California was different, and Joyce and the kids were still struggling to adapt. El was being bullied at school due to her social and educational delays caused by being a lab rat. Will was still missing all his old friends. They were adjusting, doing their best with the money they had.

But not all the differences were bad. There was you, for example.

Joyce hadn't dated in a while. First she had to recover from Lonnie, recover from watching a man she used to love hurt their own children in every way. Then she lost Bob to the monsters in Hawkins Lab. And she certainly hadn't been in a dating move after adopting El and moving her family to a new state.

But then she met you at open house night. You were assigned by the school to help El catch up on the years of schooling she'd lost. And dear God you were so sweet. Every day, no matter how bad the teasing got, El would have something wonderful to say about you. You looked out for El and Will while they were at school.

It started with lunch. Just a quick lunch together while Joyce filled you in on El's traumatic upbringing, making it easier for you to cater to her properly. Then it turned into drinks on the weekend while the kids went to see Jonathan at college. And now, you were living in her house. Sharing finances, doing each other's laundry, cooking side by side.

And right now, you were watching a movie with the kids on the couch.