In The Bleak Midwinter

In The Bleak Midwinter

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11,  Part 12 & Part 13

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warning: Mentions of death

Gif Credit: @peakymurphy​ & @peakyblinders1919​ Thank you for letting me use your beautiful gifs!

Tag: If you want to be tagged let me know.

My Intent: Alright, I’m attempting to purge this from my soul. So this is sort of a hybrid. It’s first person, because I love how that makes it feel, but you are also a character, with a name and backstory. So hopefully you don’t hate it.

Also, it should be noted I love Grace and Tommy. So Grace will be held in high regard in this story. This story takes place in season 3, I think. And this is my first Peaky Blinders story, so go easy on me. I’m full newb.

My other stories are not forgotten, but this idea gave me no peace.

As the car takes the long drive up to the manor, you can hardly believe your eyes. 

It’s far bigger than anything you’ve seen in a long time, but you expect nothing less for Mr. Thomas Shelby.

The manor is a rich red color that reminds you of the clay that sticks to your boots after a heavy rain has washed away the top soil. 

The windows stare back you like blinking eyes - tall and plentiful, like gatekeepers for the secrets inside. 

With a grand stone archway entrance that announces you’ve arrived.  

It’s more than you ever hoped to offer Finn, compared to that tiny shoebox room you were squeezed in before in Small Heath. 

It’s quiet out here in the country too. No drunken men hollering in the streets, fornicating and fighting before your son’s eyes at every turn. 

The idea of working for Thomas Shelby is an intimidating one, as it should be, but it’s a chance for Finn. A chance for something more, so you had to take it.

Finn gawks in wonder as the car pulls up the drive. 

His jaw slack, eyes wide, and you have to tell him more than once to return to his seat while the car is still moving, as he fidgets about the vehicle in amazement at what’s before him. 

You catch the smile that edges at Polly’s face as she watches your son. And you get the sense you or Finn remind her of someone, someone she lost or maybe a former version of herself, and that’s why she’s extended this offer so graciously to you.

“Who’s this? Tommy said no more visitors.” A young woman asks as Polly leads you and Finn in through the entrance, ceiling so tall you have to crane your neck back to see the top.

With dark curly hair swaying around her shoulders, deep features, and fire in her eyes, surely, she’s a Shelby. 

And judging by the way she looks only a few years older than you, you guess she’s Thomas’s sister, Ada. 

You’ve heard of her too, you’ve heard of them all, but who hasn’t in these parts.

“I brought her here to help with Charlie, Ada. Tommy is going to need a hand.” Polly says with ease, as if she’s got it all already figured out. 

A beautiful woman for her age. With dark curly locks and skin pale like the full moon. There’s something bewitching about Polly’s eyes and the curl of her mouth that makes you think she knows everything, capable of anything, and probably both.

But the weary look Ada sends her way makes you feel less confident about the whole arrangement. Like maybe things aren’t as settled as Polly made them seem.

Turning your way, Ada looks you over. 

“And the boy?” She inquires with a tilt of her head, glancing at your son who stands nervously at your side, trying to look taller than his tender years.

“Her son.” Polly answers before you can.

That answer seems to soften Ada a bit. Her eyes easing off their edge as a small almost indiscernible smile curls at the corner of her mouth.

“A widow, good.” She says, mostly to herself. 

And the way she eyes you, as you stand silently hoping to be approved, you can see the idea of your loss eases something inside her.

“Very well, Tommy’s in the parlor.” You hear her say, as you turn back to Finn with the feel of his tug on the length of your coat.

Your eyes meet your boy’s baby blues as he gazes up at you as if he’s torn between sheer excitement and intimation being surrounded by all this.

“What’s a widow, mum?” His young voice asks you as he stays close around your legs.

Finn’s never seen a place like this and certainly never stepped foot inside one. 

You want things for your boy, good things, better than you have, but you’ve only ever been able to scrape by. 

But this is your chance to change all that, your chance to give him what you never could before.

“Your mum apparently.” You say with a small laugh, smiling down at him with reassurance as you pinch playfully at the apple of his cheek.

“This way,” You hear Polly say as you glance back up with the sound of her heels clicking on the wooden floors. 

Taking Finn’s hand as your lead through the house. Deep mahogany walls greet you at every turn, ornately carved and shining. 

Beautiful things fill every space your eyes can reach. Things you’ve only seen in the pictures and could never imagine lying before you in full color.

Finn’s hand reaches out in curiosity before you quickly slap it away.

“Touch nothing.” You scold him gently as fear speeds up your heart. This place like one giant bomb, set anything off and this opportunity could blow up around you.

Entering the parlor, you take in the sight of the walls filled with books as you follow Polly near his desk. 

Mr. Shelby’s seated behind it, only glancing up as you approach. 

He eyes you, your eyes catching as you feel Finn dart behind your coat. You don’t look away, don’t blink, you’re not even sure you breathe, it feels like a test and you’ll be damned if you fail it.

Polly starts in, pulling his attention as you suck in a breath you didn’t know you were holding. 

He’s not as tall as you expected, Mr. Shelby. The myth larger than the man, but he has an energy about him. Bigger than life. Like a vortex, pulling all the energy from the room and pointing it squarely upon him. 

It’s in that moment you realize the mess you’ve gotten yourself into. Comin’ into the home of a man who’s just lost his wife, offerin’ to help with his now motherless child, the situation couldn’t be more bleak.

You try and smooth down Finn’s hair, drawing him out from behind you as Polly tries to seal the deal. Their words filling your ears as you turn back.

“Fuckin hell Pol, he has one. Just cause she’s- doesn’t mean-“ Mr. Shelby stumbles over his own words and you can see he’s growing agitated.

“I know, Tommy, I know, but you need help. Children require a lot of time. You have the business to think about and she needs a job. It solves both your problems.” Polly says diplomatically, and you get the sense she probably knows how to talk to him better than anyone.

“She looks weak, Pol. Skin and bone the best you can find.” He insults, his eyes surveying you briefly like an item he’s considering for purchase, but never meets your eyes.

It’s true, you could use a few pounds, but you’ve barely eaten. What little you have mostly goes to Finn. 

You take just enough to get by, keep going. You don’t have the luxuries of more, but circumstance hasn’t dampened your spirit. 

If anything, it’s made you more strong willed, you have no doubts what you’re fighting for.

“That may be, but I’m strong and good with children.” You speak up suddenly before Polly gets a chance and all eyes turn on you instantly. 

Polly looks surprised, but Mr. Shelby, his gaze is to vacant to warrant anything worth counting.

“We’ll see about that.” He answers before rising from his chair and calling for the help.

“Mary!” An old woman appears in the doorway behind you before Mr. Shelby summons her to retrieve his son. 

When she returns with the boy, Mr. Shelby is quick to take him. Holding him close as he walks over to you, his gaze cautious as he stands before you.

The boy is precious to say the least. With big round cheeks, sky blue eyes, and straight rust colored hair. 

He looks like his father, but the color reminds you of Finn’s when he was just a baby.

“Hi Charlie, I’m miss Fiona.” You tell him softly, smiling over at him as your fingertips dance along his hair, the apples of his cheeks, settling on his plump little hand as he wraps it around your finger.

You catch the little boy’s eyes on Finn with curiosity.

“This my son, Finn. He’s just a little older than you.” You tell him, explaining matters most would think are too advanced for a child of his age, but you always felt children understood far more than we gave them credit for.

Charlie glances back up at you and you greet him with a smile as you reach for him, praying he’ll trust you enough to let you hold him.

You let out a quiet sigh of relief when Charlie reaches for you in return and lets you pick him up. 

Placing him on your hip, you give him a gentle hug.

“Hello sweet boy.” You whisper into his hair as your hand runs down along it.

Charlie reaches for Finn and a smile breaks out wide on your face as Finn takes his hand, the boys enamored with each other.

Your face shoots back up to Mr. Shelby as he clears his throat. 

His eyes are hollow deep pits filled with raw madness that’s barely contained. He looks like he hasn’t slept in weeks. 

Perhaps he hasn’t. You wouldn’t know, you don’t know this man, but you need this job, so you stare back into his eyes as if the sight of them didn’t break your heart.

“Alright then,” He says simply on a low gritty breath, giving his approval as he sparks a cigarette.

“But don’ touch anything in the house. Not a fuckin’ thing.” He practically spits out at you, his words shivering down your spine as you take it, because he isn’t the first man to send a blow your way.

“Mary prepare a room for Miss Fiona and her boy.” Mr. Shelby orders. And just like that, you’ve changed your son’s world.

 Mr. Shelby is cold and distant, and you expect nothing less of a man who’s lost his heart. So you keep your distance and attend to the little one. 

Charlie is easy to care for, easy to love. He’s sweet and joyful, and the boys have taken to each other easily. 

The only hardship is the way he breaks your heart every time he calls for his mum. You wish you knew her. Knew how to bring her to life for him.

The house is bigger than any you’ve ever stayed in, but still Mr. Shelby and his moods manage to find you even inside these many rooms. 

You know you shouldn’t be surprised. Not after the way you heard his family talking about his current state earlier in the morning. 

But still, the way he comes at you, almost as if on attack, as if he needs to bite at something to lick his own wounds, and you’re the nearest one in sight, takes even you by surprise.

You’re preparing a picnic for the children since the sun has decided to come out from its hiding place, when Mr. Shelby thinks it’s time to a have a word.

“I asked around about yeah…” He starts as he appears suddenly, standing across from you in the white tiled kitchen. 

You’re unsure if his interlude is supposed to stir a response, but you pay it no mind, barely glancing over his way as you await him to continue.

“Thought I hired a good catholic widow.” He says, his words low and full of innuendo as he pulls at a cigarette on his lips.

Your hands settle from the basket you’re tending to and offer him the undivided attention he seems insistent on having.

“I am a good catholic.” You tell him, looking him square in the eye, unflinching, because you’ve heard worse, from worse and you decided long ago others weren’t going to define you.

“Aye, a good fucking catholic girl who got herself pregnant outside of marriage.” He says, with that unflinching stare you can sense has a way of riling people up.

And it’s good, he’s good at pushing all the right buttons, because the indignant way he speaks to you easily serves its purpose and instantly you’re defensive of his claim.

“He loved me.” You defiantly tell him and anyone else who will listen. 

How dare he take the moral high ground. He may have friends, and those with loose lips who are quick to pass judgement upon you, but you’re no fool to Mr. Shelby’s doings either. 

You know about the Peak Blinders, everyone in these parts does. How dare he think he has a leg to stand on talking to you about morality.

“That why he ran off to the war stead of makin’ an honest woman of you?” He carries on, undiminished by the fire on your tongue. 

And you know you should shut up, leave it be. This man has given you a job, given you and your child room and board, food in your bellies, living in a place far more grand than any you ever could have imagined. But even now, all these years later, you can’t rest when others presume to know how your son came to be a bastard, as they are so quick to call him to your face and behind your back.

“He didn’t know about the baby and when I sent word, he gave me his. Even from the pits of hell over there he promised we’d marry once he came home, but he never made it back. Swallowed up like the rest of ‘em to slaughter.” Tears biting at your eyes as you push them down and tighten your jaw.

“So you Mr. Shelby, you and all the others, you know nothing of it. Not a thing.” You unleash upon him. 

You know the sins you committed. Know the price you and your son will pay for the rest of your lives, but you weren’t some foolish girl who got taken for a ride. And you’re tired of the world pretending as if you were.

Mr. Shelby’s goes silent with your confession, his face expressionless, but his eyes hold upon you, steady with you. 

You get the sense you’ve taken him by surprise. Maybe he wasn’t expecting such a fervent response, maybe he didn’t think you had fire in your belly, or maybe what Polly had told you was true, he knows a little something about the prices of war. 

Whatever the reason, Mr. Shelby doesn’t speak again and as your burners cool, you begin to feel the need to backtrack before you ruin a good thing for your son.

“I apologize Mr. Shelby. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.” You say formally, cordially, albeit forced, before you scoop up the biscuits and jam, placing them into the open basket resting on the butcher block before you.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking the children for a picnic while the weather still permits.” You say softly before making a hasty escape.

You’re nearly free, basket in hand, eyes staying steady down around your hands as you try to slip past him, but his arm drops down, blocking your passage, and you’re forced to look up at him, awaiting his word.

In your short time there you’ve learned Mr. Shelby has a way of taking up space, filling even the largest of rooms when he stands in them. 

You find Mr. Shelby’s gaze waiting for you, and you brace yourself for the repercussion of your quick temper, but they never come.

“I didn’t…” He starts, his words stalling as he pulls at the cigarette on his lips.

You can feel he’s struggling, fighting with an apology of some sort. So you set him free.

“No need. You’re entitled to your opinions, Mr. Shelby. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me and my son. Given me a job in all.” You say, the blue of his eyes holding you captive. 

The depth of them like a pit that could swallow you up if you stand too close to its edge.

“Charlie likes you.” He notes on a long breath, his words easing the tension thick between you.

“And I adore him.” You say simply.

Your answer pleases him and seems to diffuse the moment as he offers you a quick nod and lets you pass.

THE SCARS WE SHARE | daryl dixon

❝i looked for you…at the start. why’d you leave without saying goodbye?❞

summary: you were the only good thing daryl had in his life. bonded by similar trauma, you suffered abuse at the hands of your stepmother, just as daryl had suffered from his own father. when you finally decide to escape your abusive home life, you’re forced to leave behind your best friend in the process. now with the world in an apocalyptic state, you’re left wondering if daryl was even alive.

pairings: daryl dixon x f!reader.

warnings: smut, violence, blood and gore, unrequited love, best friends to lovers, mentions of s/a, mentions of abuse, use of deadly weapons, fluff, angst, slow burn-ish, strong language, kidnapping, coercion, seasons 5-11, 18+, minors dni.

playlist: already gone - kelly clarkson | hanging on - emilee moore | through the trees - low shoulder | skin - zola jesus | home to you - fka twigs | words - skylar grey | two is better than one - boys like girls | back to december - taylor swift | how to save a life - the fray | for the love of a daughter - demi lovato | confessions of a broken heart (daughter to father) - lindsay lohan.

©darylmydix. please do not repost.

000 | 001 | 002

IM BACK! Watch the trailer for my new fic Safe and Sound coming on Friday

After months of dating in secret, Eve Shelby and Alexander Herrine’s lives are torn apart when their families declare war on each other.

Serve & Protect

Summary: You moved to the small quiet town of Hawkins after transferring from the NYPD and reunite with your old partner, Jim Hopper. However, Hawkins isn't as quiet as it seems, and your past follows you there.

Pairing: Jim Hopper x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.5k

Major Trigger Warning- mentions of past SA, violence, guns, language.

Previous Chapter

Chapter 13- if this is goodbye...

"After Sara I had to get away." Hopper suddenly started to say breaking the silence.

You remained curled up against his side, your face buried against his chest while he held you.

"I had to get away from that place. Had to outrun those memories, I guess." He continued to say quietly. "I mean, why do you think I ended up back in this shithole town?"

You didn't respond, but he didn't expect you to either. Your tears had long ago dried, but he kept holding you. And for the first time in a long time, you felt safe. You felt safe in his arms.

"What I'm trying to say is... I understand why you came to Hawkins to get away from that. I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you when your past followed you here."

You tilted your head up towards him, but he was staring straight ahead looking anywhere but at you.

"It's not your job to protect me, Hop."

"Yeah, it is." He argued, sparing a quick glance down at you showing off the tears still shimmering in his eyes. "You're my Deputy. I'm responsible for you, but above all that, you're my best friend and I made a promise to not let that asshole hurt you again, and I failed."

"Hopper-"

"I should have protected you." His voice was heavy with shame, the same way his guilt weighed down upon his shoulders. He wiped his eyes with his free hand and let out a deep shaky breath before resting his head back against the brick wall.

Neither of you said anything for a few minutes after that. You didn't want to move out of Hoppers arms, and he clearly didn't want to let you go either, but you both knew that you had to go back inside and deal with this whole opening gate in Hawkins that Alexei knew about.

"Is it safe to come out?" Murray's voice suddenly shouted in the distance.

Hopper glanced down at you in his arms before looking in the direction of the man's voice.

"Yeah." He shouted back and a few seconds later Murray walked around the corner with two glasses of clear liquid.

"Figured you'd both could use a drink. Vodka?"

Hopper took one of the glasses without a word and skulled the mouthful of alcohol before you unwrapped yourself from around his side and took the other glass which Murray handed over with a gentle smile.

You nodded your thanks and down the drink welcoming the familiar burn of vodka.

"There's more inside if you guys are ready to come back in? Alexei has more details to share." Murray explained, turning on his heels and walking back towards the front door.

A few minutes later you were back on Murray's couch with another shot of Vodka while Alexei and Murray explained things in more details, including how to shut the opening gate.

Hopper re-laid all the information back to Doctor Owens... well, it was the phone number Owens had given him for emergencies and it wasn't Owens that answered. But Hopper told the person everything and requested military backup at Starcourt Mall. Whether the person on the phone believed everything he had just said is one thing and whether or not he passes it on to Doctor Owens was an entirely different thing.

"I should call Joyce and tell her what's going on." Hopper suddenly said, reaching for the phone on the table once again.

"What? Why?" You asked in confusion watching he grab the phone already dialling her number that he knew by heart.

"She's involved in this. She should know what's happening."

"No, you should keep this phone line open for when Owens calls." You argued not understanding the urgency for Joyce to know these details.

What was Joyce going to do? Was she going to go to Starcourt and take down the Russians by herself? Hell no.

"It will only take a minute." Hopper dismissed.

"Whatever." You huffed walking back to the kitchen and stealing another mouthful of Murray's vodka.

"Trouble in paradise?" Murray asked, raising his eyebrows as he motioned between you and Hopper.

"Don't know what you're talking about." You responded, screwing the cap back on the bottle.

Murray opened his mouth to argue but then Hopper walked into the kitchen, and he quickly shut his mouth.

"C'mon, we're heading back to Hawkins." He announced catching you by surprise.

"Why?" You asked in confusion because weren't you meant to wait by the phone for Doctor Owens to call?

"The kids are at the 4th of July festival and that is a stone's throw from Starcourt."

Good enough for you.

"Let's go then." You said, snapping into action.

You were back on the road within a few minutes. Murray and Alexei squished together in the back seat of the car while Hopper drove. The sun was beginning to set along the horizon, and it would be dark by the time you got back to Hawkins, but if the kids were at that festival, you had to find them.

-

Murray and Alexei remained in the car when you got to the festival. Hopper instructing them to go over the plans while you and him looked for the kids.

It turned out that finding the kids at this packed festival was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

"Hey, isn't that Karen Wheeler? Mikes mother?" You asked, pointing to the blonde woman who was entering one of the amusement rides.

"Yeah, let's see if she knows where the kids are." Hopper said, already heading straight over to the ride.

You weren't entirely sure what the ride was, but you flashed your Hawkins PD badge at the man by the gate who instantly let you and Hopper through without question. You stepped inside the large UFO shaped ride to find Karen inside with a bunch of other people.

"Karen Wheeler?" You called out, walking over to her.

The woman turned around at your voice and frowned a little in confusion when she saw you.

"Uh, what can I do for you Officer?"

"Have you seen the kids anywhere? The-the what do they call themselves? The party?" You asked causing the confusion to spread across her face even more.

"No, I-I haven't seen them. I don't think they're here yet. Why? Oh, God, what did Mike do now? Is he in trouble?" She asked sighing with a shake of her head.

"You three, up against the wall!" The lady by some kind of console in the centre of the ride ordered.

"They're not in trouble. But where are they?" Hopper clarified ignoring the other lady.

"Oh my gosh, I can hardly keep track these days. Uh, they were at, uh... Dustin's, then Lucas's, Max's... you know how it is, summer!"

You were about to ask further questions but then the ride door suddenly closed.

Oh, that ain't good.

"Last warning, you two. Up against the wall!" The worker by the control panel instructed.

"Hold the ride!" Hopper shouted back, but the woman shook her head.

"On your life, Magnum."

She pulled the lever on the control in front of her and the ride suddenly began to spin. Hopper quickly planted his back against one of the padded walls before he grabbed your hand and pulled you beside him.

Your back hit the padded wall just as the ride began to spin faster, and faster, and faster. You tilted your head up towards Hopper who met your gaze and squeezed your hand ever so slightly for silent comfort as the ride kept spinning rapidly.

Neither of you said anything nor did you release each other's hands as the ride continued to spin before eventually slowing down and coming to a stop a few minutes later.

"Hate is not a strong enough word for that ride." You muttered, Hopper still holding your hand as you walked out the UFO shaped hell ride.

Hopper snorted softly in amusement but didn't get a chance to respond.

"Jim! Jim! Y/N!" Murray's voice suddenly shouted, and you looked up to find him waving frantically in the distance at the two of you. "They got Alexei, Jim! Alexei! They got Alexei, Jim!"

Sudden dread filled your stomach. They got Alexei? Who the fuck was they?

"We gotta go." Hopper suddenly warned and just by the tone of voice alone, you knew it was bad.

You quickly looked up to find Hopper staring at someone off to the left and you followed his line of sight and spotted the terminator guy from earlier marching through the crowd towards you.

Ah, shit.

"We gotta go. Now."

Hopper's hand tightened around your own as he took off running in the opposite direction pulling you with him as you ran. However, you didn't get too far before you spotted another rough looking guy up ahead who seemed to be concealing something in his jacket.

Yeah, that was definitely a gun. Why bother hiding it like that if it's that obvious?

"Chief, there's another." You said, nodding in that other man's direction.

"Shit." Hopper cursed under his breath before diverting left, his hand still grasping yours tightly as you ran through the crowd and around food stalls. The people around you were completely oblivious to the Russian soldiers walking amongst them. They had no idea that anything was happening while you and Hopper ran for your lives.

More soldiers kept appearing at every turn and you very quickly realised that there was no way the two of you could outrun them, and Hopper seemed to realise that too. He came to a sudden halt in the middle of the crowd and let go of your hand before pulling out the car keys from his pocket and holding them out to you.

"Find Murray, get the car, bring it around back." He ordered, shoving the keys into your palm when you didn't take them.

"What- no. Hop, I'm not leaving you here. There's like six Russians with AK's walking around." You argued, grabbing his hand to stop him from running off.

"I can draw them away and give you time to get to the car. Now, go!"

"No! This feels like a goodbye. I am not leaving you here to die!" You snapped, angry tears rising in your eyes.

You have been through too much to lose Hopper. After everything that's happened you could not lose him. No way.

"Goodbye is always implied in this line of work. I guess I usually just put it out my mind. Maybe I shouldn't do that anymore." He began to say lifting his hand and cupping the side of your face with a gentle smile. "But if this is goodbye then..."

Hopper trailed off as he leant forward and captured your lips with his kissing you gently. Your body froze in absolute shock but only for a second before you lifted your hand and grabbed the back of his neck pulling him closer to deepen the kiss.

A moment later Hopper pulled away, resting his forehead against yours as he breathed heavily, "I just had to do that once before I die."

"You are not dying." You stated sternly, biting your now swollen lip.

He nodded against your head, "then meet me around the back with a car."

"Hop-"

"Do you trust me?" He asked, his beautiful blue eyes locking with yours.

"Always."

"Then go." He responded glancing over his shoulder at the terminator guy who was getting closer through the crowd before focusing back on you. "Run, Y/N!"

Every muscle in your body was screaming at you not to go, but instead, you nodded and reluctantly sprinted off in the opposite direction while you heard Hopper behind you shouting at the Russians, luring them to him.

Jesus Christ, Jim. You better know what you're doing.

You doubled back to where you had last seen Murray and to your relief, he must have spotted you running around the festival like a headless chicken standing out in your uniform because he was shouting your name.

Following Murray through the crowded festival he led you around the back of a food stall and your heart shattered when you saw Alexei's lifeless body slumped down against the back wall.

Alexei, no.

You skidded to your knees beside him and tilted his head up from his chin knowing that position would be blocking his airways, but he was unresponsive and that's when you saw the bullet wound through his chest.

"No." You whispered to yourself shaking your head in denial.

"I-I just left for a minute... for a corn dog. A stupid corn dog." Murray was saying from somewhere behind you, his voice sounding as sad as you felt.

You pressed your hand against the still bleeding wound and pressed your fingers of the other against his neck trying to locate a pulse but there was nothing.

Alexei was dead.

"We need to go." You declared standing up and looking down at your blood-stained hand before taking in a deep breath. "We need to get to the car and meet Hopper around the back. Now."

Murray stared at you for a moment before glancing down at Alexei's dead body and he simply nodded. For the first time in as long as you've known him, Murray didn't have anything to say, so you nodded for him to follow and took off running in the direction of the parking lot, leaving Alexei's body behind.

Somehow you ran into Joyce Byers on your way to the parking lot. She was the one who had told Hopper that the kids were here, and she came here to find them, but was unable to.

A few minutes later you, Murray and Joyce were in the car speeding the car down the backroad behind the festival barely looking at where you were driving while you scanned the area for Hopper.

"Where is he?" Murray questioned.

"I don't know! Keep looking, I'll do another lap." You said once you reached the end of the festival.

Spinning the wheel, you turned the car around 180 degrees and sped back down the road you were just on until Hopper suddenly sprinted out from behind the back of one of the amusement rides.

"There!" Murray shouted the exact moment you saw him.

Slamming on the brakes, the car came to a rapid halt in the middle of the dirt road. Hopper ran over and jumped into the backseat not bothering to open the door of the convertible, and you took off down the road in the opposite direction of the festival.

"Alexei?" Hopper asked, glancing between you and Murray before looking over at Joyce in surprise at her presence.

You shook your head silently and Hopper's expression dropped before a Russian suddenly started speaking through the walkie talkie that he was holding.

"Hey, translate." Hopper instructed handing a walkie talkie to Murray.

Murray took the walkie without a word, and you realised that Hopper must have gotten it from one of the soldiers. Did that mean the terminator guy was finally dead? God, you hoped so.

The person kept speaking in Russian through the walkie but whatever they were saying, Murray clearly didn't like.

"What is it?" You asked hesitantly, glancing over at him before focusing back on the road as you drove.

"The kids are at the mall." Murray began to inform before he glanced over his shoulder at Hopper and Joyce. "The Russians are closing in on them."

"Not on my watch." You declared putting your foot down on the gas as you spun the car around in the direction of Starcourt Mall. 

-

Next Chapter

MASTERLIST pinned to profile

IM BACK! Watch the trailer for my new fic Safe and Sound coming on Friday

After months of dating in secret, Eve Shelby and Alexander Herrine’s lives are torn apart when their families declare war on each other.

Joel Miller x f!reader

Rating: Explicit (COMPLETED)

Summary: Part of a band of travelers, your party is slowly picked off one by one, until there are only two of you left. Finding an abandoned cabin in the woods, you decide to make camp there until you figure out your next move. As the seasons change, the nights get longer and longer…

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue