#even stranger things

[severitus812]

Even Stranger Things (Flufftober Edition) Tweets 😌

[allthingsfangirl101]

Even Stranger Things Masterlist

Summary

Chapter 1: New Girl In Town

Chapter 2: Reunions

Chapter 3: Just Like Old Times

Chapter 4: All Reunions Must End

Chapter 5: Couldn’t Stay Away

Chapter 6: Attempt #2

Chapter 7: Que The Guilt

Chapter 8: Not-So-Secret Visits

Chapter 9: Secrets Form Bonds

Chapter 10: A Shift

Chapter 11: El’s Turn

Chapter 12: Trust Is A Tricky Thing

Chapter 13: Memories and Flashbacks

Chapter 14: And. . . They’re Back

Chapter 15: Roadtrip

Chapter 16: Plan With A Twist

Chapter 17: Found You

Chapter 18: Not This Time

Chapter 19: Rescue Party

Chapter 20: The Healing Process

Chapter 21: Now What?

Chapter 22: A New Life

Chapter 23: It’s Never Over

Chapter 24: Mom and Dad Are In Trouble

Chapter 25: Protecting Each Other

Chapter 26: Tests

Chapter 27: Kids to the Rescue

Chapter 28: No One Gets Left Behind

Chapter 29: Safe In Your Arms

Chapter 30: Starting Over. . . Again

[valyrfia]

Mike: it’s not my fault you don’t like girls!

Will:

[dzsinksz]

[faninthebox]

Even stranger things are coming, are you ready?

[severitus812]

Starry is going great - that slowburn has at least been lit.

[allthingsfangirl101]

EST–Chapter 30: Starting Over. . . Again

Masterlist

Three Months Later

One gasped when someone wrapped their arms around her waist. She looked over her shoulder, a blush forming when she saw Steve smiling down at her.

"You didn't come visit me at work," he fake pouted.

"I'm sorry," One sighed as she turned around in his arms. "I had back-to-back photo appointments. I barely had time to drink water and eat a snack, let alone go see you."

"I know your new photo studio is just across the street from the video store," he pouted, "but it's too far."

"Especially considering we used to work in the same building," One chuckled. "I'm sorry I didn't come see you."

"It's okay," he sighed overly dramatically. He leaned in and whispered, "I think I know a way you can make it up to me."

"Oh really?" She elongated.

She smirked as she stood up on her toes. She hesitated before pressing her lips to his pout. The second they touched, he started kissing her back. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest.

She laughed as they bumped into her desk. They broke the kiss and looked at each other.

"I had something to tell you," he said breathlessly.

"But?" One teased.

"But I forgot."

She smiled as she stood on her toes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. Before he could kiss her back, she broke it. He laughed as she walked away.

"Oh!" He yelled, making One laugh. "I remember."

"Did you?" She asked as she turned around with her arms crossed.

"The kids want to do something to celebrate before they go back to school."

"Like what?" One asked.

"I don't know," he shrugged unable to stop smiling at her. "I guess a new roller skating rink is opening up."

"The kids want to meet at the roller rink?" One asked, trying to hold in her laughter.

"I guess," Steve shrugged as he grabbed her hand and pulled her back into his chest.

"When?"

"Tomorrow after work."

"Sounds good," One said as she walked over and started grabbing her things. "We can head over after our shifts."

"What about tonight?" Steve asked as he caught up to her and grabbed her hand.

"Dinner and a movie?" She offered.

"Sounds good to me."

                                * * * * *

The next night, One and Steve met the kids at the town's new skating rink. They walked in and were instantly greeted with crazy lights, colors, and music.

As they got their skates, One noticed Steve acting a little weird. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that he's been in his head lately.

"You okay?" She asked when she noticed him staring at her.

"Yeah," he stuttered. He chuckled before clearing his throat. He clapped his hands and jokingly rubbed them together.

"Ready?" He asked as he held his hand out for her. Steve stood up and instantly had to catch himself.

"Are you?" One giggled.

She stood up with ease and skated over to help him up. With their hands intertwined, the two made their way to the indoor track. They spent the next hour skating around in a circle, listening to music, talking and laughing.

Steve looked over and smiled when he saw One skating backward while she helped El. His heart got stuck in his throat when she looked up at him. She said something to El before skating over to Steve.

Right as she got to him, she grabbed his hand and led him back onto the track. They barely made it halfway around when he slipped. She laughed when Steve stopped, almost falling.

"I'm not very good at this," he sighed.

"You don't say," One teased. Steve sent her a playful glare before quickly breaking. He grabbed her hand and pulled her into his chest.

"You're going to make both of us go down," she chuckled as she snaked her arms up his torso and around his neck.

"Can we go somewhere a little less. . . wheely?"

"Sure," she chuckled. Still holding his hand, she led him over to a bench.

"You okay?" One asked.

"I'm fine."

"What's going on with you?" She pushed. "And don't say you're fine because you're clearly not. You've been in your head a lot, and I can't help but wonder if I did something wrong. I didn't mean to upset you. I know I'm new to all of this relationship stuff but. . ."

"Hey," Steve cut her off. He reached over and grabbed both of her hands. "I'm sorry I've been in my head lately. I've been thinking about things. Mostly us. But not because you've done something wrong."

"It's not?"

"Of course not," he smiled. "I've been thinking about how. . . Lately. . . I'm not entirely sure how to. . . The thing is. . ."

"Steve?" One cut off his nervous stutter. "You're not making me feel any better about all this."

"I'm sorry," he sighed. "I just. . ."

Steve took a shaky breath. He looked up at Dustin before gathering as much courage as he could. He sat back up and turned towards One.

"I've never felt like this before," he finally confessed. "I mean, I thought I have but it turns out that I was wrong. I didn't realize it until now. Until you."

"I don't. . ."

"I used to think that I was in love with Nancy, but that ended literally blowing up in my face. And when I met you, things were different. I'm going to sound like a love-sick teenager when I say this next part, but you deserve to know just how much I care about you."

One smiled as he continued. "When we met, I feel like we just clicked. And I felt this constant pull towards you. I went to your place every day after work. It was like I couldn't stay away from you. I didn't want to stay away from you. When we slept together, I couldn't even worry about going too fast. I was finally happy. Happier than I have been in a really long time."

Steve took a shaky breath, struggling to continue, "And when we were kidnapped and those guys were hurting you. . . It killed me to think that there was nothing I could do. I really care about you. A lot more than I thought I'd ever care about someone. I actually. . . I'm in love with you, Anna."

She opened her mouth to respond, but he kept rambling.

"I know we haven't been together that long, but it's true," he continued. "I'm in love with you. And honestly? I didn't think I'd ever feel like this. Especially after how things ended with Nancy, but that was idiotic. You're nothing like her. You're better for me."

"Steve. . ."

"I know things in our town are crazy, and you never really know what supernatural shit is going to come next," he continued, "so I promise that whatever comes our way, I'll protect you. Now, I know I usually get my ass handed to me and you'll probably do most of the saving, but I'll take a beating for you."

One grabbed his face, cut him off, and pressed her lips to his. She felt him laugh as he kissed her back. When neither one of them could breathe, One broke the kiss.

"If you ever stopped rambling," One whispered, "I could tell you that I'm in love with you too."

"You are?" Steve asked, not meaning to sound as relieved as he came across.

"I mean, I've never been in love considering the fact that I was locked in a lab being tortured to gain new abilities and then in hiding for most of my life," One started to ramble. "But I know how I feel about you."

Steve smiled before gently grabbing her chin and pressing his lips back to hers. Before they could get lost in their kiss, Dustin came skating over.

"Hey!" He yelled, making the couple break apart. "When you two are finished, we're going to get some pizza. You guys want in?"

Steve turned back towards One with a small chuckle. He grabbed her hand and they stood up.

"Next time," he sighed, "how about we don't bring the kids on our date, darling?"

"But babysitters are so expensive these days," One played along. "And we'd never find one on such short notice, honey."

"But we need our alone time, my love," Steve added. "I work all day and you work all day. Then we come home to take care of a house full of teenagers. We need a break every once in a while."

"I know," One sighed. "Raising six children while both of us work is exhausting."

Steve pulled on her hand, stopping her. He turned her towards him with his soft, genuine smile on his face.

"If I had to raise six teenagers with anyone, I'm glad it's with you."

The End

[allthingsfangirl101]

EST–Chapter 29: Safe In Your Arms

Masterlist

"I have to help her," Steve grunted as he sat up.

"Steve," he sighed. Dustin jumped out of the car when Steve fell out of it.

"We talked about this. You can barely stand," Dustin said as he wrapped his arm around him and helped Steve to his feet.

He started to walk Steve back to the car, but something out of the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Dustin looked over, smiling when he saw his friends coming down the hill.

"Steve," Dustin said when he saw her. "Look."

"Anna," Steve gasped as he let go of Dustin.

He ignored the pain as he walked towards Eleven helping One down the road. Guilt swarmed him when he saw how messed up she was. She could barely walk and her entire body was covered in blood and different-sized bruises. Even from where he was, he could tell something was wrong with her leg.

"Anna!"

She looked up, a sob getting stuck in her throat when she saw him walking towards her.

"Steve," she said weakly.

She pulled out of El's embrace, but the pain in her leg was too much. When she collapses, Eleven and Mike instantly leaned down and helped her. They looked up and smiled at Steve limping toward them. The kids picked up their pace.

Steve ignored the pain as he ran, closing the gap between them faster. The second he was in front of her, One let go of El and Mike. Steve caught her when she almost fell again. He pulled her into his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around her.

He felt her choke back a sob as she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed. "I didn't want to leave you, but I had no choice. I couldn't let them hurt you."

"It's okay," he shushed. He tightened his arms around her when she buried herself deeper into his chest. "I'm sorry I didn't try to stop them."

"They would've hurt you," One said, her voice breaking. "And I couldn't let them hurt you. They had already beat you and hit you so many times. I couldn't let them keep hurting you. They were going to kill you, Steve."

Steve cut her off as he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. One tightened her arms around Steve as she started to kiss him back. They didn't care that the kids were giggling. Steve and One were focused on finally holding each other in their arms again.

When they broke the kiss, Steve leaned back. He reached up and gently swiped his finger over one of the bruises on her cheek.

"I'm just glad that you're okay," he whispered. "I could hear you screaming. . . I wanted nothing more than to run and help you but I couldn't. . . I'm sorry I didn't try and stop them."

"You couldn't have done anything," she said softly. "And if you had, they would've hurt you."

Steve smiled before pulling her back into his chest. He looked over his shoulder to see Dustin smiling at them. He nodded towards One in Steve's arms before mouthing something.

"Tell her."

Steve pulled out of the hug and grabbed her hands. One instantly intertwined their fingers. He opened his mouth to say something, but she spoke up first.

"Steve," she whispered. "Will you take me home?"

Steve's heart sank into his stomach when her voice broke as she pleaded. He reached up and gently cupped her cheek in his hand.

"Let's get outta here."

Steve wrapped his arms around One and helped her back to the car. As they walked by, the kids sent each other knowing looks.

"I gotta say," Dustin chuckled, "I like them together."