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ISADORA HAD BARELY LEFT THE HOSPITAL.

Since the incident at Starcourt Mall, she had become a near-permanent fixture at Billy's bedside, refusing to leave even for a moment. The image of Billy lying unconscious and bloody haunted her, every time she closed her eyes. No one could convince her to go home, not even for a night's rest. She snapped at the nurses when they told her visiting hours were over, argued with her friends when they suggested she take care of herself, and barely spoke except to bark her refusal to leave.

The only person who managed to get her out of the hospital, even for a few hours, was Kendra. It wasn't easy. Every time, Isadora fought her, insisting she couldn't leave until Billy was discharged, but Kendra was persistent, dragging her away from the hospital whenever she could, forcing Isadora to eat, shower, and rest—though the latter came rarely.

"Isa, you can't keep this up," Kendra said, her voice firm but concerned as she grabbed Isadora's arm one afternoon. "You're not doing anyone any good if you're falling apart. You're exhausted, and you need a break."

"I'm not falling apart," Isadora snapped, yanking her arm free and crossing them defensively over her chest. "I'm fine. I'm staying."

Kendra raised an eyebrow, unimpressed with her friend's stubbornness. "Oh, really? When was the last time you ate something? Or showered? You're running on fumes."

Isadora clenched her jaw, unwilling to admit that Kendra had a point. Her clothes were wrinkled, her blonde hair a tangled mess, and dark circles had formed under her eyes from lack of sleep, but she wasn't going to admit defeat. Not when Billy needed her.

Billy, who had been watching the exchange from his hospital bed with an amused smirk, chimed in. "She's right, you know," he said, his voice hoarse but laced with gentle teasing. "You've been here for days, Is. Go home, shower, eat something. I'll be fine for a few hours."

Isadora turned to look at him, her heart softening at the sight of his tired but loving gaze. She knew he was right. She was barely functioning, but the thought of leaving him, even for a moment, made her chest tighten with anxiety.

"I don't want to leave you," she admitted quietly, her voice wavering.

Billy smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in that familiar way that always made her feel safe. "I know, love, but I'll be okay. It's just for a little while. You can come right back after, I promise."

Isadora hesitated, glancing between Billy and Kendra. She hated this. She hated the thought of being away from him, even for a few hours, but she couldn't argue with them both. Not when she knew they were right.

"Fine," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "I'll go home, shower, eat, but then I'm coming straight back."

Billy chuckled softly. "I don't doubt it for a second. See you soon, Princess."

Isadora leaned down to kiss his cheek, her lips lingering against his warm skin for a moment longer than necessary. She squeezed his hand before reluctantly pulling away and following Kendra out of the hospital room. As they walked down the corridor, Billy's eyes trailed after her, noticing the slight limp she had been trying to hide since that night. It killed him to know that she had been hurt because of him, that the chaos at Starcourt had left physical and emotional scars on both of them. He didn't say anything, though. He didn't want to add to her worry.

Outside the hospital, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the parking lot. Isadora and Kendra walked in silence toward the car, the weight of everything that had happened hanging heavy between them. Isadora kept her eyes on the ground, her thoughts distant as they approached the car. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw flashes of that night—the flames, the blood, the sound of Laura's screams as the Mind Flayer attacked her. It was a nightmare she couldn't escape, not even in the daylight.

Kendra glanced over at her friend as they reached the car, sensing the turmoil simmering beneath Isadora's calm exterior. She had been there through it all—witnessed the horrors of Starcourt, seen the fear in Isadora's eyes when Billy had collapsed. She knew her friend was barely holding it together, no matter how much she insisted she was fine.

As they got into the car, Kendra broke the silence. "Isa, are you still mad at us?" she asked softly, her hands gripping the steering wheel as she started the engine.

Isadora blinked, the question catching her off guard. She turned to look at Kendra, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Kendra sighed, glancing at her before focusing back on the road. "I mean... are you still mad that we didn't tell you the truth about your mum? About everything that happened?"

Isadora's chest tightened at the mention of her mother, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. She had been furious when she first found out that her friends had known about her mother's involvement with the lab, about the experiments, and hadn't told her. She had felt betrayed, like they had kept her in the dark about something that was her right to know, but now, after everything that had happened, the anger had faded into something more complicated. She wasn't sure how she felt anymore.

"I don't know," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess... I'm upset. I'm upset that you all knew what happened to my mum and didn't tell me, but... being angry just feels pointless now. There's so much more going on, and I don't even know what to think anymore."

Kendra's hands tightened on the steering wheel as she nodded, understanding the weight of Isadora's words. "Isa, we wanted to tell you. We really did, but we were told it would put you in danger if we did. The lab covered everything up, and we weren't allowed to say anything. I swear, we were just trying to protect you."

Isadora sighed, leaning her head against the window as she watched the scenery blur past. "I know you were trying to protect me, but I still deserved to know the truth, Kendra. It was my mum. I had a right to know."

"You did," Kendra agreed, her voice soft but firm. "And I'm sorry. I really am. If there had been any other way, we would have told you, but... we were scared. We didn't want to put you at risk."

Isadora bit her lip, her fingers curling into her lap as she processed Kendra's words. She understood their reasoning, but that didn't make it any easier to swallow. The truth had been hidden from her for so long, and now that she knew, it felt like a weight she couldn't shake off.

"I get it," Isadora finally said, her voice heavy with resignation. "I just wish things had been different."

Kendra nodded in understanding, her heart aching for her friend. "So do I," she whispered.

The car fell into silence once more, the tension between them easing slightly as they drove through the quiet streets of Hawkins. It wasn't long before they pulled up in front of Isadora's house, the familiar sight of her home bringing a small sense of comfort to the otherwise overwhelming situation.

As Isadora stepped out of the car, she was surprised to see someone sitting on her front steps. A figure with long, blonde hair sat hunched over, their shoulders trembling slightly. It took her a moment to recognise who it was.

"Bea?" Isadora called softly, walking toward her.

Beatrix looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Hey, Issi," she whispered, her voice shaky and small.

Isadora's heart clenched at the sight of Billy's twin sister, her usually strong and confident demeanour shattered. She sat down beside Beatrix, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"What's going on?" Isadora asked gently.

"I didn't know where else to go," Beatrix admitted, her voice breaking. "Max won't talk to me. She's locked herself in her room, and I—I can't talk to Billy. I know something happened that night, Isa. I felt it. Everything he went through, I felt it too."

Isadora's breath caught in her throat. She knew Beatrix and Billy shared a deep connection—something beyond the usual sibling bond. It was something almost supernatural, the way they could feel each other's emotions, even from a distance. And now, Beatrix was feeling the aftershocks of what had happened at Starcourt, just like Isadora was.

"I'm so sorry, Bea," Isadora whispered, tightening her grip around her friend. "I should have reached out sooner."

Beatrix shook her head, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. "It's not your fault. I just... I hear him screaming every night. Every time I close my eyes, I hear it. What happened that night, Isa? I know it wasn't just a mall fire."

Isadora bit her lip, glancing down at her hands. She didn't know how much to tell Beatrix, but after everything, she couldn't lie. She owed Beatrix the truth.

"No," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "It wasn't just a mall fire. It was... something else. Something worse."

Beatrix's eyes widened, her breath catching in her throat. "Worse? What do you mean?"

Isadora took a deep breath, her hands trembling as she began to explain. She told Beatrix everything—about the Mind Flayer, about Eleven, about how they had fought to save Billy and stop the creature from destroying Hawkins. By the time she finished, Beatrix's face was pale, her hands shaking as she processed the horrifying truth.

"You... you nearly sacrificed yourself to save Billy?" Beatrix asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Isadora nodded, tears welling in her eyes. "I would have done anything to save him, Bea. I still would."

Beatrix shuddered, her body trembling as she wrapped her arms around herself. "I... I can't believe this. I can't believe any of this is real."

"It doesn't feel real," Isadora admitted, wiping at her eyes. "It feels like a nightmare I can't wake up from."

Beatrix looked up at her, her eyes filled with fear and sadness. "I still hear him screaming, Isa. Every night. It's like I'm trapped in his pain."

Isadora squeezed her friend's hand, her heart breaking for her. "I understand, Bea. I've been having nightmares too. That's why I've been spending so much time at the hospital. It's easier to be with him than to be alone with my thoughts."

Beatrix nodded, sniffling as she wiped her tears away. "Thank you for telling me the truth."

"You deserved to know," Isadora whispered.

After a few more minutes, Beatrix stood up, her legs shaky as she gave Isadora a weak smile. "I should go. Thank you, Issi. I'll talk to you soon."

Isadora watched her leave, her heart heavy as she finally stood up and made her way inside. The house was quiet, too quiet, and the loneliness hit her like a wave. She had been surrounded by people ever since the incident, but now, in the silence of her home, the weight of everything crashed down on her.

She quickly showered, the hot water doing little to wash away the tension that had settled in her bones. After changing into clean clothes, she made herself a small meal, though she barely tasted it as she ate. Her thoughts were consumed by everything—Billy, Beatrix, the nightmares that wouldn't leave her alone.

After finishing her meal, Isadora lay down on the couch, hoping for a brief nap to ease the exhaustion weighing her down, but as soon as she closed her eyes, the nightmares returned. Flames, screams, the image of the Mind Flayer looming over her. She woke up in a cold sweat, her heart racing, and quickly decided to head back to the hospital.

When she arrived at Billy's room, he looked up from the TV, a tired but warm smile spreading across his face. "Hi, Princess," he greeted her.

"Hey," Isadora replied softly, walking over to sit beside him. She offered him a cookie from the box she had brought, and he chuckled as he took one.

"Hospital food not cutting it for you?" he teased.

Isadora scrunched up her nose. "It's disgusting," she muttered, taking a bite of her own cookie.

Billy laughed, the sound warming her heart. For a moment, it felt like things were almost normal again, but then Billy's gaze drifted to her neck, and his smile faltered. The bruises from that night had almost faded, but they were still visible.

"How's your neck?" he asked gently. "And your leg?"

Isadora waved off his concern, not wanting to worry him. "I'm fine. It doesn't even hurt anymore."

Billy raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing her. "You were limping earlier."

Isadora sighed, rolling her eyes. "Okay, maybe it's still a little sore, but it's nothing to worry about."

Billy's expression softened, his eyes filled with guilt. "I'm sorry, Is. For everything. For fighting with you, for how I acted before all this. I was such an asshole."

Isadora smiled sadly, reaching for his hand. "Let's not dwell on that. Compared to everything else, it feels so... small now."

Billy nodded, squeezing her hand gently. "Yeah. You're right."

They sat in silence for a while, the weight of everything unsaid lingering between them. Finally, Isadora spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Billy... none of this would have happened if it wasn't for me."

Billy frowned, his grip on her hand tightening. "Don't say that. None of this was your fault. Please, stop blaming yourself."

Isadora looked away, unable to meet his gaze. The guilt gnawed at her, a constant presence she couldn't shake. She glanced at the TV, where yet another news report about the "mall fire" was playing. The whole town believed it had been an accident. No one knew the truth, and Isadora wasn't sure if she ever wanted them to.

"So... that's what happened?" Billy asked, his voice cautious. "A mall fire?"

Isadora hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. If he didn't remember the truth, maybe it was better that way. She didn't want him to be haunted by the same nightmares that plagued her. "Yeah," she lied softly. "It was just... a fire. Hopper died trying to save everyone."

Billy nodded, though she could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He remembered more than he let on, but he didn't press her. He didn't want to burden her with the horrors that still haunted him.

Isadora tried to shake off the heavy feeling that settled over her. "They're planning to demolish the mall and build a memorial for the victims," she said, trying to change the subject.

Billy snorted softly. "Great. A memorial. Like that's going to fix anything."

Isadora smiled sadly. "Beatrix knew something was wrong that day. Somehow, she sensed it. Do you think that's just... a twin thing?"

Billy shrugged, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe. I've never really thought about it."

Isadora bit her lip, her mind racing with questions she didn't want to ask. "Do you think..." She hesitated, shaking her head. "Never mind."

Billy frowned, sensing her hesitation. "What is it? What's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

Isadora forced a laugh, shaking her head. "Nothing. Don't worry about it."

Billy didn't look convinced, but he let it go, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. "When do I get out of here?" he asked, his voice laced with frustration. "I'm sick of hospital food."

"Hopefully soon," Isadora smiled, leaning into him. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Are you... going back home?"

Billy shrugged, his expression darkening. "I guess. I don't really have a choice, do I?"

Isadora's heart ached for him. She knew how much he hated going back to that house, how much pain it held for him. Gathering her courage, she reached for his hand. "You could... you could stay with me. If you want to."

Billy looked at her, surprised, his eyes softening as he smiled. "I'd love that, Princess."

Isadora blushed, her heart racing as she smiled back. "Good," she whispered.

For the first time in weeks, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. Everything was still chaotic, still uncertain, but in that moment, with Billy beside her, she felt like maybe—just maybe—they could get through this together.

Billy's smile faltered slightly as a thought crossed his mind. "Neil's leaving, you know."

Isadora blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Max told me. Apparently, he doesn't want to stay in Hawkins anymore. He's leaving," Billy explained, his voice flat.

Isadora's heart clenched. Neil had been a constant source of pain and anger in Billy's life, and the thought of him leaving was both a relief and a reminder of all the damage he had done. "That's... that's good, right?"

Billy nodded, though his expression remained guarded. "Yeah. Good riddance."

Isadora reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "You, Beatrix, Max... you'll always have me. No matter what."

Billy's gaze softened, and he pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers. "I know, Princess. And I'm so damn grateful for that."

Isadora smiled, her heart swelling with love for him. "I love you, Billy."

"I love you too, Isa," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

As they lay there together, wrapped up in each other, Isadora knew that their world had been turned upside down. Everything had changed, and the road ahead was uncertain, but in that moment, with Billy by her side, she allowed herself to believe that maybe—just maybe—they could find their way through the darkness.

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Here's a little bit of a happier chapter - we have a couple more chapters of post s3 before we go to season 4. 

Enjoy! Xo

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