Eddie and I walked back to the house hand in hand. The sun was setting and everyone was gathering back at the cabin.

Robin and Nancy were sitting on the couch together. Dustin was next to Robin with Steve leaning on the back of the couch. El was sitting on the floor, leaning against the part of the couch by Dustin's legs, careful to not hit his cast.

Mike and Will were sitting at the kitchen table with Argyle and Jonathan.

Eddie and I were leaning against the wall where the television used to be. He had me wrapped in his arms and we swayed to the music coming from the handheld radio Argyle had in the pizza van.

Everyone was talking quietly or just staring blankly. We'd all been through every ring of hell, more than the average person.

I was listening to Eddie hum along to the ending of Strawberry Fields Forever when I heard the beginning of a song that was all too familiar.

I wanna know what love is by Foreigner.

I looked up at Eddie, who smiled down at me.

I began to softly sing the chorus to him.

It felt like we were the only two people there.

Eddie only smiled at me, chuckling at the lyrics I didn't know.

The song ended and I heard soft clapping. Nancy, Robin and Steve were clapping and cheering.

Mike made a fake gagging noise but gave me a thumbs up. El smiled softly at us.

The next song coming on the radio was one that was eerily stuck in my head still.

Dream a Little Dream of Me came on the radio and immediately I was reminded of the memory that Vecna showed Nancy and I.

The radio turned off with a flick of Nancy's finger.

"Well, that ruined the mood," Nancy spoke up.

"We should be getting home," I added.

"I can stay here with the Byers and El," Steve said.

"Good. We can take Dustin and Mike home," Nancy replied.

"Hey, can we borrow your pizza van my dude?" Eddie asked Argyle.

"Sure man. Just remember that whatever you find in the back is at your own risk," Argyle replied.

Eddie nodded.

Nancy said goodbye to Steve and kissed Robin on the cheek.

Eddie and I helped Dustin into the van. Mike sat in the passenger seat next to Nancy who was driving. Eddie and I sat in the back with Dustin and we rolled out of the forest and onto the actual roads. It was after nine and we were careful to not drive too fast and avoid the police officers posted all around town.

We dropped Dustin off at his house and his mom Claudia came running out crying and hugged him. She thanked us and kissed Eddie on the cheek and helped Dustin inside.

Dustin promised he would radio us if he needed anything.

We started the drive back to our house and Eddie held onto my hand.

"What am I supposed to do in this situation?" Eddie asked me. "I mean, I'm meeting your parents after a supposed near end of world earthquake and I haven't showered in a week. It's going to be a disaster."

I squeezed his hand. "It'll be fine. Just remember that they're more worried about Nancy and I then they are about me being engaged to you."

"Engaged?" Mike screeched. "I left for a week and you proposed to my sister? That's messed up."

"That's not even half of it," Eddie grinned.

I slapped him in the dark. "Anyway, just remember to stick to the story and we'll be fine."

"You mean the story that we've been secretly dating for a month and only Nancy and Steve knew. And you knew I was innocent because you were with me the whole time. And how I wooed you with my might and intellect."

"Might and intellect? I never said that. I said it was because of your personality and nerdiness."

"Same thing."

"Were they like this the whole time I was gone?" Mike asked Nancy.

"Hey, listen Michael. At least we aren't as creepy as you and El last summer," I retorted. "Oh Mike, I just want to kiss you. Oh El, you're everything to me, let's listen to Bon Jovi and make out forever." I did my best to imitate their voices.

"Puh-lease," Nancy spoke up. "You and Eddie have been attached at the hip since you got resurrected."

"Well, I would like to point out that if you died and came back to life, you would cherish things a bit more, wouldn't you?"

Nancy sighed. "Whatever. Just remember that we can't change too much. We can't suddenly hate mom or stop talking to dad. We need to act like the only traumatic thing we've been through is a friend dying, an earthquake and going to the hospital."

"That seems more traumatic than you think, Nance."

We pulled into the driveway and as soon as the van was parked, mom flew out the front door and ran towards us. She pulled Nancy, Mike and I into a hug. I winced against the pressure on my cast.

"I was so worried," She sobbed. "When I found out you were in the hospital, I didn't know what to do. The roads were closed and there was no power for a few hours."

"We're okay mom. We're okay," Nancy said, trying to keep it together.

"And you, Michael, you are never leaving again. You hear me?"

"I'm fine with that."

Mom finally let us go and she took a good look at me. "Oh my god Charlie." She took in my appearance and the cast on my wrist.

"I'm okay, seriously," I glanced behind me to Eddie leaning against the van with his hands awkwardly in his pockets. I motioned for him to come forward. "Mom, this is Eddie. My boyfriend."

It was dark out and the only source of light was coming from the kitchen window. So when Eddie stepped forward he seemed to look like he was from a horror movie. He was in all black and his hair was matted looking.

But to me, he still looked perfect.

For a second I thought my mom would scream at me, tell me I made a terrible mistake, just like she had done with Nancy all those years ago.

But she stuck her hand out for him to shake. "Thank you for taking care of her."

Eddie shook her hand and nodded.

My mom led us inside, most likely too frazzled to process anything other than the fact that we were safe, because that was all that really mattered.

----

a/n: heyo what's up??? its Kayden here to tell you that the ending is near. yes it will be a happy ending. no, I don't care about anyone else's opinion because if you don't like what I'm writing then go write your own. Steve will finally be happy in the end so that's cool. enjoy the rest of the book !

(also go and check out my other books.) p.s. I have a new stranger things fic in the works rn <3