Mike stands beside her on the front porch, holding her hand. She's nervous and jittery. She's convinced he's the only thing keeping her there. Hopper and Joyce stand on either side. Joyce knocks, a little hesitantly, tears in her eyes.

"Yeah?" Becky appears in the doorway. Her eyebrows raise as her eyes land on Hopper.

"Fancy meeting you again, Chief." She says. "Whatever it is, I didn't do it."

Hopper gives a sharp bark of laughter, though it is somewhat lacking in humor.

"Is your sister home?"

"Yeah. I thought I told you, she ain't telling anybody nothing." Hopper shakes his head.

"This is Eleven." He says, putting his arm around El. El gives the woman a small smile.

"Hello." She says, holding out her hand. El uses her free hand to take it.

"Did you say Eleven, like the number?" She says. Hopper nods.

"You can also call her Jane." Becky stares at El with renewed intensity, her hands flying to her mouth.

"What did you say?"

"Like I said, is your sister home?"

. . .

The woman in the chair gazes at her, distant. Her eyes possess a faraway look that El finds quite unsettling. Becky tries to introduce them, but trips over her words.

"Terry. C'mon. I-I don't know what to say. You were right." Becky says, a little tearfully. She's shaken, her face pale.

"You were right. Your baby came home, Ter. You were right."

Becky continues speaking, softly

"You were right." She repeats the words over and over again.

The woman remains silent.

El lets go of Mike, stepping closer to her.

"Mom?" She says. The word is foreign, strange on her tongue.

Terry Ives doesn't react. Tears stream down Joyce' face. Mike holds his breath, hatred for Brenner overcoming him.

El comes closer. It is not words that bring Terry Ives from her mental prison. It's Eleven's touch. She grabs her mother's hand.

"Mom?"

Terry Ives turns, takes in El's face. Mike sees the clouds of darkness leave the woman's eyes. A flicker of recognition crosses her face.

El's breath hitches. She feels as if she's choking.

"Mom. It's me. It's Jane."

Terry Ives begins to cry, guttural noises of shock and relief escape her lips. Her hands clumsily brush back El's short hair. They embrace and fall on the floor, rocking back and forth, sobbing into one another.

"Jane." Terry says, burying her face in her daughter's hair.

"Call me El."

******* End ********

A/N: First, thank you to anyone who took the time to read and review. Your critique, advice, and compliments are all extremely encouraging. I want to continue this story, but if I continue to fuss with it I will not be doing it justice. I have given it all the love it needs. I will be posting more from the Stranger Things universe in the near future. Prompts and suggestions welcome. Thank you!