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I pant and look out my window at the night sky. I keep having the same nightmare over and over. It's like I never left the Upside Down.

Except, this time, Will isn't with me. I'm all alone.

I jump up from my bed and grab a pair of sweatpants from the floor. I slip them on quickly and pit on my house shoes.

I tiptoe down to the living room and grab my mom's keys from the counter. I write her a quick note to let her know where I'm going and I slip out the front door.

I trudge to the car and start it up, backing out of the driveway.

I never got out. I'm all alone. The Demogorgan gets me.

I turn the radio up to drown out the thoughts in my head.

I wipe a tear that manages to fall from my eye as I pull up to the familiar house. I park in the driveway and walk to the back of the house. I climb up the tree that I fell out of when I was ten. The same one that made me lose my front tooth. I scoot across one of the branches until I can reach the window. I see him sleeping in his bed, and I almost turn around and go back home, not wanting to disrupt his sleep, but my hand is already knocking on the window before I can stop it.

Steve clambers out of bed, falling onto the floor with a loud thud. He quickly hops up and grabs the nearest object, ready to attack an intruder. Steve opens the window, ready to fight.

I clear my throat, "I don't see how a pillow is going to protect you from an intruder, Harrington."

Steve drops the pillow, "Jesus, Henderson. What the hell sre you doing? Get your ass in here. It's freezing."

Steve helps me climb inside and I sniffle amd wipe my eyes.

"Sorry, I know Nancy probably wouldn't like the fact that there's a girl in your room at midnight, but I didn't know where else to go," I apologize.

Steve sits me down on the bed and rubs my back soothingly, "What happened?"

I let out a quiet sob, "I keep dreaming about it, that horrible place. I was all alone this time and... I just--"

"Shh," Steve murmurs in my ear, "I got you. You're okay, Y/N. You're safe."

I look at him, "C-can I sleep here? I don't want to be alone, Steve. Every time I wake up I'm all alone. I don't want to be alone anymore. Please, Steve. I can sleep on the floor. Please? I don't want to be alone. I don't--"

"Okay," Steve interrupts, "Okay. But you aren't sleeping on the floor. You can sleep up here with me. Nancy probably wouldn't mind, she knows how much you've been through."

I cry loudly, letting everything I've kept pent up inside me since I left the hospital out. Steve lifts my fert to take my shoes off and he freezes.

"Bunny slippers, Henderson?"

I chuckle/sniffle, "I was in a hurry."

"Don't worry, they're cute. I like bunnies." he takes the shoes off and sets them down next to the bed, "Are you one of those freaks who sleeps in socks?"

I shrug, "It's cold."

"Yeah, that's true. You're still a freak, though."

I smack his arm playfully and lays down on the bed, sliding indrr the blankets. I lie down next to him and put my head on his chest.

"Thank you, Harrington," I sigh contentedly.

"No problem, Henderson. I'm here for you. Always, remember?"

"Right. Always."

//End of Flashback//