The Stancy Files

Chapter 33: The End

After three days of variations of medications and IVS, both Karen and Ted Wheeler were awake. Mike went to visit his parents first, and then Nancy. Joyce and Hopper decided it would be best not to let Holly see her parents in such a gruesome form at such a young age and wanted to protect her peace of mind.

As Nancy walked in to visit her mother, her anxiety level excelled. "Nancy, you're here. I didn't expect you to come," Karen commented. Her daughter wouldn't meet her eyes. "Well... we're still family. Flesh and blood, no matter what arguments we have." Ted sighed dramatically from the other corner of the shared hospital room. "You should leave. Your mother and I don't want you here." Karen flashed him an angry look. "Ted, shut up!" She faced her daughter once more. "Honey, that's not true. Don't listen to your idiotic father. I'm sorry we couldn't come to an agreement the other day, dear-- I really just don't understand where you're coming from. Jonathan is a fine young man and Steve Harrington does not level up to him."

Nancy shook her head, now staring at the intricate patterns of lines on the cold hospital room floors. "Look, I'm not here to talk about Steve. I came here to see you and make sure you were okay. If you don't want me here, that's fine. Just tell me to leave and I will." Karen sat up more in bed, reaching her hand out to her daughter. "Nancy, we don't want you to leave. And I know you may not want to talk about boys, but we have to. It's the only way to figure out his living situation. You can't stay at some boy's house anymore. It's immature and dangerous. As an adult, you need to understand where I'm coming from. We only want what's best for you." Nancy huffed out a sigh. "I'm dating Steve. There's nothing you can do to change that. I wish you could just understand that he treats me right. He's the only person I want to be with. No matter how hard you wish upon a star, I'm not going to get back with Jonathan. Ever again." Her mother's eyes flickered to the little room's window. "I may not be very supportive of Steve Harrington, but as long as he's treating you the way you deserve, I suppose it's okay if you go out with him. And-- Nancy-- I do need to you explain why Jonathan does not match up with Steve. How in any way has Steve treated you better?"

"Jonathan lied to me and was keeping secrets from me-- and not small things, mom. Life-changing things. Steve has never done that to me- when we were dating before- and even just as a friend. Honesty is always the best policy." Mr. Wheeler frowned upon his older daughter's statements. "It is a man's job to tell the woman what to do and how a relationship works. Just look at me and your mother's relationship, Nancy. Jonathan was in the right. You should go apologize to him and ask him to take you back." Karen's eyebrows shot up in anger after hearing her husband's ruthless remarks. "Ted! You're making a horrible impression on your daughter! There are two EQUAL human beings in a relationship, where decisions are made TOGETHER!" Nancy wrinkled her nose at her sexist father and narrowed her eyes down at him. "Is that really how you view mom? As inferior? God. You really don't deserve her. You're lucky she keeps your lazy ass around at all." Ted stared daggers at the girl. "Nancy Wheeler, don't you dare show me disrespect like that ever again! I am your father and you shall obey me!" Just then, Karen decided she'd had enough. Without saying a word of acknowledgment, she threw a hard-spined book across the room at her husband's face. "Ted, for god's sake! Shut your damn mouth!" A nurse had been walking by and heard the shouting from the room and peeped her head in. She ran squealing to her other co-workers on the floor.

It was decided that Ted would be taken into a different room, to ensure the safety of the women. Mr. Wheeler became angry and tried to whack one of the nurses who was rolling his bed. "No!" The woman shouted back. "You don't get to treat women like that! May God shed no mercy on you! Your poor wife and children! How horribly they must be scorned inside!"

. . . . . . . .

Two weeks later, the Wheelers were let out of the hospital. Karen invited Nancy out to lunch.

"So," Nancy started, deciding to break the ice. "Are you still fighting with dad?" The older woman let out a sad sigh. "No, Nancy. We've been married for over eighteen years now. We aren't going to get a divorce." Her daughter raised an eyebrow. "You're not... angry with how dad treated you? What he said about a husband and wife? What if it's two women or two men? He's insane!" Karen shook her head reluctantly.

"I know, dear. But it's what's best for our family. He can go back to sitting on his lazy-boy again, not interfering with these things. Relationships are my strong suit, not his. And we'll keep the income we need for our family." Nancy frowned. "I wish you could find better than him. Find what Steve and I have. Find love." Mrs. Wheeler gave a small smile. "I used to wish for the same things. But nothing good has come out of it. It's better that I'm home for Mike and Holly growing up. Maybe they will see a better version of your father." Nancy tilted her head, seeing something different in her mother for the first time. "You're brave, mom. Really. You're strong. I'm glad you're my mother." Karen looked up with a gleam of light shining in her eyes. "Oh, Nancy, I couldn't be more grateful to have such a headstrong daughter."

. . . . . . . .

And just like that, Nancy was back to living with her parents.

Steve and Nancy were together.

Nothing could stop them.

No one.

It was all okay.