother in the dark about everything. Besides, what was she supposed to tell her anyway? 'Mom, I'm sorry we've been MIA, but we've been hunting down this creepy wizard monster that likes to murder traumatized teens. Oh yeah, and he almost tried to kill me in his freaky red mind world and showed me the most horrible things that hadn't even happened yet, including what happened to Dad. So yeah, as much as it hurt to lie to her mom, it was better if they didn't tell her anything.

Dad. All this time, Olivia and Dustin had no clue of how their father had died. Now that things were over, Olivia finally had time to really process what Vecna had shown her. Her father was a Hawkins police man just like Hopper and Hopper had even claimed that he died while he was out on the field, but Olivia always knew there was so much more to his death than Hopper led on, for the sake of not bearing the news to the two children who lost their father unexpectedly and were too young at the time to understand. It all made sense now to her. He died in 1982, the year before all the shit began in Hawkins. As she was in deep thought about her father, Dustin spoke up again, pulling her out of her trance.

            "Nevermind where we've been. Mom, Eddie is innocent. You have to believe us. H-he died when the earthquake hit, and yet the town never even got to know the real him," He said, wiping his nose.

            "Dusty's right, mom," Olivia sided and her heart broke as Dustin began to cry. "Eddie is far from the monster that the town has led everyone to believe. H-he was one of the best people that I knew."

            "Of course, I believe you two," Claudia's heart sank at her two heartbroken children, pulling them into a hug. "I've known from the beginning. I know how much you looked up to him Dusty, and I've always trusted your judgement."

            When Claudia saw Steve lurking behind them awkwardly, she pulled him in the group hug as well, startling him. "Thank you Steve dear, for being there with my babies. For protecting them during the earthquake."

            "Of course, Miss Henderson," Steve nodded, touched by her kindness. It was obvious how much love the mother held for her children. Steve had never received so much love before from his own parents, and he will forever be grateful to have Claudia as the loving and caring mom that he never really got to have growing up. "I love your daughter very much. I would do anything for her," He replied honestly.

            "I know that," Claudia smiled, looking over at her blushing daughter. "There is no one more I trust than you to be with my precious Livy."

"Okay, please stop before you guys make me cry," Olivia interjected, completely overwhelmed by all of the emotion that was lingering in the room.

            "Liv, I fully believe that there is no better match for you," Dustin chimed in and moved his eyes passed Olivia to look at Steve. "Steve, ever since you accidentally waltzed into my sister's life three years ago, I've noticed how much happier she is with you by her side. I may have not known you before you got close with Liv, but I can tell that was the same for you too. You guys are soulmates."

            "Thanks, buddy," Steve smiled softly, ruffling his curls. "And your right. She brings out the best version of me. If she never came into my life, I'd still be that same asshole who hung out with Tommy and Carol."

            Olivia turned to him. "Steve! I'm sure that's not true. I think... I think deep down you were always a good person, you just had bad friends who were not a good influence on you." She shuddered as memories of Tommy and Carol came over her. They were horrible people, and they constantly would taunt and bully her and Jonathan whenever they had the chance. She was so glad when Steve had finally come to his senses and dropped them out of his life for good.

             Steve scoffed at himself. "Maybe... maybe if I wasn't ever friends with them, then you would've come into my life way earlier."

            "Steve..." Olivia sighed. "You can't wish on something that you can't change. The past is behind us. We're together now and that's what matters, right?"

            "Right," Steve grinned, pulling her closer to him. "I love you."

           Olivia's heart skipped a beat at those three words. No matter how many times her and Steve would say it to each other, she would never get tired of hearing it. It was like she was floating on cloud 9 every time she heard it. "I love you too," She smiled giddily.

𓆩♡𓆪

            Within the last two days, Steve never left Olivia's side. After almost loosing her right in front of him, Steve couldn't bare being away from her at all. He constantly checked on her, asking if she was okay. He would even wait for her while she was in the bathroom, afraid that if she was alone for even just a few minutes, he would loose her again. At night when she would try to sleep, she had the most terrible nightmares and would wake up in the middle of the night sobbing uncontrollably in Steve's arms. It made Steve's heart break for her, but he would hold her close to his chest, assuring her that everything was going to be okay.

Olivia would cry because of Max, who was in a coma in the hospital, and she still hadn't woken up yet. Olivia's heart ached as she had a terrible feeling inside of her that Max might not even wake up from it. She visited Max as much as she could along with Steve. Olivia couldn't help but wonder if that Vecna had taken her instead, than Max would still be okay.

           Olivia, Steve, Dustin, and Robin gathered up at the Wheeler's home the next morning, helping sort and pack their donated boxes to give to the people who had suffered from the 'earthquake' as the small minded residents of Hawkins liked to call it.

            News reporters were going so far as to say that Eddie freakin' Munson was still the one to be blamed for all of this along with his so-called cult, when in reality it was just a nerdy group of friends playing Dungeons and Dragons. Eddie died saving this town, despite this town hating him. Olivia was furious, more than anything she wanted to give those news reporters a piece of her mind but Steve would be there by her side to help calm her down.

If only the town had known the real truth of what really happened. Olivia was one of the only people who really knew along with her group of friends.

Olivia leaned against Nancy's car as she helped her sort the last of the boxes. "Hey Nance! I found some more of your old stuff in the attic," Mrs. Wheeler called, holding a box of old stuffed animals.

Nancy gasped. "Mr. Rabbit," She gushed, looking at the worn out but clearly beloved stuffed rabbit with a fond expression.

"It's okay if you want to keep him, you know," Mrs. Wheeler told her gently.

Nancy shook her head. "No, he'll be more loved in a new home," She sighed, placing the rabbit gently back in the cardboard box and put it in her car.

"Someone order a pizza?" Mrs. Wheeler asked, catching everyone's attention.

            "Pizza?" Dustin perked up. Olivia giggled, knowing that was one of Dustin's favorite foods.

             Steve wrapped his arm around Olivia, sharing a curious look with her as a battered, pastel yellow van that said Surfer Boy's Pizza in red letters pulled up to the Wheeler's driveway. Olivia wore a confused expression when an unfamiliar face with dark, long hair that cascaded down to his waist stepped out of the vehicle, but her confusion slowly morphed into happiness when just behind him were Jonathan, Mike, Will, and El with matching wide grins.

             Olivia turned to look at Dustin with a twinkle in her eyes and her lips turned upwards at the heartwarming sight of Jonathan running up to Nancy, picking her up and twirling her around. Olivia and Dustin immediately sprung towards Will and El, pulling them into a group hug. Warmth spread through the eldest Henderson, and she was so happy to see them that she stumbled in her step out of pure happiness.

                "El, you saved my life. Thank you," Olivia told her, her voice muffled as she hugged her.

              "I almost saw you die, Liv. Are you okay?" El asked her immediately, her brown eyes filling with worry.

             "Yeah, I'm okay," Olivia nodded, hugging her again. "Thanks to you. You're literally a real life superhero," She smiled, nudging her shoulder when she suddenly remembered something. "B-but I don't understand, how did you save me, El? I mean, how did you even know I was in danger?"

            "I piggybacked from a pizza dough freezer," The young girl answered simply with a small shrug.

            Olivia tilted her head and shared an incredulous look with Dustin. "Huh?" The siblings chorused.

            Dustin smiled sheepishly, shaking off his confusion. "Whatever," He waved his his hand dismissively. "It doesn't matter whatever cool thing you did to saved my sister's life, what matters is that you saved her," He said sincerely. "Thank you."

"No need to thank me," El replied. "She is like my big sister. I would do anything to protect her."

            These past four years, Olivia and her friends had almost been dead numerous times, but El managed to save them every single time. Even when El was half way across the country in California, she still saved Olivia and Max's life. Of course, Olivia would love El just much even if she never had powers, because El was practically family to her and she was just as special without them. Who would have known that the day the boys had stumbled upon her in the woods in 1983, that all of their lives would change forever.

            "El was really worried about you. Well, I mean, we were really worried about you. All of us were," Will informed his now former crush. "We're just glad that you're okay, Liv. I mean, your the reason why everyone has stuck together all these years," He said honestly.

              "Will," Olivia sniffed, touched by his words. "Hawkins hasn't been the same without you guys."

            As Dustin was about to add to her comment, Jonathan came up from behind Will. "Hey, uh, you guys mind if I steal Liv for a second? She's my friend too, you know," He chuckled.

             Dustin sighed heavily and Olivia raised her eyebrows at him, never having understand why Dustin always held a small resentment towards Jonathan. Olivia rolled her eyes at her brother before running up to her friend. "Jonathan!" She smiled brightly. His appearance had considerably changed— his hair was shaggier, he had heavy bags under his eyes, and he was even taller than the the last time she had seen him if that was even possible. Nonetheless, he was still the same Jonathan that Olivia loved. "I've missed you! You haven't been writing back any of mine or Nancy's letters! We were beginning to worry about you."

          "I'm sorry," Jonathan apologized. "Life has been pretty hectic lately... but come on, there's someone I want you to meet," He gestured.

            Tilting her head in confusion, Olivia followed him. "Olivia, this is Argyle. Argyle, this is Olivia," He introduced.

            "Hi," Argyle waved and extended his arm out for her to shake. "Olivia... no way, just like Olivia Newton-John! It's nice to finally meet you. Jonathan's told me a lot about you, but may I just say, he never told me what an angelic creature you are," He spoke in a dream-like daze while his eyes were ogling her. Olivia was flattered by the strange teen but also shifted uncomfortably. There was mischief in his eyes and she couldn't tell if he was being sincere or not. Argyle was certainly a character, that was for sure.

            Olivia continued to stare quizzically at Argyle, amused by his peculiar choice of wardrobe. He was wearing a pastel yellow Surfer Boy's Pizza t-shirt with leggings that had colorful shapes all over them and a mix matched cardigan made out of t-shirt material that reminded her of the one Dustin would often wear. "Um... thank you, I guess?" Olivia trailed off questioningly as her eyes traveled back over to Jonathan. "Um, should I be taking that as a compliment?" She whispered.

            "From Argyle? Yeah," Jonathan answered, shoving his hands in his pocket. "You'll get used to his weirdness if you just embrace it."

            "Right," Olivia giggled, turning back to Argyle. "Well, it's nice to meet you too, Argyle. You can call me Liv, if you'd like," She smiled kindly, returning his handshake.

            Meanwhile, back over by Nancy's van, a twinge of jealousy sparked in Steve as he watched Olivia and Jonathan reconnect. Noticing his sudden change of demeanor, Robin patted his shoulder comfortingly. "You know Liv is like, totally crazy for you and only you, right? You have nothing to worry about."

            "I know..." The Harrington boy pouted as he watched Olivia throw her head back and laugh at something Jonathan had said. Steve knew Olivia used to have feelings for Jonathan and while those feelings were way in the past, Steve couldn't help but feel a little insecure whenever Jonathan was around. He was in deep thought for a moment before turning back to Robin. "Hey, can I show you something? You have to promise me that you won't tell anyone."

             "I'm the best at keeping secrets!" She laughed awkwardly, but when Steve didn't laugh in return, she crossed her fingers. "I promise I won't say anything," She said, laughing lightly at Steve's fidgetiness.

Robin quirked her eyebrows when Steve began to dig for something out of his pocket. When Steve showed Robin a small velvet box, her eyes widened. Steve glanced over in Olivia's direction to make sure that she was distracted, and then opened the velvet box revealing a small yet beautiful diamond ring. Robin covered her mouth with her hands and gasped. "Are you—"

Steve cut her off. "Yes, I'm planning on proposing to Liv," He smiled. "I've been thinking about this for a while now and I know, I know- it's a crazy idea. We're both still so young, but Rob, after almost loosing her and watching her almost die in my arms, I don't want to waste anymore time without having her as my wife. I've already asked for Mrs. Henderson's and Dustin's permission to ask her to marry me, and they were surprisingly on board with it. Do you think it's too soon?"

Still in shock by Steve's confession, Robin thought carefully for a moment. "Under normal circumstances, I would say yes, that this is soon, but we are certainly not under any normal circumstances here. And you and Olivia are different, Steve. You guys are soulmates and I've been saying this since day one. After everything you have been through together, you both deserve to be happy."

The ring glimmered in the sun as Robin spoke and she smiled as she studied it. It was dainty and delicate, just like Olivia. "She's going to love the ring," Robin grinned.

"You'll think she'll say yes?" Steve perked up.

"I know she'll say yes," Robin emphasized. "And hey, I'm glad you told me, I was beginning to wonder what that box was sticking out of your back pocket," She snorted, earning an eye roll from Steve.

            "Shut up, Rob."

𓆩♡𓆪

            Once Olivia, Steve, Dustin, and Robin arrived at Hawkins High, they grabbed the donation boxes from the trunk. Olivia frowned when she saw numerous fire trucks parked in front of the school. While carrying one box in one arm, Olivia used her other arm to help stable Dustin as he walked. His leg had been mildly injured back when they were in the upside down, but Dustin insisted that he was okay.

            "I'm telling you Dusty, you need to get crutches!" She begged her brother as the four of them entered the gym.

             "I don't want crutches, Liv. I'm fine," He huffed.

            "But you can barely walk," Olivia said worriedly. "I should've been there with you. Maybe you wouldn't have gotten hurt if I was there," She scolded to herself. "Your my little brother and it's my job to protect you."

Dustin rolled his eyes while putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Will you stop blaming yourself? I'm fine, Liv. Really. You always find some way to blame yourself for every dangerous situation we get in, yet it's never your fault. I mean, I'm lucky enough to have made it out of there alive and with no injuries except for a slightly injured leg," He gestured to the crowd of people that were swarming around them in the gym as distinct chatter filled her ears. Olivia frowned as she watched hundreds of people lying in hospital beds, being aided by doctors and nurses. She sighed, wishing there was more she could do to help the innocent people who had suffered.

The four teens exchanged sad glances with each other as they approached a woman standing in front of desk with a clipboard.

"Hi," Robin greeted with a smile. "So these are blankets and sheets, and some clothes, and some kids' toys," She said, pointing to each of the boxes.

"Wow, it's already so organized. We appreciate that," The dark skinned woman smiled kindly. "Do you want a tax receipt form?"

"Um... no," Robin answered, sharing a glance with a Olivia before turning back to the woman. "I don't think we need one. Thank you though," She smiled.

Olivia looked behind her at the crowd. "Is there anything we can do to help?" She asked, looking back at the woman in front her.

The woman set her pen down on the clipboard and smiled at them, leading them over to more boxes that needed to be sorted while Robin went over to help make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches at another table that was across the room.

            For the next half hour, Olivia stood next to Steve as the both of them neatly folded piles of kids' clothing and sorted them into cardboard boxes. Every now and then, Steve would steal a glance at her, making her cheeks heat up. Looking up ahead of her, she smiled at the most adorable interaction she had ever seen. "Steve, look!" She pointed at Robin across the room who was conversing and laughing with Vickie, the bubbly red head who Robin was currently crushing on. Olivia put a hand over her heart and leaned her head on Steve's shoulder, happy for her friend who seemed to have finally found love despite these dark days they were in.

            Tossing a striped shirt over his shoulder, Steve smiled and shook his head as him Olivia watched their clueless best friend falling in love right in front of them. "I guess Vickie's boyfriend is out of the picture, huh? Looks like I was right, Robin is Vickie's type! Why else would she have paused Fast Times at 53 minutes and 5 seconds?" He exclaimed.

            Olivia nudged his arm, wrinkling her nose in disgust at her boyfriend. "Shut up, Steve. What matters is that Robin is happy. She deserves happiness more than anyone I know. Her and Vickie would make a pretty cute couple, don't you think?"

            "Yeah, but they're not as cute as we are," Steve said slyly, sneaking his arms around her waist from behind.

            "Smooth, Harrington," Olivia giggled, standing up on her toes as Steve pulled her into a loving kiss. When they broke apart, Steve twirled her around and began doing his best attempt at an Elvis Presley impression while singing Can't Help Falling In Love in an octave lower than usual, making Olivia swoon. Whenever Steve sang to her, her knees would go weak.

The dark skinned woman from the front desk earlier noticed the small interaction between the two teens and smiled softly at the lovely couple before turning back to the growing line of people in front of her, carrying more boxes.

"So I've been thinking, when would you want to start making our six little nuggets?" Steve whispered in Olivia's ear, making her cheeks rosier than ever.

"Steve Harrington!" She smacked him on the shoulder as she felt butterflies fluttering in her stomach again.

"What?" Steve asked cluelessly, laughing with her.

"Now is not the time to make me blush, you know," She shook her head at him. "You really are an idiot, Steve Harrington."

"Yeah, but I'm your idiot who's crazy in love with you. And someday, you'll be marrying this idiot, future Mrs. Harrington," Steve added while smiling brightly.

"Future Mrs. Harrington," Olivia repeated with a hum, satisfied at how the name sounded. "I love you too, Steve."

Olivia's smile suddenly dropped when she noticed Dustin across the room, walking over to Mr. Munson. "Hey, I'm gonna go check on Dustin, make sure he's okay," She said as her eyes began to sadden.

"Yeah, go ahead, I got the rest of this," Steve nodded, giving her another kiss before she headed over to Dustin.

"Dustin!" Olivia called over the crowd, walking over to him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah- it's just, Mr. Munson needs to know the real truth about Eddie and how he died," He sniffed. "You think you could come with me?"

"Of course," Olivia nodded, looking over at Mr. Munson sadly, who was hanging a poster of Eddie that said missing person in bold letters along with other missing posters of teens.

"Mr. Munson?" Dustin spoke up. The older man looked over at the siblings, arching his eyebrows at them. "I'm Dustin Henderson, and this is my sister, Olivia. Can we talk?"

"I can't imagine we got anything to talk about," Mr. Munson replied curtly. "My nephew is innocent. He's still missing. I'll put up as many posters as I need until he's found. Good day to you," He nodded as he collected his things on the floor.

Dustin stopped him before he could leave. "We were with him, when the earthquake hit."

Dustin's abrupt statement seemed to stop Mr. Munson in his tracks and he turned back around, but his eyes did not fully meet the siblings in front of him. "And where is he now?" He asked, his eyes seemingly focused on the floor.

Olivia's heart ached for Eddie's uncle, having had no clue that his own nephew had died. Dustin's lips began to quiver as he tried to form an answer but failed, and Olivia put a comforting hand over her brother's shoulder, her heart aching for him as well. Dustin hadn't been his same goofy self since Eddie died. He was broken without his best friend.

Dustin pulled a silver chain out of his pocket with a guitar pick on it and extended his arm out, handing it to Mr. Munson. "I-I'm so sorry," Dustin trembled.

Letting out a shaky breath, Mr. Munson's expression faltered and he rubbed his forehead, looking down at the necklace in his hand and cautiously took a seat on the provided bed behind him. Olivia and Dustin look at him sympathetically as they hesitantly sat down next to him, both unsure of what to say. Olivia couldn't even begin to imagine how Mr. Munson was feeling.

Dustin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I wish everyone had gotten to know him. Really know him. Because they would've loved him," He spoke. "Mr. Munson, they would've loved him," He repeated more firmly. "Even in the end... he never stopped being Eddie, depsite everything. I never even saw him get mad. He could've run. H-he could've saved himself. But he fought. He fought and died to protect this town. This town that... hated him."

As Dustin broke down, Olivia pulled him into a comforting a hug. "He isn't just innocent, Mr. Munson, he's a hero," Olivia finished for him as tears brimmed around her eyes.

The three of them sat there in silence as they let Mr. Munson process the tragic news. Olivia hugged her brother tightly as he sobbed into her shoulder, both mourning the death of their dear friend.

Groups of people began to shuffle over towards a big window, catching Olivia and Dustin's attention. The two of them stood up from their seat and walked over to find out what the commotion was. They pushed their way through the large crowd until they finally found Steve and questioned him what was going.

"I don't know," Steve shrugged. The three of them stare at the window curiously as tiny particles fell from the sky and swirled in the air, almost like snowflakes.

            Olivia's breath hitched and she looked back and forth between Dustin and Steve. "Guys?" She said carefully, and she suddenly wondered if that the terrible things Vecna had shown her, were actually going to happen. "You think- you think what Vecna showed me is actually going to happen?"

Steve looked at his girlfriend wearily. "I don't know," He said again, pulling Olivia close to him. It wasn't long until Robin and Vickie joined them, staring up at the sky with equally confused expressions.

Whatever the particles meant, the upside down was bleeding into their world. Olivia knew that Hawkins was in grave danger, but Olivia and her friends wouldn't be fighting on their own this time. She had a feeling that it wouldn't be just Hawkins that was in danger, but possibly even the rest of the world. But Olivia and her friends were ready. They were ready to fight.