The Power of Love

A Powerful Confession

He tucked Elevens head into his neck before meeting eyes with Will and then with Jonathan through the rear view mirror.

Their faces both shined with a mix of fear for their friends and a determination to stop the upcoming doom. He was sure his face matched theirs. The thought of his home being torn apart with all his friends and family inside of it was frightening but he knew that he couldn't let the fear of what could be control him.

"Thanks for telling us El." Mike said.

He tilted his head down only to see that once again Eleven had positioned her head up so she could meet his eyes. He stared into her eyes and saw all the emotions floating threw them. It was in that moment that he decided that all his hesitations about confessing his love to El were meaningless. Not only did he owe it to her but he wanted to say those three complicated words that seemed so simple but yet were so powerful.

He needed to tell her. Who knows how things could turn out for them once fighting to protect Max and Hawkins. As much as it pained him to think about, he knew he might not get another opportunity to tell her how he feels. He wants to spend the rest of his days giving El soft kisses on the head and whispering his love to her gently in her ear.

He knew he needed to confess it now but he also knew it needed to be just the two of them. So he held his tongue and continued to match El's stare and as soon they stopped for gas he told the others he needed to talk to El alone.

In his dreams he always imagined telling El he loved her on a beautiful field of flowers with the stars littering the sky- shining bright above them. Instead they were behind a gas station with the only thing littering the scenery was the actual trash that was dumped everywhere. There was a foul smell and a dim orange light taking away from any charm the place might have had left; yet somehow it seemed to match everything else that had happened to them. So even though it wasn't a dreamy location the scene seemed perfect to him because in the end she was the one standing there and that's all that truly mattered.

Eleven must have been getting impatient with waiting due to her surely overwhelming desire to be back on the road because she interrupted his silence, "Mike. Why are we here?"

"El-l." He took a deep breathe before continuing, "Listen I've been so stupid lately! I'm sorry, your right I haven't told you I loved you! I've just been too afraid that if I did you'd realize you didn't need me anymore- and I couldn't handle the thought of loosing you!"

"Never lose me." El said while forcing him to meet his eyes. "I'm yours and your mine."

"I know El... That's why we're back here."

"Why?"

"Because El... I love you." He spoke the words so softly he was afraid she hadn't heard them- she proved that thought wrong when she swung her arms around his neck.

"I love you El! I always have! From that very first day I met you, you were wearing that yellow Benny's Burgers t-shirt and it was so big that it almost swallowed you whole."

Eleven had let out a small wet chuckle at his description.

"Right then and there in that moment I knew that I loved you and I've loved you every day since. I love you on your good days; on your bad days. I love you with your powers; I love you without your powers. I love you for exactly who you are El."

"Mike." Eleven whispered.

"El, I'm sorry I don't say it more. It's not because I'm scared of you- I'm not. I've never felt that way- never! I've just been scared that one day you will realize you don't need me anymore. That if I told you how I felt it would make that day hurt more but the truth is I don't know how to live without you. I feel like that day in the woods, when I first saw you- that's when my life started. El, your my superhero. You are El."

Before Mike had the chance to say anything else Eleven had leaned in and gently kissed his lips. Suddenly, Eleven leaned back and placed her head right before his ear. Her breathe tickled his ear as she leaned in closer before simply saying a soft, "I love you too."

At her words Mike twisted his face around and started a long but gentle kiss. Their kissing continued until they heard Will shouting from around the building, "What's taking so long? We're ready to go now!"

The two of them separated with matching grins on their faces.

"Come on, El. We've got to go."

The two of them made their way back inside the van where they curled up next to each other both feeling satisfied.

They all had a long few days ahead but they would manage it together.

A/N: Hey! I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Thank You so much for reading! Thank you to everyone who liked and/or commented on this, it means a lot! Till next chapter!