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Mike Wheeler knew that his life had changed when he met Eleven. He may have not known she had superpowers. Or that she had a past that was far different from his own. But Mike did know that in that moment…he fell in love with El.
For Eleven, it was the same. It wasn’t because Mike fed her, or clothed her, or helped show the world to her. The moment they met; she knew something about him made her feel more safe than anyone else could. El fell in love with him that night in the woods, just like how he fell for her.
The year was 1989. Almost six years had passed since Mike and Eleven met, and it had been just three years since they, along with their friends and allies managed to stop the malevolent force known as the Upside Down. Now, it was summer. School had let out, Mike and El (along with their friends) were now high school graduates and all planned to go to their respective colleges. The couple had decided to go to a college they both chose together. But they decided they needed time for themselves. So they had decided to go on a road trip for a couple of weeks.
One of their stops was the town of Bath, in Maine. It was pretty normal, as Mike and Eleven went sightseeing and visited shops along with other historical landmarks. After an early dinner, the two decided to head over to the beach as they were simply sitting down and watching the sun slowly set. And in that moment, Mike realized that it was time. He had been planning on this for a while now…and it would be the next step. For both him and El.
“The sunset is pretty, isn’t it?” Mike asked.
Eleven smiled as she nodded, “Yeah, it’s very pretty.”
The two of them smiled as Mike stood up and said, “You know, I always had this dream about a beach. There was a sunset just like this, and things were so calm. You could hear the waves, and I was there. Every time I had that dream, I saw more of it…and then I saw that someone else was there with me.”
El turned to look at Mike as she asked, “Who was there with you?”
Mike replied, “You were. The last time I had this dream, I saw you, El. It was a perfect dream…because you were there.”
This was it. This was the moment, and if Mike was being honest…this was the most sure he had ever felt about anything.
“Without you, I’m not sure where my life would’ve gone,” Mike continued as he got down on one knee. “But I know that I would’ve loved you all the same if we had met at a different place at a different time. You’re everything to me El, and I want to take the next step forward in our relationship.”
He pulled out a black box and opened it, as a diamond ring shined with the reflection of the setting sun.
Mike took a breath before finally asking, “Jane Hopper, will you marry me?”
Eleven didn’t hesitate to say, “Yes! I will, Mike.”
As the two stood up and El put the ring on, the two gave each other a hug as they couldn’t help but let their emotions take over. They were crying, but it was tears of happiness. After everything they had been through, this was something that they both wanted and needed. To be together, to settle down, to live a normal life filled with happiness.
A bright future.
Mike and El’s eyes met as the two leaned in for a kiss, and it felt like it lasted forever as they melted into this embrace.
They then pulled away, as Eleven said, “I love you, Mike.”
“I love you too, El.” Mike replied.