Small Hands ..: Future Mileven

One..: Moving Out

Mike hurried around his childhood bedroom, throwing last minute things into boxes. He was anxious to forget anything that might be of use at the new apartment.

As Mike was digging in his closet for something, unbeknownst Karen walked into the room. As she looked at the bare walls and the multiple packed boxes already stacked, she couldn't help the emotions that over came her.

With rubix cube in hand, he closes the closet door only to turn around, and find his mother in tears. He had been waiting for it, and he had almost thought it wouldn't come, but now here, he felt like joining in his mother's weeping. His heart was heavy with the thought of leaving, but it was time he began his life with El.

Stepping closer to his mother, Mike was quick to pull her into his arms. Hugging his mother was always pure comfort and warm ness. He could feel a tear make its way down his cheek, she would make it harder than he thought to leave.

"You've become such a great young man. Jane is in for it." She gently laughed at her sons expense.

Karen pulled away, but grasped onto Mikes forearms, looking him in the eye as what she was to say would be important. Mike waited patiently for his mother to speak, but instead she reached into her back pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box.

Her eyes lit up as she looked back to Mike.

" This was your grandmothers ring. When she passed away, this was what I received from the will. I know that your young, and by no means do I want you to rush into marriage."

She stopped for a second to place the box in his hand, wrapping both of hers around his hand and the box. She squeezed gently, bringing comfort to him just from her maternal touch.

" I know how in love you are. I know that it's inevitable, so I would like for you to have this. When you feel your both ready, I want you to have my blessing. She has made you the happiest that I have ever seen you." His mother's warmth was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

" Losing her was the saddest I had ever seen you as well. You need her, just like she needs you. Treat her right forever Mike. Once you really begin your lives together things will get rough, but now it's more complicated and feelings are involved. I just want you to be happy."

Now they both had tears rolling down their faces, but smiles present all the same. This was a happy moment for the two Wheelers, it was the next step and they couldn't be more thrilled.

On the other side of Hawkins, Eleven was helping her father, Chief Jim Hopper, stack the rest of her boxes into the back of his 1980 Chevy Blazer. It was silent as they worked to secure the last of her things. There just weren't any words that seemed acceptable, besides the obvious goodbye.

El was ready to start her life with Mike, like she had always dreamt, ever since they were kids when he had suggested that her home be with him. The idea never left, even after being adopted by Jim Hopper, and as of 4 years prior, Joyce. These last years had been amazing for El. She had great parents, ones that tried to understand and did their best to always show their love and affection. Then there were her brothers, Will and Jonathan, mainly Will as Jonathan had been away at school for the past two years. Will was her best friend, so she knew it would be hard not seeing his peaceful face everyday.

Mike was her everything though, and everyone knew. It wasn't hard to see just by looking at the two when they were together. Since they were kids, Mike and El had a bond, a connection like nothing people had seen. They could read each other like books, understand things about the other that nobody else could. They were so comfortable around each other, it was as if they were the same person only spit into two body's. However, the strongest thing that bonded the two, was the love they shared for one another. It was fierce and protective. It was gentle and tender, you could see it in the looks they shared, the hushed conversations they had among themselves.

Mike and El belong together, nobody could deny that, not even Jim Hopper.

Speaking of Jim:..

Jim had just finished putting the last of El's luggage into the back of his truck, closing the rear of the car, Jim didn't expect to find Eleven in tears when he finally glanced at her. This shocked him as he tentatively stepped towards his crying daughter.

"El, sweetheart.." he was a loss for words. He thought that she was thrilled to be moving in with Mike. He had been so against the idea, begged her to reconsider even. However nothing worked, he had known all along that nothing would, but he had to at least try to keep his girl ... just a little bit longer. She was grown now, he knew that, but it only felt like yesterday that he had found her. She was his baby, his miracle baby as he had liked to think of it. She had essentially saved him from himself, from the black hole that was consuming everything in his life. When he had thought that his chance of being a father had been destroyed ... his baby Sara ... but El changed everything for him. She was everything to him.

He can feel the moisture that surfaces at the rim of his eyes, he clenches his jaw to keep them from falling.

He looks at El, she's putting her backpack into the front seat, everything's ready. It's time to go.

That's when the tears begin to stream, without any sign of stopping. He walks towards her, making eye contact when he's only feet from her.

Just the sight of her dads tears, causes hers to increase ten fold, a sob escaping her mouth as she rushes into him. She wraps her arms around his torso, squeezing him like it's the last time.

His arms engulf her small body, just like when she was a kid, he missed those simpler times. When the only worry he honestly had was keeping her safe. How was he able to do that now? With her out in the world, the one he knew so well, danger lurking at every opportunity. He had seen real crime and hate in his time as a big city cop, then with Brenner and that only made it harder to let her go.

"Daddy, I'm so happy. I love him so much. I've loved him since I was 13, this is what I want." another sob wracks through her body, making it even harder to talk, "So why am I so sad?"

He squeezed tighter, almost lifting her off the ground. He knew this would all be okay, Mike was perfect for his daughter. He was fiercely devoted and loyal. He didn't tolerate anything that might hurt El, he had seen it countless times. Even when they were fighting themselves, Mike was always the first to apologize. Having her upset was no option to Mike, he was the only person Jim trusted with his baby, because he had proven himself. The love that boy had for El, might just be able to top her own.

"Babygirl, change is hard, and this will be new and it might even be scary, but your ready. Mike is going to take care of you, and you him." Jim couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him, Mike was nothing compared to Els abilities.

"Your life is only getting started, and it's only going to get better from here." He smiles down at his daughter, pulling away to wipe her tears.

"Thanks Dad. That's exactly what I needed... I'm ready. " Her smile made her glistening eyes sparkle, making him grin as well.

" You'll always be my little girl, never forget that." He said as he opened the passenger door for her.

Her smile brightened as she kissed him on the cheek on her way in.

El couldn't help but feel like everything was falling into place, and she was so excited to see how it would all play out.