Chapter Text
Chapter 10: For the Future
As they descended the staircase, they noticed Jonathan, Steve, Nancy and Robin all huddled together whispering to each other about something. Mike and Will glanced at each other curiously before Mike cleared his throat loudly at them, causing Will to snort beside him. The group jumped apart with wide eyes for a moment. Nancy pursed her lips and glared slightly at her younger sibling, “Did you hear any of that?”
Mike raised his brows, “Depends. Was it about us?”
“No comment.” Nancy huffed back, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Well then no comment here either.” Mike frowned at her.
Will chuckled at their antics and moved past Mike to venture to the fridge. Jonathan glanced at his little brother’s neck and a pinched frown fell on his own face.
“Jonathan.” Will warned, sending him a look.
“I didn’t say anything.” Jonathan raised his hands defensively, turning instead to help Steve with some bags on the counter, “Oh! But don’t eat anything. We’ve got pizza on the way.”
“Pizza?” Mike hummed as he flopped into a dining room chair, “Hopefully not that gross pineapple stuff though right?”
Steve scrunched up his own face, “Pineapple? On pizza?” He gave Jonathan a look.
“Right?!” Mike exclaimed, “They were all acting like I was crazy for not liking it!”
Jonathan shrugged and put on his best Argyle voice, “Try before you deny my dudes.”
Will just shook his head with a smile as he walked over and gently slipped a can of coke in front of Mike as he took the seat next to him. Mike thanked him by hooking his ankle with his own under the table and gently kicking their legs.
The front door opened again and El, Max, and Leah all walked through with mountains of bags between them. Leah made eye contact with her dads and her smile grew as she raced to them, “Dads! Look at my hair! Isn’t it cool?”
“It looks great Lee.” Will beamed at her.
Mike gently ruffled her new bob and smiled, “Definitely awesome.”
“Thanks! I didn’t want it as short as Aunt El’s, but I didn’t really like it long either, so the lady at the shop helped me look through some magazines and I picked this one!” Leah rambled excitedly.
“Sounds like you had a lot of fun then.” Will hummed, “Why don’t you go put those bags into your room honey? Then you can tell us about everything else you guys got up to.”
Leah nodded, “Okay!” then took off upstairs.
“Have you guys told them yet?” El questioned the older adults in the room who all instantly shut up and stared at her with wide eyes.
“Us?” Mike frowned, looking from Will’s similarly confused face up to the guilty ones of the older adults.
“Told us what?” Will questioned curiously eyeing the others.
“Oh- well- um-” Both Nancy and Jonathan began before both being interrupted by the front door swinging open and Hopper and Joyce coming through with a couple pizza boxes.
“Oh look! Pizza’s here!” Jonathan announced, rushing to take the boxes from Joyce’s arms.
“So. Have you told em yet?” Hopper grunted as he settled himself onto a dining room table seat.
“Told us what?!” Mike groaned.
Hopper chuckled at that and Joyce gasped, “oh! Not yet! I should take some photos!”
“Photos? What?” Will questioned in utter confusion.
“Ah c’mon Joyce. It isn’t that big of a thing.” Hopper hummed, gently pulling the woman to sit next to her.
“Will someone please tell us what’s happening right now?” Mike sighed out, gaining a comforting squeeze on his arm from Will.
The room was silent for a minute before Jonathan hummed, “As both of you know, I win the bet.”
Will huffed and rolled his eyes and Mike groaned beside him, “Really Jonathan? That’s what this is all about?”
“Yes and no.” Jonathan smirked, “I won, but I put the money towards something special.”
“Something special?” Will questioned softly. Before anyone else could say anything else Karen Wheeler was wandering in with Holly, “Sorry we’re late. Work ran over a bit.”
Joyce stood to show Karen in to a seat and spoke, “We’re glad you could make it.. a lot of the surprise is thanks to you after all.”
Mike looked to his mom in confusion, “Mom? What’s going on?”
Karen flapped her hand around, “Oh well, it wasn’t just me! I mean when Ted was still around we weren’t really suffering for income and all. He wasn’t pleased with exactly how much I got out of the divorce, but… I think this is a really a great way to stick it to him.”
“What is?” Mike questioned.
Jonathan nodded his head to Nancy who reached behind Steve and produced a Manila envelope. She then placed it in front of the boys. Will and Mike glanced at each other before Will plucked it up and carefully opened it. Inside were bank statements with a hefty amount of money as well as a card with the bet money in cash. The card was signed by everybody and a little note was added by Karen ‘A little help to start your lives from your father (begrudgingly)’. Mike laughed a little, eyes misty, as he read the note. Will squeezed Mike’s arm again and looked up to Karen quickly, “Ms. Wheeler… we-we couldn’t… this is- it’s- it’s so much.” He gasped out.
Karen smiled and reached out to hold both his hand and Mike’s, “Consider this an early wedding gift then. My parents helped me out with our house when Ted and I moved out… it’s only fair I do the same. Plus not all of it was me! Joyce, Hop, Jonathan, and Nancy were apparently stowing away funds even before I- before I realized you were still alive.” She gently brought up a hand to cup Mike’s cheek.
Mike sniffled and leaned into it slightly. Will gently let Mike go as he stood and rushed over to pull Karen into a firm hug.
Will let them have their moment, slowly shaking his head as he continued to stare at the number, “A house…” he whispered disbelieving, “We can- we can afford to-to mortgage.”
“For at least a year.” Joyce stated from where she moved behind Will, gently rubbing his shoulders, “Gives you boys time to settle down and find your jobs and school and such.” She grinned at him.
“And if you need help finding a place. Jon’s got a whole area mapped.” Steve teased the other.
Will turned to look up at Jonathan, who shrugged, “Thought you wanted something somewhat nearby.”
Will smiled up at him, “Mike and I would love to look at your options.”
“And Nance and I talked him into staking over the bet money.” Robin piped in.
Nancy nodded, “Should be enough to cover a decent amount of your wedding outfits.”
Mike finally returned to his seat next to Will, sniffling and nodding, “Thanks guys. We appreciate it.”
Will nodded, “This means…”his voice wobbled slightly in emotion, “it means so much.”
Hopper shrugged and smiled at them, “Alright! Well I say we celebrate then! Everyone dig in.” He popped open the pizza boxes and everyone grabbed slices up.
“Finally!” Steve and Robin grinned as Steve pulled out a bottle of champagne and Robin popped the cork.
They celebrated with their champagne and pizza until they got too tired. Will leaned into Mike with a pleasant hum thrumming in his brain. Mike pecked the top of his head and smiled down at him.
“Are you planning on coming home tonight Michael?” Karen questioned him with a fond look.
Mike cast a look down at Will then smiled shyly, “Mind if I bring Will and Leah?”
“Of course not darling. We’ve got more than enough space.” Karen replied with a smile.
Will carefully untangled himself from Mike and stood pressing a kiss to Mike’s cheek, “I’ll go get Leah and I a bag and be right down.”
Mike watched him fondly and nodded his head as he watched him head upstairs. Max snickered from next to him and slowly shook her head, “You are soooo whipped for that boy.”
Mike huffed and rolled his eyes, but his smile only grew on his face.
“Oh and don’t think I ignored those hickeys on both of your necks~”Max teased, “El and Steve both told me to play nice is all.”
Mike flushed and shot her and slight glare, “Mayfield.. you’re the worse.”
“Why thank you Wheeler!” Max chirped and winked at him.
Mike rolled his eyes and El chuckled at them before tugging at Max’s arm, “Cmon! The boys will be gone soon and we can finally have that sleepover!”
Max smiled at her and followed calling out, “Smell ya later Wheeler.”
El paused her journey upstairs to hug Will and Leah and wish them a goodbye. Then Will found himself wondering back down to Mike, “what was that all about?” He murmured.
“Sleepover.” Mike answered.
Will chuckled and shook his head, “Of course.”
“Alright, ready to head out?” Karen questioned the two men and their daughter.
Mike and Will both nodded and Leah simply slung a backpack on as she stuck in between the two men.
They arrived back at the Wheeler household with a little peaceful chatter. As Mike and Will got Leah settled in Mike’s old room, Leah suddenly fidgeted and hummed, “Dads? Can I ask you something?”
Mike and Will paused in making the bed to sit on it and Will nodded, “of course Lee. Anything.”
“Aunt El and Max were talking a lot about your wedding today…”she began.
“Of course.” Mike sighed out.
“And they were talking about bridesmaids and groomsmen and weird stuff like that…” she continued.
Will frowned and looked to Mike, “We should figure out how that works? Like just groomsmen? Or-“
“AND-“ Leah frowned at having the attention pulled away from her before continuing, “I wanted to ask if I could maybe be the ring bearer? I don’t really wanna wear a dress and be the flower girl.”
“Oh.” Will hummed and nodded, “I mean I don’t see why not.”
Mike gave a nod, “Lee, to be honest, your father and I haven’t really been planning all that much. But if you wanna be the ring bearer that sounds awesome to me.”
“Honey. Even if you wanted to be the flower girl, we’d never force you to wear something you're uncomfortable in.” Will commented.
Leah sighed and smiled at them, “Thanks.”
“No problem love.”Mike hummed and ruffled her hair, “Now. Let’s get this bed finished up so we can all get some rest.”
Will and Mike finished making the bed and tucked Leah in, giving her kisses and wishing her a good night.
When they got themselves tucked into the pull out couch in the basement, Will commented, “Maybe we should start planning some stuff.” He yawned.
“I thought we’d wait until we move out?” Mike questioned as he flipped the blankets out so he and Will could climb under.
“Yeah, for the actual planning and stuff. But with wedding parties?” He hummed , “I’d like to have El, Jonathan, and maybe Lucas in my wedding party.”
“Wha- Lucas? But- I wanted Lucas in mine.” Mike pouted.
Will raised a brow, “Well who else would you want?”
Mike paused to think before humming, “Lucas, Dustin, and I guess Nancy.”
“What about Max?” Will questioned.
“Max? Will, Max doesn’t want to be in my wedding party. We’re frenemies at most.”
“Cmon Mike. You two are so similar.” Will teased.
“No we’re not!” Mike huffed, “Besides.. I kind of wanted Lucas to be like.. my best man or whatever it’s called.”
Will rolled his eyes fondly, “Fine. Fine.. you can have Lucas and I’ll have Max.”
Mike paused to fist pump a bit causing Will to chuckle and shake his head.
“Should we add Steve into the mix?” Mike questioned curiously.
Will hummed before perking up a bit, “I have the perfect idea for him, but we’ll have to ask if he’d be up for it.”
“Ok so if Lucas is my best man and Dustin and Nancy are my wedding party… does this mean I get a bachelors party or whatever?” Mike questioned.
Will smiled, “If you want..” he frowned a bit before leveling Mike with a playful glare, “As long as there are no strippers involved.”
Mike’s cheeks grew warm and he shook his head before meeting Will’s glare, “and there won’t be any at yours right?”
Will shook his head, “Of course not love. You’re it for me.”
“Same here.” Mike sighed and nuzzled their faces together, “Now. Let’s get some rest. We should start looking into houses tomorrow.”
Will agreed with a soft smile as he made himself comfortable and began to drift off for the night.