Splinters In Time

The funeral was simple, but nice. Only a few people came - Max was there, alongside her mother and stepfather, as well as a few family and friends.

Lili did not go.

Instead, she watched from the car park until the group of people dressed all in black finally left the gravesite. Climbing out of her car, she headed over to the freshly dug grave.

Out of respect, she wore black too - a thin pencil dress, jacket and a wide-brimed hat. In her gloved hands, she held a single lily, its petals as white as fresh-fallen snow. She fiddled with it nervously, rolling the stem between her palms.

"Billy..." She started, then seemed to loose the words. Clearing her throat, she started again. "... I'm sorry. I am so sorry. It shouldn't have ended up like this. Something was wrong, I see that now. Something was wrong with you that day, and I knew it, but I didn't know what it was... I wish I could have helped you. I should have been able to help you." She paused for a moment, taking a breath, just... listening to the stirring of the wind through the graveyard. "Something's going on in Hawkins. I'm not quite sure what, but I intend to find out." She licked her lips. "I've... found myself somewhere to stay, a bit more in the centre of town, where I can keep an eye on things. I've even got myself a job." She laughed weakly, tears wetting her cheeks. "It's all so terribly normal."

Crouching down, she placed the lily on the mound of earth. "I'll look out for Max, alright?"

Getting up, she headed back towards her car. As she walked through the rows of headstones, she stopped. There it was. The grave she never visited, with two names on the stone and no one in the ground.

Taking a long, shuddering breath, Lili took a step towards it, then another, then another, until at last she stood before the grave. The grass rustled softly as the breeze stirred once more.

"Hey, Mum..."

***

The school bell pealed out as Bonnie headed up the stairs to her classroom. Her suit was crisp and impeccable, her heels a little lower than she would prefer and her gold bangles jangled comfortingly on her wrist. It was a simple cover job and yet she was determined she was going to be the best teacher she possibly could.

Striding to the front of the class, she wrote her name on the board as the students filed in and took their seats. "Good morning class, my name is Miss Quatre. I will be your substitute teacher for physics until further notice. As I understand it, your previous teacher is having to take some time, due to... stress." She underlined her name in one strong stroke.

Turning around, she smiled. "If you could all turn to chapter four, we'll begin."

A/N: So technically that's the end of this story! Technically. In terms of timeline, this is the end of everything that happens prior to season 4 and subsequently my other fic, Number Four.
However, there is going to be one more chapter — partly because I just love you all, and partly because I had an idea that I am just itching to write.

Following that, one of two things is going to happen. Either:

A) Stranger Things season 5 FINALLY comes out and I write the next part of this series.

Or B) Stranger Things takes ages to come out, I get bored and try to write the fic anyway, making an ending up completely. (I've done it before! It wasn't good, but I've done it. My impulse control isn't always great. XD)

We'll see how it turns out.

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a like and a comment. Luv you all! xx