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After the gates opened across Hawkins, the town was plunged into a quarantine. But to Nancy, Max being sent into a coma was what hurt her most. Despite everything she did to stop Vecna, she couldn't stop him from hurting her. In some ways she blamed herself. If the vines hadn't gotten to them, if she had just been a sharper shot. Then Max might still be ok. "At least she wasn't dead," that's what Nancy said to comfort herself even slightly.
Max was taken to the Hawkins Memorial Hospital which, during the first few weeks after the "earthquake" as the news was putting it, was flooded with people. Max's injuries meant she was overseen constantly by a wide range of doctors and nurses and no one was allowed to see her at first. But some months went by, the military rolled in, and Max was finally stable enough to have visitors.
Nancy made it a point to go see her once a day, every day. Sometimes she'd go and talk to Max, hoping even in some way she'd hear her. And other times, she'd just sit there silently, mourning the friend she'd lost. Lucas and Max's mom would visit frequently too, but they all made sure to be with Max at separate times, to give each other time to grieve alone. Robin, Steve and the party would occasionally stop by, just to see her, sometimes bringing flowers. But it was a lot for them, so they never came as frequently as Nancy.
The Byers had moved in with The Wheelers during the quarantine, and this meant Nancy was always just a room or floor away from Jonathan. She'd decided that after everything that had happened in the spring, to end things with him, at least romantically. They still continued to be friends but an unhealthy relationship just wasn't on the cards right now, and Nancy certainly didn't have time to try and fix it. But as friends, they worked. It certainly made living together easier.
The hospital after the earthquake was dependent on volunteers. One day, Max had been assigned a new nurse to take watch over her comatose state. Her nurse, Vickie Dunne. Nancy of course, already knew of Vickie through Robin, though they'd never spoken. Their first proper meeting was by accident. Nancy had gone to see Max like she always had and Vickie came in to check on her, unaware of Nancy's visit.
"Sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here. I can come back in a bit," Vickie said very apologetically.
"No it's ok, I was just about to leave anyway," Nancy responded, slowly grabbing her things to leave. She didn't say anything to Vickie, at least not at first. Nancy instead caught her out the corner of her eye, her fiery red hair, her vibrant blue eyes, and the way she was so gentle in how she checked in on Max. It took Nancy's heart back a bit, seeing someone care for Max with such kindness. Nancy was just about to leave the room when-.
"Nancy right?" Nancy span her head round to find Vickie looking at her now.
"Yeah. I'm- I'm Nancy," she responded, partially stumbling over her own words. "And I know you're Vickie. Robin may have mentioned you a few times." A smile now forming on her face.
Vickie pointed her gaze towards the floor, slightly blushing. "Robin may have also mentioned you a few times too. Well maybe more than a few times."
They both grinned at each other, maybe for a bit longer than two people who'd just met should. But Nancy didn't care, Vickie's smile was the warmest thing she'd seen in a while. Nancy was definitely blushing now, even if just slightly.
The moment began to slip into mild awkwardness, so Vickie broke the silence, "Hey I usually do my rounds for Max's room around this time every day. Well not every day obviously cause we all have days off. But tomorrow I'll be here. Sorry, sometimes my mouth goes on a train of its own. Will I see you tomorrow?"
The forwardness of Vickie's question took Nancy aback, but she was certainly interested in getting to talk to Vickie more.
"Yeah I'll be here, same time," Nancy replied. Vickie's ramblings had reminded her of Robin and it was something she found endearing.
"Great, I'll see you then!" Vickie gleefully said as she waved Nancy goodbye.
Over the next few months, Nancy and Vickie talked more, same time, each day. They'd even began spending time together outside of their visits to Max. They'd either watch a movie together, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was definitely their favourite, or they would just sit on the roof of Vickie's house together, away from all the chaos of The Wheeler house or Hawkins in general. Sometimes Robin would tag along too, she was also Vickie's friend after all.
Eventually, Vickie was introduced to Steve and Jonathan and the five of them would spend days hanging out at The Squawk. Feelings had certainly grown between Nancy and Vickie, though neither one had said anything to the other. To Robin however, it was glaringly obvious. Robin, having already developed a crush on Vickie and then later Nancy, was very attentive to each of their expressions and mannerisms. She saw the way they both looked at each other, and knew what neither realised. Steve and Jonathan of course, were completely oblivious to it all.
One day, it was just Nancy and Robin at The Squawk. Vickie was at work and Steve and Jonathan were off doing their own thing. The two of them were just sat idly in the basement, enjoying the silence of each other's company. Robin desperately wanted to speak up and scream at Nancy at how Vickie and her so obviously like each other but she didn't want to put her on the spot. Instead, it was Nancy who unexpectedly broke the silence.
"I think I like Vickie…" she sheepishly said, almost scared by her confession.
Robin had to fight the immense urge of, 'I told you so,' and fortunately she did. She knew this conversation would hurt her slightly, with the fact she has a crush on both girls. But she also knew that their happiness was more important and that there would always be other girls out there for Robin.
"I think that's great!" Robin responded. Nancy didn't expect her to be so supportive, but it was deeply welcome none the less.
"I just don't know how to tell her is all, and I'm not even sure if she likes me back or is even into girls," Nancy continued. She was playing with the curls of her hair now, trying to cover her solemn face. Robin turned towards Nancy and looked right at her.
"Hey Nance, I know you and Vickie so well and while social stuff is sometimes a mystery to me, you two aren't. And I see the way you look at her and I could tell for a while you liked her. But, I can 100% guarantee that Vickie likes you too. She looks at you the same way."
"You really think so?" Nancy now sounding more hopeful.
"Oh I know so, and if you want my completely no experience in the matter advice, I'd ask her the next time you are together, just the two of you if she wants to go to Enzo's. I mean it's like THE date place in Hawkins. And she'll definitely say yes. I mean you're Nancy goddamn Wheeler, she'd be so lucky to have you!"
Nancy was now smiling heavily. Robin's assurance and validation was what she really needed to give her the push to ask Vickie out.
"So it's a plan?" Robin continued.
"It's a plan." Nancy leaned over and hugged Robin tightly. "Thank you, Rockin' Robin."
"Anytime Nance."
A few days later and Nancy was back in Max's room, eagerly awaiting Vickie's arrival. She didn't have to wait long however and Vickie soon walked through the door. They talked normally like they always do, though Nancy couldn't keep her eyes off of her for one moment. It took her a while but eventually she mustered up the courage to finally ask the question.
"Hey, would you like to go to Enzo's with me tonight around 7, as a date?" The fear really hit Nancy now. What if Vickie said no? What if she'd just ruined their friendship? Vickie stepped much closer to her now, standing almost directly in front of her. But she didn't seem disgusted or scared by Nancy's question. No, she had the biggest smile Nancy had ever seen her have on her face.
"I'd like that very much," she softly said back.
Before Nancy could react in any way, Vickie leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. It was all Nancy needed to know she felt the same way about her.
"I'll pick you up from your house about 6:30 then." And with that, Nancy left, heading home to get herself ready for her upcoming date. She spent the whole afternoon and early evening eagerly anticipating going to Enzo's and thinking about Vickie. She did her hair up, similar to how she styled it for the Snowball all those year's ago. She did her best makeup, fancier than anything she had done for Jonathan or Steve. And picked out her most stylish dress. She wanted to look her best for Vickie.
As she was heading for the door, Karen caught her leaving.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say someone's all dressed up for a date," she jokingly said.
Nancy smiled at her, "I, in fact do have a date, but I don't have time to talk about it right now. I'm sorry Mom I'll tell you all about it when I'm home I promise," giving Karen a kiss goodbye on the cheek.
As Nancy left the house and was about to get in her care, she could hear Karen wishing her luck from the doorway. Nancy drove across town to Vickie's and when she arrived, she walked up to her door and knocked. Shit was she supposed to bring flowers? Hopefully Vickie won't mind.
Vickie answered the door and Nancy was greeted with the most beautiful person she had ever seen. Her ginger hair glistened in the light and she wore a velvet green dress that suited her perfectly. Her makeup also was gorgeous, although to Nancy, she was gorgeuous with or without.
"Shall we?" Nancy said, extending her hand to Vickie very cliché like. Vickie took her hand as she led her to the passenger seat where she graciously opened the door for her. Nancy then got in the car and they set off to Enzo's.
"I'm so sorry, I forgot to get you flowers," Nancy apologetically said. She was worried Vickie would be disappointed she didn't get any. "It's just my first time asking someone on a date and I'm honestly not too sure what I'm really doing."
Vickie reached across and took one of Nancy's hands away from the steering wheel and looked at her. "Just going on this date with you, is already perfect for me," Vickie replied.
Nancy relaxed and Vickie gave her hand a squeeze before freeing it so she could have both hands back on the wheel. They talked the whole way to Enzo's, like their date had started before the actual date part. But it was exactly how they both wanted, just the two of them together, talking about anything they wanted.
Nancy had already popped down to Enzo's earlier to reserve the table. Of course to everyone else there, this was just two friends having dinner. But since she and Vickie knew what it really was, that was all that mattered. They got seated at their table, a candle between them and ordered their food and a glass of red wine each. They finally could be openly flirty with each other and not have to worry about what the other would think. They still kept it quiet though, they didn't want anyone overhearing them. They flirted and talked the entire date.
They finished up their meal, payed and when they were leaving Vickie turned to Nancy, "My parents are out of the house tonight if you wanna come over?"
Nancy jumped at the chance, "I'd love that."
They drove over to Vickie's, teasing each other the whole way there. When they finally arrived, they made their way to her room and as soon as the door was closed, they rushed towards each other and their lips met. Nancy had never kissed a girl before but she knew it was just right. The kiss was slow and tender, they weren't lusting after each other, this was months of feelings building up into this quiet moment between them both.
Nancy pulled away momentarily to ask, "Does this mean we're dating now, as in officially?"
Vickie smiled at her, "Yeah I'm pretty sure it does," before moving back in to kiss Nancy more. They spent the whole night close to one another, with their kissing switching between slow and steady, to deep passion. They ended laid in each other's arms in Vickie's bed.
"I could get used to this," Nancy panted.
"So could I," Vickie responded, leaning up to give Nancy one final kiss on the lips before they drifted off to sleep.