Sorry for not updating this story in a while. I haven't had a lot of time to write but I'm still managing to come at you guys with another chapter.

In other news; I created a pa-treon page, under the same username ( mcplestreet) It would mean a lot to me if you guys checked it out, even if you don't become a patron. I tried to think of some cool things to offer you and I hope I succeeded. Anyways, here's the new chapter.

Mike and Nancy hardly ever played board games, especially without Holly. But they needed help taking their mind off what was going on downstairs so they broke out the old Monopoly box. Nancy had her radio on so they didn't run the risk of overhearing the conversation their parents were currently having. Especially if it wasn't going well. They were doing their best to pretend it was just a normal Saturday even though it was anything but. Mike had a feeling that Nancy was letting him win the game, which wasn't' exactly easy but she was still trying.

"What do you think is gonna happen?" Mike asked, unable to keep his wandering thoughts to himself any longer.

He looked up from the board to see her reaction. Other than pursing her lips she didn't do much. "She's gonna tell him he can't come back."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "You don't sound so certain."

"She will." Nancy repeated.

"She never has before." He pointed out.

"Yeah, well, he's never done that to you before."

Mike wanted to ask if Nancy genuinely thought their mom cared but stopped himself before the words came out of his mouth. Karen Wheeler was clearly not the greatest mom in the world but to assume she didn't care about her own child being hit was unfair of him. Yes, Mike had a classic case of middle child syndrome. But there was no way it could be that bad. Besides, she'd already done more than she usually did. She'd never kicked Ted out of the house before.

But how much more did they expect her to do?

"What if she doesn't?"

Nancy shook her head. "Don't think like that." She told him. "She has to. She'd be crazy not to. Crazy or incompetent."

"Okay but what if?"

"I guess…" Nancy's voice trailed off for a second. "We'd have to figure something out because you can't stay here if she doesn't make him leave. It's not safe."

"So I'd be homeless?"

Nancy scoffed. "Absolutely not. We would figure something out, we always do. But I don't even want to think about that right now. Really, Mike."

"I do." He insisted. "Way worse and crazier things have happened around here and we both know it." He saw some of her confidence in her argument deflate. "So, hypothetically, what would we do if she lets him stay?"

She let out a sigh. "Well, we'd find somewhere to go tonight and the next couple days. Like Johnathan's house or a motel or something. And we'd stay there until we talk some sense into her. And if we can't then we go to Hopper and ask what can be done."

"What, like press charges?" Mike asked.

"If we have to."

"Damn." Mike said, rolling the dice and moving his piece six spaces. "You're pretty serious about this."

"Because this is serious, Mike." She told him, "I'm sick of seeing people treat you like shit. Especially him, it's not okay."

Mike's cheeks turned warm and he looked down at the board. He had finally gotten used to Eleven being kind and overprotective of him. But other people he still struggled with sometimes. Which was stupid. Nancy was his sister, he shouldn't have been acting like a total spaz in front of her because she was saying something nice. But he figured he had his parents and their hands-off approach of affection to blame for that.

Mike wasn't sure how long he expected the conversation to last but it went on pretty long. Though Nancy had much more big red houses on her property mike owned more and was therefore winning. At least they thought so. She pretended to be disappointed every time she had to hand over money but a small smile crossed her face when she thought he wasn't looking.

It was a little after 1 pm when there was a quiet knock on the door. Mike and Nancy exchanged a nervous look while their mom pushed the door opened and leaned against the desk. He had a feeling he knew the outcome just by the look on her face.

"So," Karen began, "We had a very long talk. And he feels very sorry about what happened last week. He assured me that it's something that will never happen again."

"And it's something that's never going to happen again because he's moving out, right?" Nancy asked.

Karen pursed her lips. "Not exactly, honey."

"Well what does that mean?"

"Nancy he's your father." She said. "We can't just kick him out of our lives."

Nancy scoffed. "Yes, we can if he's abusing your only son."

Karen looked shocked. "Don't be so dramatic, Nancy. It was a mistake he made in the heat of the moment. Everyone's done things they regret during a fight. I know you have."

Nancy rolled her eyes. "Me acting like a bitch when you won't let me go out is way different than a father screaming at and hitting their son!" she shot back.

"Why don't you let your brother talk?" Karen asked. "This is, after all, all because of him."

Mike didn't like the way she worded that. Like it was his fault or something. Maybe it was, he just didn't want to hear it.

"So does that mean he's coming back to live with us?" he asked, even though he knew the answer. He just needed to hear her say it.

"… yes."

Mike shared a look with Nancy, who looked like her head was about to explode. "Well that's not okay, mom." he said, turning back to face her. "Hitting your kids is a crime. People go to jail for it. He can't just come back like everything's fine."

"Well that's not what's happening." She tried to explain.

"Yes it is, mom." Mike argued back. "That's what always happens. Every time you say 'it won't be like last time' and it's always exactly like last time. What's it gonna take for you to kick him out? Me going to the hospital?"

Karen shook her head. "Don't talk like that Michael. He would never do that."

"Really?" Mike asked. "Because last summer after that big fight we had you told me he would never hit me. Do you remember that?"

He could tell by how her eyes instantly went down to the floor that she remembered it as clearly as he did.

"Screw this." Nancy said, getting up from her bed. "Mike, back a backpack. We're getting out of here."

"Excuse me?" Karen asked.

Mike stood up and hurried into his room across the hall to get some overnight things. Though they were out of sight he could still hear Nancy and his mom fighting as clearly as if he was still there with them.

"You never treated him how he should be treated," Nancy spat at her while opening and closing her dresser drawers. "It's like he's invisible ever since Holly was born."

"That is not true."

"He hid a girl with telepathic powers in the basement!" Nancy shouted. "He thought his girlfriend was dead or a year! And you barely even noticed there was something wrong! I was the one who came when he cried every night, I was the one who got him to do his homework, I was the one making sure he was eating. Me, mom. I've been more of a mother to Mike than you ever have! I've protected him from everything, and thanks to you I have to protect him from his own father. That's supposed to be your job."

"I'd like to see you raise three kids, Nancy." Karen replied. "You really think you can do better?"

"I've already raised one." Nancy shot back. "And I've done a hell of a lot better with Mike than you. Though I won't give myself too much credit since that isn't that hard."

Mike heard his mom scoff. "Well, you're in such a rush to pack your things. Where are you two going?"

"Don't really know, don't really care." Nancy said. "Any where's better than here with you two."

"I did not raise you this way, Nancy."

"You're right, you didn't raise me."

Mike hoisted his backpack onto his shoulders and stood in Nancy's doorway, finding his mother and sister standing on opposite sides of the room glaring at each other. "Nance." He said, "You ready?"

She nodded and picked her bag off her bed, walking past her mom without another glance and leaving before she could get another word in.

They practically ran downstairs and out the door so they wouldn't have to pass by their father who, by the looks of it, was in the kitchen. Thankfully Nancy had parked on the curb so they could just get in her car and go. They threw their bags into the trunk and Nancy slammed her foot on the gas.

"Where are we going?" Mike asked, glancing over at his sister.

"We're picking up Holly at her friends house and taking her with us." Nancy told him. "I don't trust her with them alone."

"Is it just for tonight?"

Nancy shook her head. "I don't know, Mike. We kind of have to take everything one step at a time."

Besides the radio playing music the rest of the car ride was silent. Everything that had happened in the past 20 minutes was beginning to settle in. They were pretty much running away from home. How long would it be before they went back? Mike had a feeling that Nancy wouldn't want to go back until their father was out of the house but that wasn't realistic. How long would it take? A week? A month? Would it ever even happen?

And what about Holly? They weren't fit to take care of her all by themselves. At least Mike wasn't, and Nancy didn't deserve the responsibility of raising 2 kids at the age of 17. Especially raising a kid as attached to her parents as Holly.

Mike waited in the car while Nancy went inside to get Holly. Out of all the things that had happened he never had such a strong sense that everything was falling apart. Whenever things began happening with the gate of the Upside Down they always managed to come up with some kind of plan. True, it wasn't always the smartest plan. But they always thought of something. And Mike never felt alone. Despite the fact that Nancy was very clearly there for him through everything he still somehow felt incredibly isolated.

They spent the entire car ride to the motel in the next town over explaining to a very confused Holly that they were going on a "no parents" vacation. Telling her that she could have ice cream with dinner seemed to sway her in the right direction.

They checked into a room and got settled in while Nancy called Johnathan on the phone to tell him about what happened. Mike kept Holly company but it was hard to focus when he was itching to get his hands on the phone to call Eleven. He tried to listen to Holly telling him about her play date and be as enthusiastic as possible. The last thing they needed was for her to get upset and want to go home.

"Daddy came home didn't he?" she asked all of a sudden. "That's why mommy made me go out."

Mike glanced at Nancy in hopes of helping him out but her back was turned to them and her ear was still pressed against the phone. Holly was waiting expectantly when he turned back to her. "Yeah Hol." He said eventually. "Daddy was at the house today."

"Is he going to live with us again?"

Nancy needed to hurry and hang up the phone. "It looks like it."

Holly didn't say anything at first. She just sat and thought about what Mike had told her. He had no clue what he expected her to say next, but what she did say certainly wasn't on the list.

"I miss Daddy, but I don't like seeing you fight. Maybe no parents vacation is a good idea."

Mike wasn't really sure how to respond so he just nodded a little.

Nancy hung up the phone not too long after and Mike jumped to take it next. He dialed the number he knew by heart and waited impatiently for Eleven to answer.

"Mike?"

A wide smile spread on his face. "How'd you know it was me?"

"You're the only one that calls me." She told him. "Sometimes Max, but not every day like you." She hesitated for a quick moment. "How did it go with your dad?"

"Not great." Mike admitted. "She let him come back."

Eleven let out a long, disappointed sigh. "I'm sorry Mike. What are you going to do?"

"Well tonight me, Nancy, and Holly are staying in a motel room." He said. "Just so that we don't have to be there."

"Motel?" Eleven asked. "Come stay with me."

Mike laughed. "That would be awesome, but I can't do that to you and Hopper. Especially not when we have Holly."

"I don't care." She insisted. "And neither would he. You're my family Mike, you shouldn't have to stay in a motel room when you can come here."

His throat burned with tears that threatened to break free but he managed to blink them away. "Maybe tomorrow, okay? But promise you'll ask Hopper and make sure it's okay with him."

"Promise." She agreed. "But I know he'll say it's okay. He's mad about what happened."

"He is?"

"Of course he is. You know he likes you. He's upset that this is happening to you because he knows you don't deserve it."

Mike's fear of Hopper not liking him sometimes prevented him from remembering that he actually did. Hopper cared about Eleven as if she were his own daughter, and Mike had a feeling that he was grateful that their reunion had gotten her out of her funk. Sure, she could be difficult and rebellious sometimes. What teenager wasn't? But, according to Hopper, the difference in her was night and day. Apparently most of her defiance was about wanting to see him, and now that she could whenever she wanted she was mostly content with staying inside.

"You can't stay in a motel forever, Mike." Eleven said, her voice sounding sad. "It's not a home. And you'll run out of money."

"I know, El. But Nancy and I are gonna figure something out." He tried to sound as certain as possible, even though their short-term motel plan was as far ahead as they had gotten. Telling Eleven wouldn't make her feel any better so there was no point. "Besides, my mom might change her mind, and then we won't need a plan."

"Maybe." She didn't sound convinced at all.

"Hey, we're still on for tomorrow right?" Mike asked her, hoping that talking about seeing each other might cheer her up a bit.

"Yes." He could hear the smile in her voice. "You're coming here?"

"Yeah, and I'll bring any movie you want me to."

"You pick this time." Eleven said. "I always pick."

Mike already knew he was going to choose a movie she herself would have picked. He had a feeling he would be bring Footloose which was, at the time, her favorite movie. "Okay, I'll pick. It'll be a surprise."

"Nothing scary?"

"Nope, I'll make sure it's something you'd like." He assured her. "And I'll pick up some snacks before I come over like I did last time."

"Popcorn?"

"Definitely."

"I love you Mike." She said. "I just want you to be happy."

"I am happy."

"I mean at home. It's not fair to you. Or Nancy and Holly. You shouldn't have to think of a plan, you should be able to be at home and be happy and safe."

Hearing Eleven talk about the importance of having safe environment at home warmed his heart. When he met her Mike didn't think she could be more perfect. She proved him wrong every day.

"I don't want you to worry about me, El." He told her. Worrying wouldn't do her any good.

"I can't help it." She argued. "I can't just turn off my feelings. And I wouldn't if I could. I'm going to worry about you, you just have to suck it up."

He couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, fine, but only because that was funny. And I'm going to worry about you worrying about me."

"Fine." She agreed. "And no more secrets either, right?"

Mike doubted he would ever live down keeping such a secret from her. "Nope, no more secrets. I'm an open book."

"Good. Me too."

Though Mike appreciated her saying it he knew it wasn't exactly true. There were things about her life in the lab that he knew she might never be able to talk about. She still had a hard time whenever the topic came up. Of course he didn't blame her. Anyone in her position would struggle with their past. She had healed more than he'd ever expected her to in such a short amount of time. Still, she had a long way to go. Every time she told him something new about the lab he was horrified that it could get worse. He could only imagine the things she'd yet to say.

"Can you come early tomorrow?" Eleven asked. "12?"

"Yeah, I can come at 12."

"Can you come earlier?"

Mike laughed. "How about I come as soon as I wake up?"

"Okay. Wake up early."

"Goodnight El."

"Goodnight Mike."