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BILLY HAD FINALLY COME HOME.

From the moment he had been discharged from the hospital, Isadora had rarely left his side. After all the chaos that had unraveled over the summer, the thought of being apart from him felt unbearable. Except for the occasional trips to check on Hazel, Ellie, and Eleven—who had all relocated to the Byers household—Isadora had devoted herself to being with Billy. Their time together had been filled with quiet moments of healing, the kind of comfort both needed after what they had endured. Friends, too, seemed to cluster around them, as if the summer's events had drawn everyone closer. Beatrix, Kendra, Steve, and Robin came by regularly to Isadora's house, not wanting to be alone either. It seemed like none of them could bear the thought of isolation after what had happened.

"Billy?" Isadora called out from the hallway, her voice filled with the warmth of familiarity.

"I'm in the kitchen," Billy's deep voice replied. Isadora limped slightly as she made her way in, a remnant of the injuries she was still recovering from, but her smile remained steady as she walked up to him. He was standing at the counter, focused on slicing vegetables for breakfast. Seeing her approach, Billy turned and smiled, his eyes lighting up as they met hers.

"Hey," she greeted softly, leaning against the counter.

Billy glanced at her, noticing her lingering limp. "You doing alright? You look like you're in a little pain."

"I'm fine, it's just the limp," Isadora assured him, brushing off his concern with a smile.

Billy frowned, still not convinced. "Just because you say you're fine doesn't mean I can't see that limp. Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too much?" His voice was gentler now, tinged with concern.

"Billy, I promise, I'm fine," she tried to reassure him before a grin spread across her face, "So, Kendra just called, and Steve had what he called a brilliant idea."

"Steve? Brilliant idea? Those two words don't go together," he teased, shaking his head.

Isadora rolled her eyes at him. "You don't even know what it is yet," she shot back playfully, laughter in her voice.

Billy grinned but stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.

"Steve suggested we should all hang out today," Isadora finally said, her excitement returning as she shared the plan.

Billy groaned in mock protest. "Because we haven't been spending enough time with him as it is?" he joked, feigning reluctance.

Isadora ignored his sarcastic quip, too energised by the idea to be deterred. "And guess what? Steve thought we could all go to the aquarium! But ... apparently, the aquarium is at the zoo, so we're actually going to the zoo!" Her enthusiasm was contagious as she clapped her hands. "I need to find my camera. Kendra said they'll be here in about thirty minutes."

Before Billy had the chance to fully process what she had said, Isadora had already dashed toward the stairs, leaving him chuckling to himself. Her joy was infectious, and Billy found himself smiling as he watched her disappear up the stairs.

He shook his head, muttering to himself, "Guess I'm going to the zoo today."

Upstairs, Isadora changed into something more comfortable and began rummaging through her belongings, searching for her old camera. It didn't take long before she found it—tucked away in a small box beneath some old books. The camera was old, a gift from her father when she was younger, but it held a special place in her heart. Just as she pulled it out, Billy appeared in the doorway, leaning casually against the doorframe, watching her with an amused expression.

"We're really going to the zoo?" he asked, his tone teasing but affectionate.

"Yes, Billy. Well, technically, the aquarium first because Steve wants to see the sharks and dolphins, but the zoo and aquarium are in the same place. So, we get to see a whole range of animals!" Isadora replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She seemed so delighted by the idea that Billy couldn't help but smile, despite his earlier groaning.

"Alright," he nodded. "I guess the zoo won't be so bad."

Isadora grinned, her heart fluttering at the way he indulged her excitement. As Billy moved to get changed, she began packing a backpack, making sure to grab her camera, water bottles, and some snacks. Just as she finished, the doorbell rang. She hurried downstairs to answer it, swinging open the door to find Kendra and Steve standing on the other side, with Max, Ellie, Dustin, Lucas, Eleven, Mike, Will, Hazel, Beatrix, Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Eddie trailing behind them.

"Steve, I didn't realise we were bringing everyone with us today," Isadora laughed, glancing at the group with wide eyes.

Steve shrugged with a smirk. "Well, it was only going to be a small group, but we invited Robin, and Beatrix was with her, so she tagged along. Then we thought, why not invite Hazel too? And before we knew it, we swung by the Byers' house, and everyone else wanted to come along. We ended up having to bring more than one car just to fit everyone."

Isadora giggled, shaking her head. "Well, I guess it'll be fun spending the day with everyone."

Behind her, Billy leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a knowing smile on his face. "You say that now," he muttered under his breath, earning a playful swat from Isadora.

As she grabbed her backpack, Billy followed her outside, closing the door behind them. He paused for a moment, looking over at Kendra and Steve.

"Hey, is it alright if Isadora and I meet you guys there?" he asked casually.

Kendra looked surprised but nodded. "Yeah, of course. Everything alright?"

Billy smiled reassuringly. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just want to show Issi something first."

Isadora looked up at him with curiosity, her brows knitting together, but Billy gave her a warm smile, one that instantly put her at ease. The rest of the group waved goodbye and piled into their cars, heading toward the zoo. As the sound of car engines faded into the distance, Billy and Isadora made their way to her car. She slid into the passenger seat and noticed Billy's sunglasses sitting in the console, the same ones she had playfully stolen on their first date. This time, though, she resisted the urge to grab them.

Billy noticed and grinned. "You can put them on if you want, Princess. After all, they do look better on you," he teased, his voice soft with affection. Isadora smiled, remembering that first date at the fair and how she had made him chase her to get his sunglasses back.

As Billy started the car, Isadora turned to him, her curiosity getting the best of her. "So, why exactly are we meeting our friends there and not going with them?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Billy's smirk widened as he kept his eyes on the road. "I wanted to show you something first," he said, keeping the mystery alive.

Isadora arched an eyebrow, intrigued but still in the dark. She settled into her seat as Billy drove, a comfortable silence falling between them. The road was peaceful, lined with trees and the occasional house. After about fifteen minutes, they pulled into the driveway of a house she didn't recognise, one closer to where Steve and Kendra lived. Isadora's confusion deepened as Billy parked and turned off the engine.

"Come on," he said, stepping out of the car. "Follow me."

"Wait, what is this?" Isadora asked, getting out and trailing behind him. She watched as Billy pulled a set of keys from his pocket and unlocked the front door to the house.

As soon as they stepped inside, a small chocolate Labrador puppy came bounding toward them, wagging its tail excitedly. Isadora let out a gasp and knelt down to greet the puppy, her heart melting at the sight.

"Billy ... what is going on?" she asked, still petting the eager pup.

"Surprise!" Billy said, grinning at her.

"You ... got us a dog?" she asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Well, I got you a dog," Billy corrected. "But I also got us a house," he added, gesturing to the home around them.

Isadora froze, staring at him in stunned silence. "You... what?"

"I noticed how unhappy you've been at your place, and I figured maybe it was time we had a space of our own. A place we could make our home together, and, well, you always said you wanted a dog..." Billy trailed off, his nerves showing as he waited for her reaction.

Isadora stood slowly, her eyes wide as she looked around the house, then back at Billy. "This... this is really going to be our home? And... he's really mine?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Billy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah. It's our home now, and the puppy's yours," he said softly.

Tears welled up in Isadora's eyes as she smiled at him, her heart swelling with emotion. "Billy... this is the sweetest thing anyone's ever done for me."

Billy chuckled nervously. "I didn't mean to make you cry," he said, stepping closer and gently wiping away her tears with his thumb.

"I love you so much," Isadora whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

"I love you too, Issi, but we should probably head to the zoo before Steve sends a search party," Billy said, kissing her quickly before stepping back.

Isadora laughed through her tears and looked down at the puppy. "Milo," she said suddenly. "We should name him Milo."

Billy smiled, nodding in agreement. "Milo it is, then."

After arranging for the neighbour to watch Milo, they made their way back to the car. As they drove toward the zoo, Isadora turned to Billy, still amazed at how he had managed to pull everything off.

"How did you manage to get a house and a dog without me realising what you were up to?" she asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

Billy grinned. "Why do you think Kendra and Steve have been spending so much time with you lately? They were helping me keep this a secret. Honestly, I'm surprised Steve didn't let it slip. He almost ruined the surprise the other day," he admitted with a chuckle.

"He did?" Isadora asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, but luckily, he caught himself just in time," Billy laughed, and Isadora smiled, leaning back in her seat. Despite the slight pang of guilt she felt about leaving her old home, the thought of creating a new one with Billy filled her with warmth and excitement.

When they finally arrived at the zoo, they joined their friends, walking hand-in-hand. Together, they paid for their tickets and stepped inside, ready for a day filled with laughter, adventure, and the joy of being surrounded by those they loved.

"Let's go see the sharks!" Steve announced with an unmistakable enthusiasm, already setting off in the direction of the aquarium. His excitement seemed to ripple through the group, though it was met with a few chuckles. Isadora glanced over at Kendra, who shook her head in playful disbelief, and the group burst into laughter as they all began following Steve.

Isadora stayed close to Billy as they walked, her hand loosely intertwined with his. She couldn't help but smile at the way their friends were so easily drawn to Steve's energy. It had been a while since any of them felt so lighthearted, and the aquarium trip felt like a perfect escape.

"You know, I have to admit, I'm a little scared of sharks," Isadora said quietly, her fingers gently squeezing Billy's hand. She kept her gaze ahead, trying to sound nonchalant, but Billy could hear the unease in her voice.

Billy shot her a curious look. "You are?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Isadora hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Y-Yeah. When I was a kid, I... kind of fell into a shark tank," she confessed, her voice soft but steady. Her eyes stayed fixed ahead, watching as Steve animatedly chatted with Kendra and Robin, blissfully unaware of the conversation happening behind him.

A spark of mischief lit up in her eyes, and a grin tugged at her lips. Without warning, she let go of Billy's hand and quickened her pace to catch up with Steve, leaving Billy momentarily startled by her sudden burst of energy.

"Where are you going?" Billy called after her, watching in confusion as she hurried away, the grin on her face growing.

Isadora glanced over her shoulder, her eyes glinting with playfulness. "Just a little fun!" she called back before skipping over to where Steve was walking.

"Hey, Steve!" Isadora greeted brightly, falling into step beside him.

"Hey, Is!" Steve replied, his voice full of his usual energy.

Isadora grinned at him. "Wanna hear a story?" she asked innocently, her tone light but laced with just enough intrigue to capture his attention. From behind them, Billy frowned slightly, watching as Isadora sidled up to Steve. He had a feeling she was up to something.

Steve shot her a curious look. "What kind of story?" he asked, unable to resist his curiosity.

Isadora smirked, lowering her voice as if she was about to share some deep, dark secret. "It's about a haunted aquarium near where I grew up in California."

"A haunted aquarium?" Steve echoed, now fully invested in whatever she was about to say.

"Yep," Isadora began, her tone dropping into something almost eerie. "The story goes that years ago, there was this girl who visited the aquarium with her family. She was super excited to see the sharks—just like you are now," Isadora added with a sly glance at Steve, "but... no one knows exactly what happened. Somehow, the girl got too close to one of the shark tanks, and... well, she fell in."

Steve's eyes widened slightly. "She fell in?" he repeated, his pace slowing just a bit.

"Yeah," Isadora nodded gravely. "And she was never seen again. Some say she drowned, and the sharks left no trace of her, but others... well, they say she haunts the aquarium now. She's been known to appear, warning anyone who dares get too close to the tanks."

There was a pause as Steve processed the story. Kendra, who had been walking beside them, rolled her eyes with a groan. "Isadora, that's awful!" she exclaimed, shaking her head, though the hint of a smile betrayed her amusement.

Steve, however, had stopped in his tracks, looking from Isadora to the looming shark tanks ahead of them. His face twisted into an expression of wary disbelief.

Billy, having caught up to them, nudged Isadora gently. "Were you trying to scare him?" he asked, lowering his voice so only she could hear.

Isadora smirked. "Uh... maybe," she replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Max, now curious, joined the conversation. "Wait, was the aquarium actually haunted?" she asked, her eyes flicking between Isadora and Steve.

Isadora let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "No, no, not the haunted part. That was totally made up, but the part about the girl falling into the shark tank? That part was real."

Ellie, now more intrigued than ever, widened her eyes. "Wait—so someone actually fell into a shark tank? Was that someone... you?"

Isadora sighed, a little sheepishly this time. "Yeah, it was me," she admitted. "I was about seven years old, and my parents were always more focused on my younger sister. So, I threw a bit of a tantrum that day at the aquarium. I ran off, climbed over a barrier into a restricted area where the shark tanks were, and... well, I tripped and fell in."

Billy blinked at her, clearly a little stunned. "How did you even get out?"

"A dolphin trainer happened to see the whole thing," Isadora explained, her voice casual despite the drama of the memory. "He jumped in after me and pulled me out before I could become shark bait."

Lucas, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't help but ask, "So why'd you turn it into a horror story for Steve?"

Isadora shrugged with a sly grin. "I just wanted to mess with him a little. You know, get him spooked."

The group chuckled, but as they all glanced over to where Steve was now standing frozen in front of the shark tanks, they burst into full-blown laughter. Despite Kendra's best attempts to reassure him, it was clear that Steve had been shaken by Isadora's story.

"Oh, come on," Ellie exclaimed between laughs. "He faced Demodogs with nothing but a spiked bat, but he's freaked out by a shark story?"

"Issi," Billy said gently, "maybe you should tell him the truth before he has a meltdown."

Isadora sighed dramatically, wrinkling her nose before marching over to Steve, who still hadn't moved from his spot.

"Steve, you good?" she asked, nudging him slightly.

"No," Steve muttered, still staring intently at the sharks. "I don't want to fall into a shark tank, Is."

Isadora bit her lip to keep from laughing and gently patted his arm. "Okay, listen. I was just messing with you. The aquarium isn't haunted, and I swear, no one's disappeared into a shark tank. Well... except me, but I didn't exactly disappear," she confessed with a grin. "I made up the spooky part to scare you."

It took a moment for Steve to fully process what she was saying, but when he did, he turned to glare at her, his expression a mix of irritation and embarrassment. "Isadora, that's so not funny!" he huffed before stomping off toward the shark tanks.

"Oh, come on, you have to admit it was a little funny!" Isadora called after him, laughing as she jogged to catch up.

Kendra shook her head, chuckling softly as Billy came up beside her. "Are they always like this?" he asked, bemused by the back-and-forth between Isadora and Steve.

Kendra smiled fondly. "Yeah, pretty much, but honestly, Steve's been like a big brother to her ever since... well, everything that happened with her mom. He's always the first one there for her. He loves her like family."

Billy nodded, his gaze softening as he watched Isadora laughing with Steve. Despite all the banter, it was clear there was a deep bond between them.

A few minutes later, Isadora skipped back to Billy's side, sliding her hand into his and giving it a gentle squeeze. The group continued their tour of the aquarium, stopping every now and then to admire the marine life that surrounded them. The stingrays glided gracefully above their heads as they passed through the glass tunnel, their elegant movements casting shadows over the group.

"Look at its little face!" Isadora gushed, pointing up at one of the stingrays as it floated above them. "It's so adorable!"

Billy leaned in close, his voice low and playful. "Not as adorable as you," he whispered in her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. Isadora blushed, her cheeks heating as she smiled up at him.

"I want to see the penguins next!" Hazel suddenly announced, her voice bright. Isadora glanced at her best friend and felt her heart swell with warmth. It was the first time she'd seen Hazel smile like that since Hopper's death, and the sight filled her with a sense of hope.

"Can we bring one home?" Steve asked suddenly, his face entirely serious as he glanced over at the group.

"No, Steve," Kendra laughed, shaking her head. "We are not bringing a penguin home."

"Or any other animals," Billy added with a chuckle.

The group laughed as they made their way toward the penguin exhibit, spending the next few hours wandering through the various sections of the zoo. They watched dolphins leap gracefully through the air, observed the playful antics of the penguins, and even marvelled at the lions—though not without another round of playful bickering between Steve and Isadora.

"The lion cub tried to bite me!" Isadora protested, her voice rising indignantly as she recounted the moment to the group.

"No, he didn't," Steve argued, shaking his head. "He was just being friendly."

"Friendly?" Isadora scoffed. "He was trying to make me his afternoon snack!"

Kendra and Billy exchanged amused glances, both shaking their heads at the ridiculousness of the argument. Billy reached over and gently squeezed Isadora's hand, pulling her closer as they walked.

As the afternoon wore on, the group found themselves completely immersed in the joy of each other's company. For the first time in a long while, none of them were thinking about the darkness of the past summer—the Mind Flayer, the losses, the trauma. Instead, they were simply friends enjoying a carefree day, revelling in the laughter, the silliness, and the lightness of the present moment. And for now, that was more than enough.

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Happy chapter with some minor horror included. 

Enjoy! Xo

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