Work Text:
Elizabeth checked her watch three times before ringing the doorbell, and another three after. Despite their frequent shared kisses in Elizabeth’s classroom after hours and number of dates in discreet places around Hawkins, this was the first time Karen had invited her (or anyone) over since the divorce so she just wanted everything to be perfect which as a teacher meant punctuality and preparation so she stood on the doorstep of the Wheelers house at seven in the evening on the dot with a bottle of Karen’s favourite wine and a bouquet of white roses, which as well as being Karen's favourites, also represented new beginnings in Victorian flower language (she is an English teacher after all).
One thing she hadn’t prepared for was the door being answered by an even more chaotic than usual Robin Buckley whom she had taught at Hawkins High a few years ago. “Oh hey Ms. M! Long time no see uh you probably want someone who actually lives here right? Hold on-“ the teen rambled all in one breath before shouting over her shoulder for Nancy, oblivious to the teachers comment about “Just Elizabeth is fine” as Steve showed up behind her holding a collection of papers not stopping as he walked past addressing the teacher with a quick “Is that Miller? Oh hey Miss!” and disappearing out of sight again leaving Elizabeth standing on the porch awkwardly as the full house buzzed until Mike spotted her “Oh hey Miss Miller come on in um if you’re looking for Holly she’s in here somewhere uh LUCAS! WHERE’S HOLS?” the sudden shouting made Elizabeth jump slightly as she entered the hall and walked slowly through the chaos as teens darted all around the house clearly up to something but she figured it was none of her business, just wished Karen had warned her they wouldn’t be alone for the night. “WITH ERICA!! BASEMENT I THINK!!” the yelled response from somewhere else in the house snapped her out her thoughts as she seemed to fade back into the background as the teens moved around her as if she wasn’t there and clearly not listening to her insistence to just call her Elizabeth or Lizzie so she took it as her sign to find Karen herself, moving slowly through the house stopping in the upstairs corridor unsure which room was her lovers so looking down the hall weighing up her options until an involuntary squeak left her as the door behind her opened and arms wrapped around her waist pulling her in.
“Sorry! I didn’t mean to make you jump- you look so cute when you’re scared” Karen giggled, turning Elizabeth around to face her, taking the wine and the flowers and putting them on her dresser. “Thanks Sweetie” she grinned softly, kissing her softly before backing up so they could deeper into the bedroom. “Sorry about the houseful! We always hosted Mikes dungeons and dragons campaigns which was fine when it was just the four twelve year olds but now they’ve all gotten so big and the girls joined and then Nancy finally has friends she wants to bring around the house which never used to happen so I just let her and Lucas is meant to look after Erica so she comes to entertain Holly and before you know it I’m making twelve snacks and hiding in my bedroom!” She sighed and flopped onto her bed, “I don’t know how you manage thirty of them daily.” Elizabeth giggled and sat propped up against the excessive number of cushions at the head of the bed next to where Karen was laying. “Practice. Resilience. Plus, at breaktimes sometimes, I hide in my cupboard and scream into my water bottle.” The older woman burst out laughing at that and wiggled to sit up next to Elizabeth, resting her head on her girlfriends’ shoulder as she listened to Elizabeth talking “I’m serious I do! One time a student forgot their bag so came back into the class to get it and caught me, I had to pretend I had stubbed my toe which she definitely didn’t believe.” That launched Karen into a whole new wave of giggles, only silenced by soft kisses as the women turned towards each other getting closer in the bed until Elizabeth gently pulled away with a small whisper “K we don’t have to I mean with the kids and stuff… we can do this another time” Karen nodded softly and smiles, moving to kiss Elizabeth’s temple instead “You want me to read to you? We can read one of your books if you want, I know you prefer that highbrow stuff nerd.”
Curled up together with Elizabeth’s head on Karen's chest as she had her hair played with, kisses separating paragraphs, both women ditched the plans of Elizabeth sneaking out and instead fell asleep.
The next morning was something Elizabeth had only dreamed of. A full house buzzing with excitement as they all sat around the kitchen as Karen dished up toast and bacon to everyone. Unsure how to act or explain herself around the kids, especially Karen's kids, Elizabeth just loitered awkwardly until Karen extended her hand discretely and linked their pinkies together, sharing not so subtle longing glances until they were snapped out of it by Mike groaning and finally snapping “Mom just kiss her we all know!” Making both women turn to him eyes wide in alarm even more so when the room went silent except for whispers of agreement with Mike from all the kids apart from Steve who looked very lost getting him a whack from Robin with a muttered “Thought you fixed your gaydar Harrington.” Which unfroze the room as everyone laughed, giving Karen the confidence to tug Elizabeth in by the pyjama top she had borrowed to sleep in, whispering “My Betty.” As she kissed her softly earning them groans from most of the teens in the room apart from Robin who cheered insisting she had to “support my people”.