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Months had gone by, and things had changed drastically.
Joyce, El, Jonathan, Will, Billy and Beth were all moving.
Joyce took El under her wing because she knew it's what Hopper would want her to do, and Joyce simply couldn't keep living in agony in Hawkins. She couldn't take swimming in the sea of painful memories the town held, so she did what she knew would be best in the end; leave and start over.
Beth fully understood her choice, she and Billy were doing the same thing.
"Be careful on the road." Beth sighed, bringing Joyce in for a tight hug. "We'll call and write to you guys as much as possible, I promise."
"We will too, sweetheart." Joyce smiled, swallowing the suffocating lump in her throat while her teardrops landed on the ground below her. "Be careful on your way to California. And you're sure you'll be able to find her, right?"
Beth nodded, watching as Billy helped the kids and Jonathan bring out boxes and move them to the moving truck and their cars. He'd gotten extremely close with everyone, and now that he'd formed strong bonds with each and every one of them, he didn't want to say goodbye.
Beth had to force Billy to make slight amends with Steve, but over the weeks, he managed to do it. He complained, and everyone knew they were never going to be friends, but they made up- sort of.
"We'll find her." Beth smiled, nodding to reassure Joyce and herself.
Resting a hand on her growing baby bump, Beth walked into the room El had been using and gently knocked on the door. El looked up from reading a letter, tears and smile painted on her face. "Hey, Beth." she smiled.
"Hey, El." Beth brought the girl into a tight hug, swaying gently to comfort her.
"When are you guys leaving for California?" El asked, pulling back and using her flannel to dry her tears.
"Tomorrow." Beth sighed, nervousness and excitement filling her heart. "I'm scared, but I'm also happy. We'll be free, finally. No more of all of this."
"I'm happy for you, Beth." El smiled, hugging her once more. "Thank you for everything you've done for me."
"You don't have to thank me, El." Beth wiped the tears that fell from her eyes with the back of her hand, rubbing El's back comfortingly. "I should be thanking you."
