𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒! [𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲]

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐧

𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒

It was Christmas Eve, and the snow was falling softly over Hawkins like something out of a holiday card. Robin and Steve took their time walking to the Campbell's house for dinner, enjoying the cold and the Christmas lights lining every house on the street. Conor and Margo's place wasn't the prettiest, but it was by far the most cheerful. They'd spent an entire week stringing lights and buying decorations until it looked like a roadside attraction in the dark gloom of the winter. 

"So what did you get Margo?" Robin asked Steve as they crossed the street. 

They could see movement through the windows, Conor crossing the living room with three mugs of hot chocolate balanced in his hands, the glitter on the Christmas sweater Margo and Robin had gotten him sparkling in the warm light. Steve shifted the armful of gifts he had precariously balanced in his hands. "New toolkit," he said. "What about you?" 

"That's a secret," said Robin. 

"So, like, handcuffs? Sexy underwear?" 

"Steve!" Robin scolded, pushing him with her shoulder. "Don't be gross, dingus." 

He shoved her back, and took the front steps two at a time. With one elbow, he struggled to open the front door, allowing warmth to spread over him and Robin as they stepped inside. "Santa's here!" he called out to the house at large. 

The place was crowded. The kids had taken over the living room. Mike, Dustin, Will, and Lucas were deep in a video game while Erica sat above them on the couch, commentating. On the other side of the room, Nancy, Jonathan, and Margo were sitting in armchairs, drinking hot chocolate and laughing over some joke one of them had told. 

"Come in here first!" Conor shouted from the kitchen.

Steve and Robin followed his voice, still laden down by wrapped gifts. The kitchen was pure chaos. Joyce and Conor were trying their best to finish making the Christmas dinner while Hopper stood hopelessly in the way and Murray sipped vodka at the counter, watching the hassle with vague amusement. 

"Oh, set those anywhere," said Joyce, motioning to the gifts. 

"Yeah, Byers, just take over my whole house, why don't you?" Conor snapped, then rounded on Steve and Robin. "But yeah, set them anywhere."

Steve dumped his stack of presents on the counter. "Nice sweater, Mr. Campbell." 

"Blame my daughter and her- Robin," Conor said, quickly saving himself from using the word girlfriend. He wasn't totally sure who knew and who didn't at that point." 

"Wait, you're not wearing it right," said Robin, dumping her gifts next to Steve's and hurrying to attack Conor. "It has lights, you have to turn them on- stay still-" 

Conor's shoulders slumped in exasperation, but he couldn't help smiling when Robin pressed a little button at the corner of the sweater and the whole thing lit up like a Christmas tree. "We found it at the mall," Robin said with a note of pride in her voice. 

"Crazy what they can do with technology now," said Murray. "You know, nuclear weapons... sweaters that light up..." 

"Very funny," said Conor. "Why don't you two go to the living room? It's fucking crowded in here- Murray, you could go with them. Hopper?" 

"I'm good here," said Hopper. "Really, if there's anything I can do to help-" 

Joyce gave him a look of affectionate irritation. "Why don't you go play video games with the kids? I'm sure they'd like that."