Summer 1985 - Mileven/Jopper/Lumax

Chapter 10: Finally

Hopper made hotdogs and cheeseburgers for everyone now seated at the picnic tables, talking about when they first met Dustin in the second grade. Mike laughs when he thinks back to their first time seeing the toothless, curly haired boy, "he came barreling into class like a psychopath and apologized to Mr. Clark,"

"Oh, don't you mean my lord?" Will interjects, the whole group bursting out into laughter.

"Shut up guys, I was so cool!" Dustin defends, causing Max to let out a scoff, "yeah, exactly, was."

Before the bickering he knew would ensue, Hopper loudly announced it was time to clean up, Joyce and Will being the first to volunteer while the rest went over to set up the fire.

Mother and son were gathering the crumb-filled paper plates and napkins before Will softly spoke, "so, mom, are you having fun?"

Looking at her sweet son, she nods. "I am, how 'bout you?"

With a big smile, he responds, "yeah, I just wish Jonathan was here, that would've been fun."

Dropping the plates in the trash, she wipes her hands on her jeans and puts her arm around Will, who has finally grown a few inches past her. "I'm sure he wants to be here with you, too."

The oldest Byers boy had applied to several schools near and outside of Hawkins. It was a tough decision but he ultimately chose to dorm at an art school in Chicago, a little over three hours away. Joyce was overjoyed he didn't let her and Will hold him back, wanting only the best for her talented older son.

She sees Will open his mouth to say something before closing it again.

"You can ask Will, it's okay," she reassured, knowing where this was going. She noticed his curious looks when he noticed Hop's arm around her the other night and then again when they were caught holding hands before.

"I just...I'm just wondering what's going on with you and the Chief?" Sitting him down on the now clean picnic table, she shrugs, "we've always been friends, you know that and he helped me out a lot that year you were..."

It's not often that they talk about when he went missing, the scariest week the entire Byers family had ever experienced.

"I know, mom. It's just you guys seem different...I mean, as long as you're happy."

Joyce takes her son's hand and squeezes it. "I'm the happiest I've ever been Will, my boys are okay and we're all having fun, right?" she says softly, eyes brimming with tears.

He stands up and leans over to give his mom a long hug before shooting her a soft smile and running off towards his friends and the roaring fire. Wiping her eyes, Joyce feels her heart swell as she watches her son and his friends laugh at the chief they all once found intimidating.

"So, hypothetically speaking El, what would it take for you to make us fly?" Dustin asked, him and Lucas looking hopeful.

Scanning the campsite, a smirk appears on her slightly sunburnt face. "I can make you fly into the lake," she says matter of factly.

"Absolutely not! It's freezing!" Lucas interjects at the same time Dustin exclaims, "deal!" The boys start arguing about how bad it would really be that they miss El lowering her face. It goes noticed by Hopper, however, who steps in front of her.

"Don't you dare, kid! Are you crazy?" Hop sternly says, appalled that she'd even consider this.

Shooting him a look of disapproval along with a discreet shake of her head, the brunette faces a pile of orange and red leaves that lay a few feet away. Still, in the midst of arguing, they don't realize the big pile of leaves being pushed towards their direction, swirling around them and hitting them in the face and chest.