Lumax One Shots

july 4th 2020

It's now 2020 so it has been 35 years since The Battle of Starcourt. Since then the party became closer. Yeah, they had their ups and downs but they were family. In 1995 Max and Lucas tied the knot. Soon after everyone in the party was married they made the collective decision to move onto the same street as each other. Once everyone was settled into their houses children started to be born. Max was surprisingly the first one who got pregnant. She and Lucas had 3 kids with each other. Their oldest Kayla is now 21 and in her last year of college. Their middle child Issac is 19 and is a sophomore in college. The youngest daughter Alex is a senior in high school. Since it's 2020 everyone is home because of the pandemic. That includes the rest of the party's children as well. Luckily they were all raised together since birth so they're practically family. They hung out at each other's houses during quarantine only because they never visited anyone else. It is currently July 4th and with everything 2020 has brought everyone just wanted to spend a nice day together. Max and Lucas decided to host because they had the most space for everyone.
"Wassup guys ready to partyyyyy!!" Dustin's son Josh says as he opens the door with all the other kids behind him.
"Uh hell yeah!" The Sinclair children yelled and went outside with all the other kids.
"What are you wearing?" Lucas laughs as Dustin walks in.
"What do you mean I look great. Don't I look great hunny?"
"Of course you do," Samantha Dustin's wife says kissing his cheek. Max and Lucas just look at each other trying not to laugh.
"Hey, guys woah Dustin what are you wearing?" Mike said walking into the kitchen holding hands with El.
"What is wrong with my outfit?"
"Are you wearing a cape?" El giggles.
"No! This is my very patriotic cloak."
Lucas try's not to laugh as he starts passing out beers.
"We're here!" Will and Katie say making their way through the house.
"Woah nice cloak Dustin," Will says once they got into the kitchen.
"You guys are such nerds," Max laughs.
"Yeah yeah, whatever."
The boys go out on the deck to look at Lucas' new grill while the girls sit at the table and catch up.
"So how is everyone? How's the kids?" Katie asks.
"Other than the fact that all our kids are almost legal adults, good," Max laughs.
"Shut up that makes me feel old," El says playfully punching Max on the shoulder.
"We are old. I'm already 50 and you guys are 49. Let that sink in," Samantha adds.
"Ugh don't remind me," the girls groan.
"Let's go outside," Katie suggests.
"Okay but El can you help with bring out a few more drinks," Max asks.
"Yeah no problem," El says as the other girls go outside. El knew she wasn't helping with drinks. It was their yearly talk El and Max always had.
"What has it been? 35 years?" El asks.
"Yup," Max says taking a sip of her beer.
"I can't believe they've been gone that long."
"Me either. Do you ever imagine how different our lives would be if Hop and Billy were still here?"
"Pfft, all the time. I think about how great my dad would've been with the kids. I know he and Nathan would've gotten along so well. What about you?"
"I've definitely thought about it. If Billy was still here maybe we would've fixed our relationship. But then again Neil would've never left my mom if he didn't die. I mean it would change so many things."
"We just have to remember they both died heroes. I don't think any of us would be here if they didn't sacrifice themselves," El says hugging Max.
"You're right. Let's go outside."
They spend the day talking and enjoying each other's presence.

Around 7:30 Max and Lucas went inside to prepare dinner for everyone. Max got out the stuff to make mac& cheese while Lucas mixed seasonings for the ribs. Everyone else was outside making jokes and reminiscing.
"Those kids are crazy," Lucas laughed as he watched them attack Dustin from behind with water balloons.
"Yeah, they really are aren't they."
"Hey, are you okay?" Lucas could tell by her voice something was bothering her.
"I'm fine," she said keeping her eyes on the food she was preparing.
"Max. I've know you for 36 years don't think I don't know when you're lying. Friends don't lie," Lucas smiled at her waiting for her response. She looked up at him and her eyes were still bright blue like they were when they were 14.
"It's been 35 years Lucas. And his words are still engraved in my mind," she said looking at him with all her walls down. Lucas was the only one who got to see Max like this. She was completely and utterly vulnerable.
"I know. But you just have to remember he did it for us. He did it for you. To protect you and everyone else. He is a hero Max don't forget that," Lucas said as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist protectively.
"I'm not ready for tonight again."
"That's okay I'll be right by your side."
They finished making dinner and served everyone. The food was devoured by the hungry teenagers in seconds. It started to get dark outside so Mike and Lucas set up a campfire for the teens.
"How's El today?" Lucas asks wondering if it's still as hard for her as it is for Max.
"She misses him. I mean Hop was the only good father figure she ever had. She keeps a picture of him with her at all times. Some days you would think that he died yesterday by how much she misses him.  But she knows he died a hero and that he did it for all of us. What about Max?" Mike says stacking wood into the pit.
"It's still hard for her. I think the fact that they didn't have a good relationship kills her. Especially since she knows what he went through before he met her. She told me earlier that his last words are still engraved in her mind. And the thing is I completely understand that. The moment I heard her scream it... it killed me on the inside. It was the most heartbreaking scream I've ever heard and I can't unhear it."
"Will she be okay tonight?"
"As long as she's outside and with everyone else, she should be fine. You got a match or a lighter?"
"Yup," Mike lit the wood and all the kids came to sit around the fire.

The adults had their own small fire on the deck. They talked about everything happening in the world right now and how crazy it is.
"HEY UNCLE WILL COME MAKE A TIKTOK WITH US!" The kids screamed and Will ran down there.

After a little while, everyone got ready to watch the fireworks. The couples were cuddled up on the outdoor furniture. Max laid down next to Lucas and put her head on his chest. He hugged her tight knowing what was coming next. The first firework went off and Max flinched. Ever since Billy Max was never able to watch fireworks easily. But tonight she couldn't look away. Holding on to Lucas tighter as the bright colors burst into the sky. Silent tears started rolling down her face. Everyone knew max had a hard time with fireworks but the kids of course. That was until Kayla looked over and saw her mom with tears on her face. She was confused but kept it to herself until everyone left. Around 12:30 everyone went back home leaving the Sinclair's to clean up.
"Hey, mom why were you crying earlier? You know when the fireworks were going off," Issac asked. Kayla nudged him knowing that probably wasn't the best way to ask her.
"Wait you were crying? Why?" Alex added on confused. Max and Lucas looked at each other for a while trying to decide if they should tell them about their childhood. Lucas nodded signaling that they should tell the kids.
"Lucas they won't even believe us," Max whispered.
"We'd believe you," the kids said altogether. Max gulped sitting them down with Lucas by her side.
"So we had a very...different childhood I guess you could say," Max started. They explained all about the upside-down, how they found El when Max met the party, the demo dogs, everything. The kids sat there trying to believe them but seriously who would believe that story. Max sure didn't at first. Now they had to talk about July 4th, 1985.
"We were sleepless for that whole weekend. I don't think we ever shut our eyes," Lucas explained looking at Max and her nodding agreeing with what he said. Max just wanted to get it over with so she continued off what Lucas said.
"We were running out through the storms, through the night. We were running in the dark," a tear slipped from Max's eye. Lucas noticed and put a hand on her thigh comforting her.
"We were following our hearts," Lucas added.
"And we would fall down, we would slowly fall apart. We would slowly fall into the dark," at this point, Max couldn't control her tears anymore. Lucas helped her finish explain the story as he rubbed her back.
"It's hard to let it all go and let the past just disappear. That's why we've all stuck together. Knowing that everything could come back is terrifying. But we have each other so we can do it again," Lucas smiled at Max. They looked up at their children and saw confused looks. Max laughed and wiped the tears off her face.
"You see I told you they wouldn't believe us. I know I didn't when you told me."
"I mean it's pretty hard to believe," Alex commented.
"You're right so you guys can do whatever you want with that information. But don't tell anyone not even the others I don't think their parents have told them yet," Lucas said.
"We're going to bed I'm tired," Max says grabbing Lucas' hand and heading upstairs.
"Goodnight and please don't stay up too late," Lucas reprimanded.

"Do you guys believe any of that?" Issac said staring at his sisters.
"Uh I'm not sure," Alex responded.
"I can believe some of it but the alternate dimension come on what do they think we are 5-year-olds," Kayla laughed.
"Yeah you're right," the other two said and they all headed off to bed.

Lucas and Max, we were getting ready for bed talking about what they just told their kids.
"So do you think they believed us?" Lucas asked climbing into bed.
"Pfft are you kidding me there's no way they believed anything we said," she laughed.
"Well, maybe that's for the best."
"Yeah maybe." Max laid on Lucas's chest and they both fell asleep knowing that they would always have each other in end.

I hope you guys liked that I know it might've been a little confusing. The song falling apart by Michael Schulte inspired me to write this! Comment more one-shot ideas!