Chapter Eighty-Six: Fears and Vows

I stood in the Wheeler's basement bathroom later that night, surveying the severity of my cut in the mirror. 

Seeing as my vision this time around had even less information than usual, aside from the whole water detail, there was literally nothing we could do, so we just headed back to Nancy's place to settle in for the night.

The bathroom door opened beside me and I looked up just as Steve leaned inside, holding up a first aid kit. I stepped away from the mirror so that he could step fully into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. 

"What's the verdict," I asked, looking at my reflection once more, "Still pretty?"

"Pretty sure I've seen you in worse conditions than this, Barbie." He pointed out, opening the first aid kit on the counter. I turned around, using my hands to push myself up so that I was sitting on the counter.

"You didn't answer my question." He shook his head, looking away from the contents of the first aid kit to meet my eyes.

"You're always pretty," He clarified, "Even when you're covered in blood and have two black eyes."

"Ah yes. Good times." I said, looking down at my lap as I remembered our fight with Billy. He scoffed in amused disbelief, using his fingers to gently lift my chin and clean the cut with an alcohol wipe. "I see Dr. Steve has made a reappearance. Remember the last time you tended to my wounds?"

"Also known as the most frustrating nights of my life?" He asked. "Yeah, I remember."

"Most frustrating night of your life, huh?" I repeated. "That seems dramatic." He shook his head.

"I'd been crushing on you for months, and denying it, I might add, and I finally get the opportunity to not only accept my feelings, but act on them, and you totally cut me off!"

"Yeah, because I was certain that you could never have a thing for me, so I must just be a placeholder for Nancy! I explained this to you, if you recall!" I pointed out as he placed a couple of thin bandages vertically across my cut.

"Oh, I recall. That doesn't make it any less frustrating," He pointed out, putting his hands on either side of me on the counter, "Its like...when someone has to go to the bathroom during the climax of a movie and you have to pause it." I chuckled, shaking my head. "There. You should be all good."

"Thanks." I replied, reaching up and adjusting his shirt collar with my fingers. 

"So um...how are you doing?" He questioned. "With all of the flashback stuff about your sister and Vecna taking another Victim." I bit my lip, my smile falling.

"I don't know...I mean, I feel extremely guilty, realizing how little I've thought or spoken about Sara in the past few years...but at the same time, realizing that I was giving the love I have for her to someone that needed it...its strangely therapeutic, I guess? Like she would be ok with it because it wasn't all for nothing?"

"And the new murder?" He pressed, pushing my hair lightly out of my face with his pointer finger "You don't know who or where he is?"

"Nope...just water. It was dark, he was high in the air, outside of my viewpoint so...I don't have anything to go on really." I explained. "Which I hate. I really hate having this ability and not being able to use it when it matters most."

"You still saved Max," He reasoned, "That's still a pretty big deal. That's one more person that's still alive today."

"And three who aren't," I argued, "And...I'm still terrified that one of us is going to join them."

"We've gotten this far, haven't we?"

"We've gotten lucky this far," I corrected, putting a hand on his arm, "And even with said Luck, we still lost my Dad...I don't know...every single time we end up back here I just can't help but thinking that eventually...our luck is going to run out."

"I really hate thinking like that." Steve said, all traces of optimism gone as he lowered his voice to a whisper. "I don't want to think like that, I don't want to think..."

"I don't either," I admitted, tears welling up in my eyes, "But at this point I think its a reflex...like if I just make up my mind now that somebody is going to die, then maybe it won't hurt so much when they do."

"So you're just going to accept it as fact?" He asked. "You're just going to take it lying down?"

"Of course not," I put my hands on his face, running my thumbs across his cheekbones, "Of course we're all going to fight for each other, and we're going to do everything in our power to make sure everyone gets out alive, but if this past year has taught me anything, its that sometimes our power isn't enough."

He sighed, grabbing my wrists and removing them from his face so that he could move away from me to lean back against the wall. 

"Riley, you...you really freak me out sometimes, you know that?" He said, looking up at me through his hair, which had fallen into his eyes. "You...you used to be so confident that everything was going to turn out ok...you would just jump in with both feet and zero hesitation, and that confidence...I think it was one of the only things that's kept us all going all these years, and now...everything is a disaster or a tragedy just waiting to happen and it...it scares me. It scares me to death."

"Well, can you blame me?" I asked, jumping off of the counter. "I mean, look at my life. Any confidence or optimism that I had is buried under years of trauma and loss. I mean, you can't expect someone who has lost and experienced everything that I have to still be the same person when its all said and done."

"No, I didn't...I didn't mean it like that," He clarified, "I just...so much has changed..."

"And that's my fault?"

"No, I...of course not." He put his hands on my arms, rubbing them up and down. "I just..." I raised my eyebrows, waiting for him to go on. "I'm just scared that stuff like this is going to keep happening, and eventually...you won't be the girl I fell in love with anymore."

My eyes widened and I pushed his hands off of my arms. 

"Ok no, wait-"

"So that's how this works, huh?" I asked. "If I grow up, if I...change...If trauma effects me so badly that I'm not the same eighteen-year-old girl that you first showed an interest in, then what? You don't love me anymore?"

"No! No, no, no, no, please Riley, please, do not misunderstand me, that is not what I am trying to say."

"Then please hurry up and explain because you're freaking me out now." I said, wrapping my arms around myself as tears welled up in my eyes.

"I just don't want you to harden yourself so much that you lose out on who you really are," He clarified, "Obviously, trauma...it changes you, but I just don't want it to change you so much that you lose the best parts of yourself like your kindness, and your understanding-your love for everyone that steps into your life. I just don't want you to start holding everything at arms length in the hopes that you will save yourself some pain."

I nodded, looking down at my feet.

"Ok...I can understand that." He stepped forward, crowding into my space and putting his hands on my face so he could press his lips against my forehead.

"I'm sorry I freaked you out," he said quietly, prompting me to look up at him, "I just...I don't want to lose you, in any context...and I promise, nothing on this planet...or beyond it, because let's be real, its not that outside the realm of possibility in our world, is ever, ever going to make me stop loving you, ok?" I nodded.

"Ok." I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he wrapped his around my back, pulling me into a hug.

"I'm scared," He whispered, "That's what all of this comes down too, I am so, so terrified this time around. I know that's what you're feeling too." I nodded against his chest. 

"I don't know what's going to happen," I admitted, "I am just so sick of everything being so uncertain, and I just wish that I had one thing that I could always count on."

He pulled back, keeping his hands on my waist as he looked down at me. 

"I love you," He replied, tucking my hair behind my ear, "And I'm always going to love you, for the rest of my life, however long that is." I smiled.

"I love you too," I replied, wrapping my arms around his neck, "for the rest of my life."

He smiled, and I leaned in to kiss him, only to be cut off by the door opening and the doorknob banging into my hip. I winced, jumping away from Steve and rubbing my hip as the door opened as wide as it could, with us standing there, and Dustin poked his head inside.

"Dude!" Steve exclaimed, gesturing to me.

"Sorry! I had to pee and I didn't know if anyone was in here!" He exclaimed.

"Can I show you something?" I reached over, grabbing his hand and rolling it into a fist before dragging it up to the door and hitting his knuckles against it, "Its called knocking. Its a polite way  to let someone know that you would like to enter the room."

"Ok, I got it, geez." He said, stepping out of the doorway and letting us exit the bathroom before stepping inside himself. Steve blew out a breath, shaking his head and we both exchanged a look before bursting out laughing. He smiled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into another hug. I wasted no time hugging him back.

~~~

I was drawn from sleep by a pillow colliding full-force with my face. My eyes burst open and I shoved it off, looking up to see Robin standing above me.

"Rise and Shine." She said cheerfully. I furrowed my eyebrows at her, sitting up and looking around to see that we were the only people in the Wheeler's basement.

"Where is everyone?" I asked, climbing to my feet.

"Nancy and Max are upstairs gathering supplies, and the boys went to go buy provisions for Eddie. We're meeting them at the courthouse."

"The courthouse?" I asked. "Why are we going to the courthouse?"

"Because, you and Dingus have a standing appointment with the judge to get married." My eyes widened at this.

"Wha?!" I exclaimed. She nodded.

"Yeah. Your hubby-to-be rounded us all up at the butt-crack of dawn to fill us in on his crazy plan. I personally think we have way more important issues going on but he was pretty persistent, so..."

"Ok, wh-no this is crazy. We can't just drop everything and go get married, I mean the others are still in California-"

"Yeah, he said you'd say that. He said that if we all survive the fight against Vecna, you guys could still have the ceremony that you planned with Eleven and everybody there, but just in case you guys don't get that opportunity...he wanted to do it now." I bit my lip, thinking back to our conversation in the Creel's house. "Do you not like this idea? Because we can radio him-"

"No! No, uh...this..." I trailed off, pondering this. "No, I think he's right. I want to do this, just in case...I don't want to miss our chance." Robin nodded.

"Right...then let's get you ready. Nance?" 

I turned around just in time to see Nancy and Max coming down the stairs carting boxes full of stuff. 

"This is insane," I pointed out, putting two hands on my head, "This is so not what we should be doing right now." Nancy shrugged, putting her box on the coffee table.

"Maybe not," She agreed, "But there is every possibility that there's never going to be a good time, so...we might as well embrace the one we've got."

I threw my hands up, giving in to this. 

"And if we're going to do this," Max said, walking up beside me, "We're going to be as cheesy and cliche as possible."

She reached up, pinning the hairclip into my hair that Nancy had loaned me for our trip to the Asylum. It had still been in my hair when I escaped from the hospital.

"My grandmother gave that to me," Nancy explained, "So basically-"

"Its really old." Robin explained. I smiled, shaking my head.

"Steve picked these this morning," Max stated, reaching into a box and pulling out a vase of wildflowers, "He said something about Eleven and how you would want Hawkins Spring Flowers at your wedding...plus, they're freshly picked, so they're something new."

"As for your something borrowed," Nancy reached into the other box, pulling out a white dress, "I borrowed this from my Mom. I know, its not exactly your style, but it is white-"

"Nancy," I cut her off, running my fingers over the skirt. "Its perfect. Thank you."

She smiled brightly at this.

"We haven't found something blue yet," Max continued, "I mean, I think I have a blue scrunchie somewhere..." I shook my head, reaching down and touching Sara's hair tie, which was still secured around my wrist.

"That's ok. I have that one covered." I said, holding it up. "I think that's everything that a stereotypical wedding needs, right?"

"Ok, go change," Nancy said, handing me the dress, "I've already packed clothes for you to change into afterwards, and then we'll head to Rick's to drop off Eddie's groceries."

"Guys...this is really just...incredible. Thank you guys." I said sincerely.

"Of course," Max said, "I mean, you saved my life...multiple times actually, so...the least I can do is help throw you a make-shift wedding."

I smiled, rushing over and crushing her into a hug. She laughed and I pulled Robin and Nancy in too.

"Oh. We're doing a group hug...ok..." Robin said awkwardly. I laughed, pulling away from her and taking the dress from Nancy, rushing back in the direction of the basement bathroom.

~~~

When we pulled up in front of the courthouse, the boys were standing outside, all carrying grocery bags. Steve was wearing jeans and a yellow sweatshirt, but he had a black blazer over the top of it with a black tie around his neck. I laughed as I climbed out of the car, and he stepped off of the curb to meet me.

"Is this considered bad luck?" He asked, pointing down at my dress. I shook my head.

"I don't know. I don't really know the rules for this kind of thing." I stated, crossing my arms.

"I just...with everything we've been talking about lately I just...I don't want to bank on maybes. Not with you, I want...I want our relationship to be something that you can count on." I smiled brightly, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him into a hug.

"Uh, I don't want to rush you on your wedding day and all," Dustin called, "But we do have other and- no offense- more important things to do today." I nodded, pulling away from him.

"Right, yes, let's go." I grabbed his hand, intertwining our fingers and pulling him up the courthouse steps. He took the lead once we got into the building, pulling me up to the desk.

"Hi, we've got a marriage appointment." Steve told the receptionist. She smiled sweetly at us before looking down at her schedule.

"Yes, Judge Griffin is waiting for you in his office, that's the last door on the right side of the hall." She told us. "Congratulations, you two."

"Thank you." I said, letting Steve pull me away as the others trailed along behind us. We all rushed down the hall to the room the woman had pointed out to us, and found it to be a small, cramped office with a large, sweaty man sitting behind the desk. He looked up as we came in.

"Steve Harrington and Riley Hopper?" He asked. We both nodded as he turned his eyes on me. "I knew your Dad. He was a good man." I nodded in agreement. "Alright, you guys ready to do this? You got your witnesses?"

"Yeah, Nancy, Robin." I turned around, motioning them into the room.

"Hold on, why do they get to be your witnesses?" Dustin questioned.

"Because dude, the witnesses have to be sixteen." Steve told him. He sighed, but shrugged, accepting this answer as Nancy showed the Judge her license, and Robin showed him her student ID.

"Alright," he said, "Now uh this proceeding is pretty bland and official. I've just got to say a couple of things to make it legal so uh...as far as vows go, those are up to you guys." 

I nodded, still clutching my bouquet of wildflowers as I turned slightly to face Steve.

"Husband, why don't you go first." Steve nodded.

"Right, uh...I didn't really think about this part," Steve admitted, "Um...vows...vows, vows, vows-"

"Steve...seriously?" Dustin asked. "This whole thing was your idea, you didn't write any vows?"

"Would you just shut up? Please? I'm trying to get married here." Steve chastised. 

"And doing a great job." He shot back.

"Its really not that complicated, kid," Judge Griffin stated, "Just make her promises, tell her what kind of husband you wanna be."

"Yeah, of course...I knew that," Steve said, turning to look at me again. I just smiled, shaking my head, "Riley, uh...I promise-No, sorry, I um...I vow,"

"Oh good lord." Robin muttered. Steve shot her a look and she held her hands up in a surrender position. He nodded, looking back at me and blowing at a nervous breath.

"Riley, I...I vow that I will always call you Barbie, no matter how much it annoys you," I laughed, "I vow that I will always take you to the movies and get into arguments that get way too into the depth of the characters. I will never attempt to approach our relationship like a Lion or a Ninja, because you aren't like the other girls," I bit my lip through a smile,"I vow to always ruin your breakfast, but most of all...I vow to always remember that he most important thing that I can do in our relationship, and in our household is that I can make sure that you never doubt that I love you."

"Alright, wife. You're up." Griffin prompted. I nodded, unable to stop smiling as I met Steve's eyes.

"In response to your vows," I continued, "I vow that I will always call you HAIRington, no matter how much it annoys you. I vow to never let you forget that Johnny Lawrence is not a villain, or...that intellect and education are not the same thing," he laughed, remembering the reference, "I vow that I will never, in a million years, be interested in Christopher Platten," He fist pumped, causing me to laugh, "and lastly, I vow that no matter what happens, I will always remember to not lose the best parts of myself...or start holding everything at arms length to save myself some pain."

"Steve," The judge continued, "Do you take Riley to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish as long as you both shall live?"

"I do, yeah." Steve said, smiling brightly at me.

"And Riley, do you take Steve to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish...as long as you both shall live?"

"What kind of question is that?" I asked, causing all of the others to laugh as I took a step forward.

"Legally, I'm going to need you to respond the correct way." The judge told me. I nodded, turning to look at him.

"I do." He nodded.

"Ok, now I need the couple and the witness to sign the marriage license." He reached across the desk, handing each of us a pen. I put my flowers down on the desk as Steve and I signed our names on our respective lines before passing the pens to Robin and Nancy, who did the same. "Ok, by the power vested in me by the State of Indianna, I know pronounce you husband and wife."

The others burst into obnoxious clapping and cheers and Steve grabbed my waist, pulling me towards him and pressing a kiss to my lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, my flowers dangling from my hand as I kissed him back, pulling away and leaning my forehead against his. We both laughed, our smiles as wide as they could possibly be.

"Yay, for the happy couple," Judge Griffin said dryly, "Now can you get out of my office? I have another appointment at Nine."

~~~

I'm not super happy with this chapter, but I definitely wanted them to go ahead and get married just in case...you know...something bad goes down in the end of season four. I know it wasn't great, and I'm sorry about that, but I hope you guys enjoyed it anyway!

Are any of you guys as terrified as I am?