42. Resolution

"Mike, what's a resolution?"

He looks down at her, his fingers pausing from where they were running through her hair and she shifts to see him better in the dim light of the basement, the television playing some black and white Christmas movie.

"It's like a goal that people make, usually for a longer amount of time," he explains. "A New Years resolution is a goal you set at the beginning of each year that says what you wanna change that year and people see how long they can keep that goal. I was always bad at them because I gave up within the first week, but you could make one if you want."

She hums, settling her head back against his chest and his fingers resume their path through her hair as her mind begins to whir.

What wasn't her goal for this next year?

The one they were finishing was both the best and worst year of her life. Before July, she woke up every morning knowing she was safe and wanted by Hopper, her friends and her beloved boyfriend who she couldn't get enough of. She was happy, and she's now envious of the girl who had everything she could ever need.

But life had gotten a little too good, hadn't it?

It's hard not to worry about what's coming next year. They haven't had a break from supernatural happenings in three years, although it'd been longer than that for her. It seemed like every time she finally could say she was normal, someone decided that wasn't okay and threw a nearly insurmountable challenge at her.

At least this time, if it came for her, the threat would be far from Hawkins away from most of the people she loved. She wouldn't be able to fight it though, not without her powers.

What if that was the end?

No, it couldn't be, that's not going to be the end of her story, she decides, flinging the thoughts away and snuggling further into Mike's side.

"What's your resolution?" she asks him during a commercial break, speaking the new word slowly.

"I, um—I don't have one yet. I haven't thought about it, I guess," he replies, shrugging the shoulder she's not resting on.

"Well, I think you're perfect just as you are," she states, leaning up to kiss his cheek and her heart warms at the bashful smile that lights up his face.

"Thanks, El. I wouldn't agree, but I think you're pretty perfect yourself."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Pretty and perfect."

He squeezes her tighter as she bites her lip, her face warming up deliciously and she hides it in the crook of his neck.

"Thank you," she whispers.

Their New Year's party was a spontaneous affair. It started with Max declaring they should ring in the new year together, to which she got multiple jabs that she just wanted to kiss Lucas when the ball dropped. She'd just huffed and let them conclude on their own that it would be way more fun to eat food and do whatever the heck they wanted to do until midnight as opposed to being bored and going to bed early because their parents told them to. Mike volunteered his house and their plans were set.

It wasn't anything extravagant—just a few hours of board games and boxes and boxes of pizza, but they were all relaxed, happy. El didn't take a single moment for granted, knowing that it was better to appreciate where she was than worry about leaving them to go back home next week. Nights like these are what keeps her going, so she stored every fit of laughter, sentimental comment, and beaming smile away where she could find them later.

It was ten minutes until midnight when Mike caught her attention.

"El?"

"Yes?"

"Um—come with me for a minute?"

She nods and her chest fizzes with warmth as he takes her hand and gently leads her out of the living room and up the stairs. He stops at the top, checking over her shoulder to make sure no one followed him and takes a breath as he clasps both her hands.

"I—I figured out what my resolution is."

He pauses, licking his lips nervously and she takes a small step closer to him, watching him patiently.

"I, um—haven't treated you all that well this year and I'm sorry."

She blinks, her brow furrowing as she scrambles through her memories to find what he's talking about. Apart from when Hopper supposedly forced him to lie, he's been nothing but compassionate and loving in their relationship. She goes to correct him, but he continues before she can interrupt.

"I lied to you, I held you back from the world, I've said some stupid things and—and I know I'm not perfect. I know you think I am but I'm not."

Oh. He hadn't let go of the statement she made a few days ago. She hadn't meant for it to bug him, but his mind had other plans.

"But I want to try," he continues and she's shaking her head, her hands slipping out of his to hold tight to his arms. He stops, words still on his tongue but they halt as she stares at him intensely. She's not sure how she intends on articulating how much of a bad idea that is, but she's good at making things up as she goes.

"You don't have to change anything," she tells him, pouring all the sincerity she has into her voice. "I don't want you to be perfect, I want you to be you."

"But I hurt you. My own stupid actions hurt you."

"I hurt you too," she responds quietly and drops her hands from his arms. "And I'm sorry. But I—I don't think I can be perfect."

"You don't have to be."

"And you do?"

She's pinned him, she can see it in the way his brow furrows and he presses his lips together.

"Sorry," he mumbles and visibly deflates. "I don't know, I just want to be better, I guess. You deserve the world, you know."

She hums. "Then, I guess I have everything I deserve because I have you."

Mike's cheeks go pink and she takes it as a victory because her Mike rarely blushes and it's only ever around her. She finds it adorable.

He'll always be enough for her and it frustrates her when he believes he's anything less. Then again, she often finds herself at an impasse, because she most definitely does not believe she's enough for him. Perfect is a standard neither of them will achieve and maybe someday they'll be okay with that. For now, she'll settle for reassuring her boyfriend that he need not strive for anything he isn't as long as she doesn't have to. They have each other, flaws and all, and that fills her heart more than perfection ever could.

Her stomach flips as Mike leans in and her eyes slip shut, only to open in confusion when his lips land on her cheek, although it's thrilling nonetheless.

She turns her head to kiss him properly, but he shakes his head, his eyes holding something teasing and knowing.

"Not until midnight," he says with a grin and she pouts, not caring that midnight is less than five minutes away. He chuckles before reaching down and slipping his hands into hers. "It'll be worth the wait, I promise."

With a playful, dramatic sigh, she turns and starts tugging him towards the steps before stopping when he says her name, his tone more serious and soft. She glances back at him and he pulls her closer.

"I've changed my resolution."

He pauses and she takes a step towards him, urging him to continue.

"My resolution for this year is to love you."

She pauses. "But...you already do that."

He grins and presses a kiss to her forehead. "Then it'll be easy to keep," he replies.

This boy.

Her heart warms deliciously and she pulls back enough to press her lips to his for a moment. He goes slack for all of a few seconds before he's playfully protesting that she cheated because it's not midnight yet and she laughs as he pokes her side, right where she's ticklish. She's still giggling as she leans in again, but Lucas calls up to them to "stop making out because the ball's about to drop and you can do that then."

Mike rolls his eyes but grabs her hand anyway and they dash down the stairs together to find their friends all crowded around the television which shows there's only a minute left of 1985.

"I'm not gonna miss this year," Will suddenly declares and no one has to ask him to clarify why. "At least we made it," Max offers and there's a round of enthusiastic agreements because they survived and they survived together.

The countdown begins and El smiles, gripping Mike's hand as her friends chant the numbers along with the announcer.

"I love you," she whispers at three.

"I love you too," he whispers at two.

They're kissing at one and the clock rolls to midnight.

It was 1986 and they were unstoppable.

A/N: Short and sweet for the end of an entire decade!

This book has been around for two of those years and I don't thank you guys enough for your support for this project. Thank you for every review and favorite you've bestowed upon these one shots, it means the world to me. I hope you're not sick of Mileven yet, because there's much more to come :)

I'm also always open to prompts if you have a scene idea or even just a quick moment you'd like to see between these two, I'm happy to turn your thoughts into a story!

Thank you guys again and I look forward to continuing this journey with you all!