Stranger Things What Ifs

Chapter Seventy Seven

What if....Lucas surprised Max with something she very much needed and wanted after the whole Vecna situation? (Fluff and Light Angst)

*************************************************

Max is on her knees in the front yard with Eleven, Eleven being on the opposite end of the yard, both of them planting flowers to make the front side of the house look better.

Max wipes her sweaty forehead a little, the sun beaming in the sky since it is in the dead of summer. It has been three years since Max got in coma. They were able to get her out but long story short she woke up blind and with no memory what happened and who anyone was in front of her.

It took some time, a lot of time but Max finally got her memory back with all that happened. She was able to regain her sight out of a miracle and her bones got healed, physically she is fine...

Mentally, not so much.

She really hasn't recovered from all that she has been through, not only that with Vecna but the fact that her parents died when all four of the gates opened. Joyce and Hopper had to tell Max when she finally regained her memories and was asking about her mother, and Max found out herself about her father.

Leaving her with no family.

Billy is dead, her mom is dead and her Dad is dead. She knows technically she isn't alone but that is how she feels, and not only that because of her having no family and her being eighteen and broke she had no choice but to stay with Joyce and Hopper in Hawkins along with Eleven and Will, Joyce and Hopper wanting to work on rebuilding the city for everyone else before leaving.

It is not like Max can complain, she has a place to stay. Places to eat water to drink and her best friend with her. The one thing being hard is how far Lucas is, him being in Ohio. Lucas parents decided as soon as all of this was done they were moving, and they didn't give Lucas any room for debate. He wanted to stay, begged his parents to just leave him because he wanted to be with Max, but they didn't listen. After awhile Max told Lucas it was for the best, that he needed to find his closure with things.

She didn't break up with him, she swore to herself she wouldn't be doing that to him again, she already hurt him enough. They still talk everyday on the phone, but them not seeing each other for a very long time because yes they work but it is only so much money they can bring in.

And it saddens Max, because it feels like they are drawing away.

Max couldn't blame Lucas if he did, it even seems like he is barely even able to answer the phone. Of course he does every time she calls him and he calls her, but when they talk he always sounds so exhausted to where they don't talk for long, him always saying he just has very long days at work.

"Max!" Eleven calls out. "Lemonade break!"

"Be right there!" Max says in response, her fanning the tank too she wears while going to stand up, her wiping her forehead once again before going inside of the house with Eleven, Will being seen downing his cup of lemonade. "Will why is your shirt off?"

"Because I have rocking abs look at these babies." He looks down at his stomach.

"Alright settle down Will." Joyce rolls her eyes.

Max smiles softly while Hopper pours her some lemonade, her taking it and going to drink some. "Thank you."

"Welcome." Hopper responds, him looking at all of them drink. "How's the weather today guys?"

Will Eleven and Max all look up at him, all of them knowing what the question really means. He is considerate, he makes sure to ask how they are doing everyday. "Sunny." Will nods.