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El's strength and energy was weakening, but in that moment, as the monstrous beast flew into the walls with screeches of pain flying from its mouth, Beth knew she was using all she had.
El's powers could not be denied, but the will of her ability was beginning to fall short.
As she threw the beast out of the window, glass shards flew through the air, one last cry of defeat leaving the creature's mouth as it fell. Beth let out a breath of relief, wiping her tears and pressing her hands to her stomach, quietly talking to her tiny baby in hopes of calming it. Pulling her knees carefully to her chest, Beth sobbed into her jeans, wishing Billy were here to comfort her in times of trial.
Everything was different without him; more painful, harder to get through and just simply not the same without him by her side. Even their child, who was still only the size of a lima bean, was missing its father, Beth could tell. Billy would sing to her belly and always whisper to their "bean" so quietly that she couldn't even hear the words he was uttering.
Her heart would clench as he lovingly spoke to her belly or cradled it carefully while they slept. He always kept a hand on her belly in the car when they drove anywhere, and kept her especially close when the went out downtown or just to the convenience store down the road.
Beth missed the little things like that; they mattered now more than ever.
"Beth?" Max asked carefully, snapping the girl out of her painful thoughts. Upon the sudden touch of the younger girl's hand, Beth jumped lightly, her eyes speedily veering up to see who it was.
"Are you okay, Beth?" Max asked, her eyes wide with concern.
"I- I'm fine. Thanks, Max." Beth whispered, clearing her throat as she used the wall to help herself up. Max tried to offer her arm to help the pregnant girl walk with everyone else, but Beth simply waved her hand and trailed off on her own.
Max's shoulders deflated, her heart aching as she watched Beth's tears fall down her raw cheeks, her arms over her stomach like a shield.
Max sighed, following after everyone and leaving the cold and horrifying hospital room that no one ever wanted to be in ever again.
•
Everyone was sat in Hopper's living room as El tried to find Heather, her family, Ms. Driscoll, Bruce and Billy.
No one had a picture of Billy except for Beth, which she hesitantly handed over after a few minutes of heavy contemplation and convincing from Max and Nancy.
"Just please give it back when you're done, El." Beth sniffled, watching as El carefully nodded and walked to another room to be alone while she tried to find all of the flayed they knew of.
