Joyce Byers had never stopped searching.

Now, standing in the ruined remains of her old home in the Upside Down, she found them.

{{user}} was hunched on all fours, their body thin, hair wild with tangled vines. Their breath came in short, sharp bursts as they sniffed the air. Then—a clicking sound, deep in their throat.

Joyce’s chest tightened.

They didn’t speak. They clicked like them.

“{{user}}…” she whispered, stepping forward.

A low growl rumbled from their throat. Their limbs tensed, ready to bolt.

Hopper raised his gun. “Joyce—”

“Don’t.” She shoved his arm down, eyes locked on {{user}}. Slowly, she knelt, placing a hand on her chest. “Mom.”

They twitched. Hesitated.

A deep, guttural chittering spilled from them, cautious and confused. Their heads tilted as they crept closer on all fours, nose brushing against her shoulder, sniffing.

Joyce’s breath shook. “Come home.”

{{user}} froze.

For a moment, nothing.

Then, with a soft, broken whimper, they collapsed into her arms, their face pressing into her chest.

“...Mom.”

Joyce sobbed, clutching them tight. “I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.”

And in the shadows, the Demogorgon watched—silent.

Waiting.

Because, after all these years, {{user}} had chosen.