A reason to fight for.//elmax-Madmage

Chapter 32:

It had been 5 days since the whole Brenner accident. Robin allowed Max to stay home a few days and Hopper did the same, but they weren't allowed to leave their houses, meaning not being able to see each other.

Hopper knocked on Eleven's door, to which the brunette responded by opening the door with her powers. 'Hey kiddo, can we talk?' Eleven sat up on her bed and nodded. Hopper took a chair and sat in front of her. He cleared his throat and looked up at her. 'So, you and Max?' Eleven looked down hiding her smile at the mention of her girlfriend's name. 'I want you to be careful, okay?' The brunette looked up confused. 'What do you mean?' Hopper sighed. 'Some people don't like-' Eleven interrupted him. 'I know, Max told me. But I don't...I don't care. I love her. I can protect her. No one will hurt her. No one will bother her.' Hopper looked her deep in the eyes. 'What about you?' Eleven shrugged. 'I can protect myself.' Hopper nodded, knowing that she's too stubborn to listen to him. 'Promise me to be careful. Ok?' Eleven nodded. 'I promise dad.' Hopper held a smile back, which Eleven of course noticed.

'Ready to go back to school?' The brunette shrugged. 'Well Max is going back to tomorrow, I talked with Robin.' Eleven nodded. 'Then I am ready too.' The man got up. 'Alright, go to sleep now, and no spying on Max tonight, give her some space.' Eleven blushed and looked down. 'Don't play innocent, the lights flicker when you're extremely happy.' Eleven giggled and threw a pillow at him. 'She makes me happy.' Hopper caught the pillow and threw it back. He messed her hair up with his hand. 'I know kid, I know. Goodnight now.' He kissed the top of her head and walked out of her room.

Robin knocked on Max's door. 'Come in!' The older brunette walked in. 'Hey little red, are you alright?' Max was sitting on her bed with a comic in her hands. She looked up. 'Yeah. Can't wait to see El again.' Robin smiled, knowing exactly how the redhead feels. 'Then go sleep now.' Robin turned around to walk out, but Max quickly got up and turned her around. Robin looked down at the redhead confused, but Max randomly hugged her very tightly. Robin didn't expect that but didn't complain. She wrapped her arms around the smaller girl. 'I love you little red.' Max chuckled and pulled away. 'I love you too dingus.' Robin faked a hurt expression and tickled Max. The redhead giggled and tried to get away from the touch. She managed to escaped and got on her bed.

Robin chuckled, and sighed. 'I'm glad you're here.' Max smiled. 'Me too. Thank you for taking me in.' Robin shook her head. 'No, I meant, I'm happy that you're still here. Alive.' Max smile dropped and she got up again. 'Me too Robin. If I'm still here it's partly because of you. So thank you.' The older brunette hugged her again. She has always been a lonely person. Started out as a lonely child with a drunk single mother, didn't have much friends in school, never had a person to talk to or to trust. She finally had someone in her life that she knew wouldn't leave and someone who needed her as much as she needed Max. Of course she had Hope, but sometimes couples aren't made to be together forever. She did hope that they would, she really loved Hope. Max pulled away. 'I need sleep.' Max smiled and got on her bed, pulling the covers to her shoulders. Robin smiled softly and walked up to her. She kissed Max's forehead. 'Goodnight little red.' Max chuckled still not used to the new nickname. 'You too, dingus.'

Of course El didn't listen to Hopper. She grabbed her radio and closed her eyes. As she focused, she imagined Max in her mind. Suddenly, she found herself in the void. As she looked around, she saw the redhead sleeping in her bed, which made her smile grow. Eleven approached her and sat down next to her. She could stare at that beautiful face full of freckles for an eternity without getting tired of it. Even if Max had her eyes closed, Eleven could still imagine the mesmerizing blue eyes of her girlfriend. She wondered how she got so lucky. She never would have thought that they would end up together. Max hated her just a few weeks ago, and now they are dating.

Suddenly, Max started to move around. She was breathing heavily, her body shaking. Eleven remembered when Max had a nightmare at her house. Eleven took a deep breath and focused. 'Max?' She tried but her voice only echoed in the void. The brunette doubted that Max could hear her, but she didn't give up. 'Max?' Nothing. No response. Eleven knew that physical contact was impossible in the void, but she had to try. She gently and slowly laid her hand on Max's shoulder. 'Max?' The redhead finally woke up, looking around, feeling a presence. 'Calm down.' Max heard a whisper like an echo. The voice sounded all too familiar. 'El?' Max didn't want to seem crazy so she whispered that. 'Yes. Are you okay?' The redhead looked around still not seeing her girlfriend. 'Yes yes, but where are you?' Eleven chuckled at how cute Max looked. 'I will explain tomorrow. Get some rest. Goodnight Maxie.' Max felt the presence leave and sighed. She must have dreamed that. She focus on falling asleep again, thinking about her wonderful girlfriend. Eleven opened her eyes, meeting Hopper's eyes. 'I can explain-' Hopper interrupted her. 'I told you not to-' It was Eleven's turn to interrupt him. 'I felt like something was wrong and I was right. She was having a nightmare and I helped her wake up from it.' Hopper nodded, knowing how stubborn she can be. 'Alright. Go to sleep now.' He kissed Eleven's head and walked out of the room. The brunette for once obeyed and managed to fall asleep as well.