Chapter Text
Will was going to lose his ever-loving mind.
There was no way the situation would pan out any other way.
He closed his eyes, tried to zen.
A gentle hum, a deep inhale. Then an even deeper exhale.
‘Elise.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Please tell me.’ Another exhale. ‘Why there is mud all over my floor.’
His youngest, the absolute light and terror of his entire life, gave a shy smile. ‘Um… cause I forgot to wipe my shoes?’
‘You forgot to wipe your shoes.’ Will pinched his nose and closed his eyes once more. ‘And why, may I ask, were you outside anyways?’ He could hear the rain hitting the roof with a vengeance.
Why was it his children only wanted to play outside during torrential downpours?
Ah, yes. Mud.
He suddenly was quite regretful of the fact that both girls were so outdoorsy.
Before she could answer, the back door swung open and his oldest, ‘supposedly’ more responsible daughter came barreling in, seemingly not aware of Will’s presence. ‘Elise come on the mud is great there are puddles everywhere!’ She giggled as she nearly tripped on the tile, her rain boots coating the already dirty floor with yet another layer of brown sludge.
She stopped, suddenly realizing that Will was standing firmly, Elise beside him looking like a dog with it’s tail between it’s legs.
‘Um-‘
Will held out his hand. ‘Do not. Take one more step.’
‘Papa I’m-‘
‘Sara Jane Wheeler do NOT. Move.’
Her long blonde curls were lying sloppily and untamed against her shoulders, blue eyes wide as she debated her next move.
Sara was their easiest in many moments, contrary to this. In typical oldest daughter fashion, she was an absolute delight. Did great in school, was extremely organized, mindful of others, had simple hobbies like collecting feathers and shells, reading in nature.
Additionally, she was very quiet. She had little to no friends, but seemingly liked it that way. She was often content to sit beside Will in his studio and sketch her findings or use her binoculars that Hop had gifted her to identify the birds orbiting the house.
She swallowed nervously. She wasn’t typically finding herself in these predicaments.
And then, the front door opened. Will breathed a sigh of relief.
Thank god for the concept of co-parenting.
Each person stood completely frozen as Mike walked in, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as he set his messenger bag on the kitchen table in slow motion. ‘What…what’s goin’ onnnnn guyssssss….’
And then, his eyes met the mud.
Elise was suddenly blabbering in an instant. ‘Daddy I’m sorry, Sara and I were playing outside in the rain and we forgot to wipe our feet and then we ran inside and got the floor dirty but we didn’t mean to we promise we just were having fun I swear we-‘
Mike held his hand up. ‘Hold up.’ He then looked at Will who, at that very moment, looked like he may either spontaneously combust, or sob. Mike couldn’t help but smirk. Will had adapted the role as the pushover, naturally. Mike was more heavy-handed, Will finding himself in these situations far too frequently.
Mike lived for it.
‘Both of you, drop the boots, go upstairs and rinse your feet.’
‘But daddy-‘
‘NOW.’
It wasn’t said with malice, but was firm. Mike Wheeler didn’t fuck around.
He looked at Sara who, he was shocked had been a co-conspirator. She was normally the level-headed one. He gave her a rather disappointed stare as they both removed their rain boots and trampled up the stairs.
He immediately broke into hysterics as Will looked around. ‘I don’t know what you think is so funny. Mike it’s literally EVERYWHERE.’
Mike approached him and pulled him into a hug, still laughing. ‘Why does this literally always happen to you when I’m not here?’
‘They can smell fear.’ Will muttered. ‘And clean floors.’
Mike giggled and kissed the top of his head. ‘Let me change and I’ll help you clean this up.’ He then looked out the kitchen window as the rain continued to fall. ‘Honestly, they were kind of smart to play in this if mud was the goal. Perfect weather.’
Will hit him with a dish towel. ‘Do not make this worse.’ He leaned back against the counter and sighed. ‘Elise is so tough lately. I feel like she’s…. purposely pushing me.’
Mike shook his head and laughed. Their youngest, Elise, the most adult seven year-old one could meet, had lived up to the title in almost every way. Opposite her sister, she was strong-willed, loud, questioned authority like her life depended on it. Mike and Will often joked that one drunken night, he and Max had produced an oops child. She embodied the personality of both Max and Nancy combined, and it made both of them question their sanity almost daily.
‘She’s not purposely pushing you.’ Mike laughed. ‘Although you are kind of cute when you’re mad…’ He playfully poked Will in the side.
‘Shut up.’ Will muttered. ‘Be serious. She’s been a terror lately! Wanders all over the neighborhood without me knowing where she’s at, she broke her bike being careless at school, she shoved Sara last night down the porch steps and now Sara’s got a big bruise on her-‘
Mike was doubled over laughing.
He couldn’t help it. She just reminded him so much of them as kids.
‘Will. She’s seven. I was a real bitch at seven too.’
‘Yeah but that was different, our friends were being kidnapped left and right.’
Mike stuck a slice of cheese into his mouth that he had scrounged up from the pits of the fridge. ‘She’s also, a girl.’
Will sighed. ‘I know. God we’re so screwed when she’s a teenager.’
Mike smirked again. ‘Well, just remember we have Sara. Our beautiful, perfect angel. Who, shockingly, was a perpetrator in this crime.’
‘She can’t help it, she gets cornered.’
Mike laughed out loud. ‘Cornered?! Will she’s the oldest, she’s got sense in her. I think we have to punish her also.’
Will frowned. He hated punishing either of them, but Sara was the roughest. She was usually extremely obedient, always avoiding getting herself in trouble.
Elise, on the other hand? Didn’t really give a flying fuck.
Who knew she was related to Mike Wheeler?
‘Fine. Just go get changed and then tell them to get their butts down here. Neither of us are cleaning this up. Time for them to learn the art of using a mop.’
Mike smiled. ‘Oh you get em’ Will. Lay down the law.’
Will rolled his eyes. ‘Oh fuck off.’
______
Mike did eventually make his way upstairs to change out of his work clothes.
He felt remnants of his day shedding like layers of an onion as he sank into their mattress, shoes kicked off.
He had published four more successful novels within the last decade, trying to leave room for Holland’s that was still pulling in customers daily. Mike had found it rather difficult to juggle being an author AND a bookstore owner, so he had decided to bring on a partner to help with some of the responsibility.
He had interviewed a plethora of candidates, finally deciding on none other than his brilliant sister, Holly Wheeler.
Holly was currently in grad school at NYU studying biology, sailing rather swimmingly through her internship with the NYC Department of Health- Mike still didn’t understand the inter-workings of the job- he just knew it involved bacteria and samples.
She had a bit of free time now that she was approaching graduation, and had offered to help Mike with the bookstore as somewhat of a side job. The extra money helped her afford her apartment. Plus, she was smart and personable. Someone Mike knew would be as asset to the business.
And also, he just liked her a lot more than everyone else.
As he went to begin unbuttoning his shirt, he heard a soft creaking. He looked up to see Sara standing in the bedroom doorway, eyes wet.
He sighed. ‘Come here.’
She immediately ran towards him, hugging him tightly as she sobbed into his shoulder. ‘Daddy I’m sorry!’
He rubbed her back and tightened his grip. He could feel her tears soaking the collar of his shirt. ‘Sara girl, relax! It’s ok! No tears.’
She pulled back and wiped her nose rather ungracefully with her arm, snot coating her skin. ‘It was an accident I promise, I didn’t mean to!’
‘Shhhh I know you didn’t, it’s ok.’ Mike swayed her gently in his lap as she continued to sob. He swiped a stray tear from her eye with his thumb.
‘Is Papa mad?’ She whimpered.
Mike laughed softly. ‘No Papa is not mad. I think he’s mostly just disappointed that you guys tracked mud in when he told you to keep your boots outside.’
She nodded. ‘I know. I’m sorry.’
‘I know you are bug.’ He whispered. ‘You want to go talk to him?’
She sniffled and went back in for another hug. ‘Yeah.’
Mike was always the parent Sara seemingly gravitated towards. For some reason, they operated like peas in a pod. While her personality mimicked Will’s with her softness and introverted nature, she viewed Mike as her safe space. It had been that way since the moment they adopted her.
She fiddled with the buttons on his shirt, looking down at her lap. ‘Can you go with me?’
‘Sure. Just let me change quick ok?’
She nodded and then patiently waited at the bottom of the bed before being escorted back down towards the kitchen to face Will.
Will was found sitting at the kitchen table eating a sandwich he had obviously quickly prepared himself. He had a book in one hand, trying to balance it as he scarfed down his lunch.
He turned his head as he heard Mike and Sara entering the room. ‘Hey you two.’
Mike urged her forward.
Sara started to well up again as Will motioned for her to come over. ‘Awwww baby.’
‘Papa I’m sorry.’
He swallowed his mouthful and pulled her into his lap, Mike watching from the doorway. ‘It’s ok, I’m not mad. I promise.’
‘You’re not?’
‘No, of course not. I’m a little upset that you guys didn’t listen to me, but I know you didn’t mean it. You were just having fun.’
She sniffled. ‘Yeah.’
He pointed to the cabinet beneath the sink. ‘I do however, think that you cleaning up the mess is pretty fair. What do you think?’
She nodded tearfully. ‘Yeah, I will. I’ll help Elise.’
Mike laughed. ‘Speaking of the devil….’
Elise slinked into the kitchen, eyes also red. She wasn’t typically as affected by discipline, but did genuinely look guilty in that moment. Will held his arm out, pulling her into his free side as Sara sat on the other side of his lap. ‘There you are.’
‘Sorry.’
Mike cleared this throat. ‘What are you sorry for?’
‘For not listening and wearing my boots inside.’ She looked at her feet, pouting.
‘You and Sara are gonna clean this up, got it?’ Mike’s glasses sat a bit too far down on his nose as he firmly spoke. The corners of Will’s mouth turned up at the sight. All these years and studious Mike still did it for him.
Mike walked over to the three of them and crouched to their level. ‘Bucket and sponges are underneath the sink, get movin’ hooligans.’ He motioned towards the cabinet. ‘And leave Papa alone for a bit so he can do some work.’ He smiled at Will and then leaned in for a small peck on the lips.
Elise winced. ‘Ewww!!’
Mike clicked his tongue. He turned to stare at Elise and then dove in to pepper her face with kisses. ‘I’ll show you ew.’
She began squealing in protest as he devoured her. ‘Daddy stooopppp!’
She giggled as Mike moved away. He gave her a pat towards the cabinet. ‘Go, move. Get cleanin.’ He held out a hand to Will and smiled warmly. ‘Go paint. I’ve got dinner.’
Will looked adoringly at his husband, eyes tired. ‘You sure?’
‘So sure. Relax. I’ve got this.’
______
For the remainder of the night, Will did get the peace he was seemingly promised.
Mike prepared a quick and easy meal of spaghetti and meat sauce, the girls doing their best to scrub the mud.
He did have to explain the art of actually soaking UP the mud and not simply re-distributing it, but they were clearly quick learners. The linoleum was shiny in no time.
After dinner, the girls went upstairs to get ready for bed and cozy up with their respective books. One thing both Mike and Will had tried hard to do was give them opportunities to self-occupy without needing a screen. They each had a shelf nearly bursting with books, desks full of art supplies, record players, Walkmans, and other activities.
It appeared to have worked. Sara almost never cared to watch TV, Elise only wanting to when she was able to sit in between her parents with a heaping bowl of popcorn.
Mike wandered out to the sunporch to see Will crouched on the ground sorting through a basket of acrylic paint. His studio over the years had become a reflection of the chaos of their family. While it was mostly Will’s stuff, paintings and drawings done by both Sara and Elise lined the windows crookedly, pinned with small bits of scotch tape. There was a beanbag chair in the corner facing the yard, Sara’s feather collection pinned neatly next to it on a cork-board by the window.
‘Hey you.’
Will spun around and exhaled. ‘Hey. Sorry, I know it’s late. I just… I can’t find my-‘
Mike put a hand on his back and gently massaged him. ‘Need some help?’
Will stood up and sunk into Mike, his head falling against his chest. ‘In what sense?’ He giggled as Mike kissed the top of his head.
‘Sorry it’s been rough lately. I know I haven’t been home much.’
Will swallowed. ‘It’s ok. It’s for a good reason, I mean, I want to see you successful.’
‘I know. But I feel like I’ve just put so much of the responsibility on you lately and that’s not my goal. We’re supposed to be a team.’
Will stepped back a bit and looked at Mike, a deep love in his eyes. ‘Well we are. And I appreciate you helping me tonight. You just- you make things so much easier sometimes you know? It’s like as soon as you step in the house, I can breathe better.’
Mike smiled and brushed a stray wave of hair out of Will’s face. He loved him so aggressively- it pained him sometimes.
All the years together, they had grown closer. Even in the midst of raising a family, owning a home, holding two steady careers, it always felt SAFE. Easy.
Mike then got a glimmer in his eye. ‘I have an idea.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘What if we take a little trip next weekend? My mom called me a few days ago asking to see the girls- we can fly out there for a little bit, spend some time with both families. Let them have a change of scenery.’
Will’s eyes narrowed. ‘Really?’
‘Yes really. Holly can hold down the fort at the store, I told my team that I’m done writing for the next few months. I need a break. Let’s just…. get away.’
Will’s shoulders relaxed. ‘That sounds… amazing, actually. I could use a break from reality for a little bit.’
He looked beside him at a large canvas half-done. Now that the girls were in school full-time, he had gone back to doing commission work, designing pieces for some of the upper-class locals. Somehow he always found clients regardless of the time of year.
That was just New York.
Mike looked at the painting admiringly. ‘That’s beautiful.’
‘Yeah, it’s getting there. Needs to be done by next week.’
‘Why don’t you bring some stuff with you?’ Mike said softly. ‘Sit out by the lake, pull some inspiration.’
Will giggled. ‘In Hawkins? Really?’
‘I mean, maybe. You’ll be with family. Might be all you need.’
Will smiled at that. ‘Yeah. That’s a fair point.’
He flicked off the single small table lamp illuminating the room and wrapped an arm around Mike’s waist as they wandered up to bed.
Being a parent was hard, especially when their girls were at an age where they truly needed them so much. But Mike was his stability, through and through.
A constant teammate, a forever companion.
And that, ultimately, made everything worth it.
______
Will stepped into the hallway to find a few fresh towels in the linen closet. As he sorted, he felt a small hand hit his leg.
He turned to see Sara standing shyly in a Star Wars pajama set.
He smiled. ‘Hi baby. You ok?’
‘Yeah. I just wanted to give you another hug.’
He laughed softly and pulled her into a warm embrace. ‘Awwwww my girl.’ He squeezed her. ‘You need anything? Some water?’
She shook her head. ‘No. Just wanted to say goodnight one more time.’ She then peered towards their bedroom doorway that was softly glowing with low light.
Will caught on immediately. ‘You…. wanna sleep with daddy and me?’
She instantly relaxed. ‘Yeah.’
Sara although the oldest, wasn’t the bravest. She had developed a rather crippling fear of the dark around age three, and never grown out of it.
Now at nine years old, she continued to avoid it at any chance she could. Will had found her a few night lights to try and ease things, but it was never seemingly enough. She wasn’t content unless every light in the house was on.
‘Come on. Let’s go.’ He led her into their room where Mike was already under the covers, glasses on reading a book.
He looked up curiously. ‘Uh oh. Boogey monster again?’
Sara giggled as she climbed into the center of the bed. ‘No. I just hate the dark.’
‘You have like…. fifty night lights in there dude. I could land a plane.’
Will shook his head and laughed.
She pulled the covers up to her chin and nestled into Mike in the crook of his arm. ‘I just like it here better.’
‘Ah, ok.’ He laughed.
But seeing her instantly close her eyes and relax, he didn’t mind one bit. He always wanted his kids to feel safe, like nothing could hurt them.
Lord knows Will and him had spent many a night afraid to move a muscle in fear that ACTUAL monsters would find them.
He leaned down and kissed her head. ‘Goodnight beautiful.’
As he went back to reading his book, Will squeezed his hand. ‘Night.’
He squeezed back. ‘What, no kiss?’
Will giggled and leaned over, planting a soft kiss to Mike’s cheek.
He then let his head hit the pillow, a mere seconds later sleep taking him.