Will to Survive

A New Adopted Child (Courtesy of Mamma Steve)

Dustin and Evelyn arrived at Starcourt Mall and went into Scoops Ahoy. Both Steve and Robin were there working and Cat was there talking to Robin. Dustin waved at his buddy and he and Evelyn sat down at a table near the counter. Steve rolled his eyes at his protege, feeling a bit happy for him that he was hanging out with a girl, but also jealous because he still hasn't gotten a girl yet.

Robin noticed the look on Steve's face and chuckled. "Children grown up fast, now do they?" She asked her friend.

Steve sighed to himself. "Yeah they really do," he said, staring at Dustin. It made him feel like a proud mom to see his son with a girl. But why did he have to keep being single?

"Don't lose your balls, Harrington," Cat said. "So far you got two girls liking you, so I wouldn't lose your tits if I were you. And you already lost your virginity when you used to be a fuckboy before you turned into an overprotective mama."

Steve shook his head at his friend and went to go help some customers. Robin and Cat chuckled at one another and looked over at Steve. They were both trying to decide whether or not they should tell Steve about what they saw the other night. Cat knew that Steve would investigating into it now that he was involved with everything. But Robin wasn't involved in it and they weren't supposed to let anyone know because of Hopper's rules. She was technically involved since she saw what she had seen, so Cat didn't see any problems in Robin knowing the truth about Hawkins.

Cat went over to Steve, grabbed his ear, and dragged him into the back of the store. Robin followed because she knew that her friend was about to tell the mother. Cat quickly told Steve everything that they had seen happen the other night. Steve sat there for a minute, processing what had just been told to him, even though he could barely make out what Cat was saying due to her talking very fast. 

"So Wait, you two were hanging out overnight here, eating ice cream, and you saw two people talking and putting a device in the fountain?" Steve asked for clarification. Both of the girls nodded at him. "Well shit. I knew something like this would be coming back. We need to look into this. And we can get Dustin to help us out too. And I have a new child who could come and help us out."

"Who's the new child?" Robin asked.

As if on cue, a screaming voice could be heard from the shop area. "STEVE WHERE THE HELL IS MY FREE ICE CREAM?!" Steve groaned and went back to the counter and saw Erica Sinclair, Lucas's little sister who was one sassy little child. "You promised me free ice cream!" Erica yelled.

"Yeah yeah yeah you little shithead, I'll get you your ice cream," Steve said, scooping up a bit of ice cream and giving it to her. Erica looked pleased as she went to go sit down at a table and eat her ice cream. Cat and Robin both gave Steve a confused and weirded out look. "I babysat her a couple of days ago and now she's crazy when it comes to me. She won't leace me alone unless I give her ice cream."

Cat raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms. "Do you really think a seven year old is going to help us with the Upside Down or the lab or whatever the fuck we're doing?" She asked in a concerned tone.

Robin became confused at what Cat had said. She looked over at her two friends for some kind of explanation from the two of them, but they both exchanged glances with each other. Then they both quickly explained everything that happened since 1983. From Will's disappearance to him getting possessed and the whole thing with the lab, all of it was crazy to Robin. She believed them once Cat showed her a 009 tattoo. She thought the whole thing was insane, but she believed it all.

"I'll help you guys with whatever this is," Robin said, determined. Cat and Steve nodded and the three walked over to where Dustin and Evelyn were sitting and told them what was going on. They both agreed to help, but Evelyn was worried. She had only agreed to help in order to not be found out as a spy by anyone. Now she would have to come up with a plan to stop them from discovering anymore devices that Ezra and Shawn were building.

Erica then came over with her arms crossed. "What the hell is going on here?" She asked. "And you better tell me or else I will ruin your life, Steve." Steve groaned at her and told her that they were on a mission to save the world. Erica smirked, not believing them at all. "I'll join in on your little mission. But don't expect me to have any fun."

"It's not supposed to be fun! Ugh, I thought it would be easier to convince a seven year old that this stuff is happening," Steve said, annoyed.

Erica shook her head and sighed at her babysitter. "Unlike some people my age, I know the difference between imagination and real life. So don't play me as a fool, bitches," she said.

Steve glares at her. "DO NOT SASS ME LITTLE GIRL!" He yelled, getting a lot of attention from other customers and workers in the store. Robin, Cat, Dustin, and Evelyn all started laughing at their friend's outburst. "I hate my life. I hate my job. And I hate children!" Steve said.

"No you don't Steve! I'm your favorite child!" Dustin said, smirking.

Erica shot him a death glare. "NO IM HIS FAVORITE CHILD!"

"NO I AM!"

"I AM!"

"I AM!"

"I wonder if jumping off the counter several times will be enough to kill me," Steve thought out loud.