Lexi woke the next morning, pepper kisses on her shoulder.

She smiled to herself.

"Morning baby" Steve smiled as she turned to face him, holding him tightly.

"Hi" She smiled with a stretch.

"I've got to go and get Munson in a minute, we are going to watch films with you all day okay" He smiled as she nodded, closing her eyes once again.

"Okay" She finally rubbed her eyes to sleep.

"You're so beautiful, it hurts me" Steve smiled as she rolled her eyes.

He kissed her lips one more time before jumping out of bed, getting changed.

He ran over to her, kissing her lips again before saying a quick goodbye, running to go home and get changed then getting Eddie for their movie day.

Lexi ran into the cabin and grabbed a shower.

"Morning" She smiled in her clean clothes to Hopper as he gave her a wave as she ran back out to her cabin.

She put on some Van Halen as she made herself some coffee, putting some fluffy socks on as she danced and sang around her little home.

A knock came, sharp, cutting through her happiness, she froze, no one ever knocked, well Hopper- but he would shout instead of knocking.

Lexi frowned as she opened the door, and then she froze.

Tommy Hagan, flowers in hand, expression tight like he'd rehearsed this and hated every second.

"You've got to be shitty me" She said flatly.

"Just hear me out" Tommy said, "I came to apologise, for everything" He began holding out the flowers.

She didn't take them.

"You don't get to show up here, not today...not ever"

His jaw clenched.

"I am trying to do the right thing"

Before she could say anything else, footsteps crunched behind him.

Lexi looked up to see Steve and Eddie in view, stopping dead in their tracks when they saw Tommy at her door.

"Oh you have to be kidding me" Eddie's face went dark

"What are you doing here?" Steve stepped closer

Tommy laughed under his breath. "Fucking jesus." He looked at her, "I mean I made the jokes, but I guess I wasn't wrong?"

"Leave" Lexi stiffened.

"So this is how it is? Two of you?" Tommy turned to look between Steve and Eddie.

"Back off" Steve walked towards him.

"Or what Harrington?" Tommy snapped, shoving Steve in the chest.

Hard.

Steve staggered back a step in surprise.

Then everything exploded.

Eddie moved first, grabbing Tommy's shoulders and yanking him away from Steve.

Tommy swung blindly, fist connecting with Eddie's jaw.

Eddie cursed and Lexi reacted without thinking.

"Stop!" She yelled as she pulled Tommy.

"Stay out of it" He pushed her as she landed harshly on the floor.

He lunged again, this time towards Eddie. Lexi scrambled to her feet, pushing Tommy as he lost his balance, Steve surging forwards and catching Tommy before he could recover, slamming him into the porch.

"Touch her again, seriously, I warned you man"

Tommy shoved back, adrenaline fuled and reckless, throwing another punch that landed on Steve's cheek.

"Steve!"

She moved without hesitation, hands shoved against tommy.

But in the spare moment, Tommy swung, aiming for Steve, only to punch Lexi in the face instead.

Lexi stumbled slightly, gripping her face in pain.

"Lexi!" Eddie shouted.

"I didn't-" Tommy's face drained of colour, and Eddie lost it.

He slammed into Tommy knocking him back against the railing, he saw red.

"You hit her"

Steve was right behind him, ready to go again.

Lexi shook her head, trying to clear it, the overriding pain.

"Eddie" She begged as she reached out for him.

He dropped Tommy as Hopper walked outside.

"ENOUGH" He held his shot gun in his hand.

He looked at Lexi, then the two boys when he noticed.

The redness on her cheek.

The way her hand trembled.

"Who did that?" Hopper asked quietly.

Steve pointed, jaw clenched so tight, "He did"

That was all Hopper needed.

He crossed the porch in three strides and grabbed Tommy by the front of his jacket, slamming him into the post hard enough to rattle the wood.

"You hit her?"

"I didn't mean to!" Tommy choked.

"You don't accidentally punch a girl in the face"

"I was a fight"

"No. It was you losing control"

He shoved Tommy again, harder. Eddie flinched- not out of fear, but recognition. That was not a man posturing, that was a father who was sick of seeing his daughter in pain.

"You ever come near here, or any of them again. I hear her mention your name ever again, you step foot on my property, I will personally make sure Hawkins becomes the last place you're allowed to exist"

Tommy's bravado disappeared.

"Or-I will arrest you for trespassing and assault" Hopper warned as Tommy nodded.

"Get. OUT" Hopper yelled, releasing him with a violent shove.

Tommy stumbled, barely catching himself before bolting down the path without looking back.

The silence that followed was heavy.

Hopper turned to Lexi, his hands cupping her face carefully.

"Kid, you hurt?" Hopper asked as she nodded.

"More surprised"

"I should've" Steve gripped his hair in anger.

Hopper shook his head.

"I swear if I see him again"

"Enough, you couldn't have done anything, and I promise me, you won't be seeing him again"

"Thank you for protecting her, I was in the damn bathroom shaving when I heard him hit the post the first time."

They nodded.

Tommy was gone, he was done.

Hopper sat on the small table, glasses low on his nose, pen angrily scratching across the paper.

Incident Report-Hawkins Police Department.

He wrote slowly, making sure he didn't miss a single detail.

Outside the room, Lexi sat on the couch between Steve and Eddie, ice pack against her cheek.

"Hold still" Steve murmured, sitting opposite her, dabbing carefully at the small cut near her jaw with a cotton pad.

His touch was feather light, like he was afraid she might break.

"I'm fine" she smiled, her voice soft.

"You got punched," Eddie muttered, glaring at nothing in particular. "You are allowed to not be fine"

Lexi shot him a look. "You're bleeding"

Eddie blinked, "Huh?"

She leaned forwards, reaching for the first aid kit Steve already had opened. "Your lip. Sit"

Eddie obeyed.

"Never seen him so compliant" Steve smirked

"Shut it"

"You too," she pointed at Steve.

"It's fine"

She raised a brow.

"Yes ma'am"

She cleaned the faint bruise blooming on his cheek, thumb resting on his skin, Steve not pulling away despite the sting.

As she cleaned Eddie up too, he watched her carefully, not saying a word.

The room was quiet, not awkward, just full.

Hopper glanced up from his report, watching them.

Three idiots, but good ones.

He thought.

He finished writing, capped the pen before standing.

"That's done" He smiled, "Tommy won't be a problem anymore"

"Thank you" Lexi exhaled, tension easing.

"You guys have your movie night, I'll be in my room, have the lounge" He smiled as they sat on the couch.

Eddie grabbed the first of many tapes.

They ended up piled on the couch, blankets stolen from around the cabin.

Eddie sat crossed legged on the floor at first, then somehow ended up leaning back against the couch between Lexi's knees.

Steve took the other end, shoulder brushing hers every time he moved.

No one said anything.

The movie continued to play, but Lexi could barely register anything. She was too aware of the warmth on either side of her, the way Steve's hand rested on hers, the presence of Eddie grounding her from below.

Hopper looked out through the crack in his door.

She was safe.

She was alive.

And despite the complicated triangle they had going on, they were always going to have her back.

Their movie marathon ended some time after midnight.

But Lexi did not make it that far.

Steve noticed first, the way her head slowly tipped, her breathing evening out.

Eddie noticed seconds later and stilled, afraid if he moved he might wake her.

Hopper noticed as he came out to grab a coffee.

He muted the TV without a word.

"That's my cue" Steve stood, stretching his back out, "I should head out"

Lexi didn't stir when he brushed a strand of hair from her face.

"Night Lex"

Eddie watched but said nothing.

Steve grabbed his jacket, "Smoke before i go?' Steve asked as Eddie nodded.

Hopper watched the two of them walk outside, and after checking Lexi stayed asleep, he went out also.

"Are you staying?" Hopper asked Eddie as he nodded.

"Yeah, we have plans tomorrow"

Hopper studied the two of them.

"You care about her," Hopper said, not as a question.

"Yeah" Steve replied immediately

"More than anything" Eddie added.

"She isn't a prize boy, not a decision you force. She has been through enough"

"We know, we don't want to push"

"We just don't want to lose her"

"You won't if you do this right," Hopper explained.

He looked between them.

"Love her like she deserves, because hell she deserves all the love she can" Hopper nodded as he lit a cigarette.

The two boys looked at one another.

"Yes sir" The two of them nodded as Steve said his goodnights, leaving the two as he walked to his car, leaving them in the night as he drove home.

The next day Hopper woke up early for work, he quietly walked passed Eddie and Lexi who were still sleep on the small sofa, Eddie holding onto her tightly as she slept with her back to his chest.

He snuck out quickly, not waking them as he headed into the station.

He was in a bad mood as soon as he entered.

The coffee tasted like shit and his head hurt.

The images of Lexi's bruised face wouldn't leave his mind.

He dropped into his chair and pulled out the report he wrote last night.

Hoppers jaw tightened as he finished the details.

Across the bullpen, Powell glanced in his direction, walking over to see what he was doing.

"Is that the incident at school?"

"Part of it" Hopper grunted.

"Tommy Hagan again?"

"Yup"

Powell sighed, "We have been tacking him, verbal harassment, complaints, intimidation. Parents shut it down everytime"

"Not today" Hopper said flatly

By noon, Tommy and his parents were sat in the interrogation room.

His mother looked furious, arms crossed, his father looked embarrassed.

Hopper placed the report on the table.

"Your son assaulted a resident on private property, on my property"

Tommy scoffed.

"It was a fight"

"It was assault, you threw the first punch" Hopper snapped.

Mrs Hagan leaned forwards, reading the report.

"My son would never hit a girl"

Hopper slid a photo across the table.

An image of Lexi's face.

"That" Hopper said quietly "Is what 'never' looks like?"

Tommy shot up out of his chair with a large squeek. "It was an accident!"

"Sit down" Hopper barked and Tommy did.

Powell stepped in, folder in hands. "This is not an isolated incident Mrs Hagan, we've had multiple reports from school"

"Boys will be boys" Mr Hagan sighed.

"That excuse does not fly here" Hopper leaned back slowly.

Mrs Hagan began to yell.

"So what? You are telling me you are ruining his future over a bruise?"

Hopper slammed his hand on the table.

"You are lucky that's all this is. Because is that girl had been hurt any worse, we'd be taking charges"

Tommy stood again. "She was leading them on! She always does this"

Hopper snapped.

"Enough" The room shook with the force of his voice.

"You do not get to blame her for your behaviour, you showed up at her home, you don't get to touch her, ever again"

Powell cleared his throat.

"Given the ongoing reports and this incident, the school boards already made a decision"

Mr Hagan frowned.

"What decision?"

"Tommy Hagan is being expelled, effective immediately"

Mrs Hagan went pale.

"He will be transferred to a school outside district limits"

Hopper then slide a peace of paper across the table.

"That is a restraining order, you are to stay at least five hundred feet from Lexi Jones, her home, her school, any place she frequents" Hopper continued.

"This is ridiculous" Mrs Hagans voice croaked.

"This is final" Hopper watched them as he left the room.

"You good Chief?" Powell asked as he nodded.

"Much better"

Eddie did not tell Lexi where they were going, she simply sat in the passengers seat of the van, knees tucked up, Eddie's jacket thrown over her.

"You are being suspiciously quiet." She said, eyeing him.

"I'm concentrating" He smiled as he tapped the steering wheel.

"You never concentrate," She laughed.

"Hey, this is important" He shot back, offended.

They pulled into a parking lot an hour later, Lexi looked around when her eyes landed on a poster on the wall.

METAL CHURCH - LIVE - ONE NIGHT ONLY

Her breath caught.

"You didn't" She whispered as Eddie grinned.

"Oh I did"

The place was loud before they even stepped inside - denim jackets, leather, chains, cigarette smoke hanging thick in the air.

"This feels illegal" Lexi laughed as Eddie paid at the door, holding onto her hand so she wouldn't get lost in the crowd of tall ass men.

Eddie was in his element, immediately, shoulders loose, eyes lit up like this was a church in the most literal sense.

He walked her to the bar, pulling her to stand in front as he caged her inside, not risking her being out of his sight.

Eddie ordered their drinks, passing one to her as she turned and cheered their cups.

"Be careful, they are strong" He smiled as they both took a sip. "And don't worry, Hopper knows where we are, and that we are sleeping in the van tonight" She laughed as he smiled at her.

They stood pressed together after walking to the stage. Eddie stayed behind her at all times, hands on her hips more out of instinct more than intention.

"This band is insane" She yelled.

"I knew you'd get it" Eddie yelled back.

They ordered another drink.

Then another.

And by the third song, the room was spinning just enough to make everything feel unreal.

Lexi tugged him through the crowd, fingers laced with his.

The whole time they had been pressed together, dancing, tension had been growing.

"Bathroom?" She asked as he blinked.

The bathroom was cramped and loud- chipped mirrors, flickering lights, the echo of the music through the wall.

She barely gave him time to shut the door before she was on him.

He hands fisted in his shirt, his back hit the wall hard.

The kiss wasn't soft.

It was hungry, messy.

Eddie groaned into her mouth, hands sliding to her thighs, lifting her enough to feel her against him.

"We should-" Eddie murmured.

Her fingers traced his jaw, his neck, she tugged at his hair until his head tipped back. Eddie's restraint snapped- he kissed her like he had been waiting months, stopping now would physically hurt.

He flipped them so he could press her into the wall, just as he was about to take things one step further someone knocked on the door.

"Occupied!" He yelled as he laughed breathlessly, resting his forehead against hers, both of them flushed, pupils wide.

They stayed like that for a second - breathing each other in, hearts racing, the moment was dangerous.

"You wanna head back to the van?" Eddie asked as she nodded.

The two of them walked into the cold air, walking towards the van.

He opened the back, climbing inside, grabbing an extra blanket as the van was cold.

She jumped in besides him, kicking off her boots as did he.

"You okay?' He asked her as she nodded.

"Yeah, thank you for today, I loved it" She smiled as he shut the van doors, covering her in a blanket, and then another.

"I have one more gift for you" He smiled, grabbing something out of his glove box, handing it to her.

A piece of paper fell into her hands.

"Eds?" She looked at him confused as she opened it, she read the words on the paper.

They were lyrics.

"Does Heaven even know your missing?" She read out loud, eyes watery.

"This is a song I wrote for you" He smiled as she leaned over, kissing his lips gently.

She looked deeply into his big brown puppy eyes.

"Lexi, I-"

She covered his mouth.

"Please, not yet" She begged as he looked at her slightly hurt.

"Okay" He whispered as she kissed him gently one more time.

That night as Eddie held her tightly, she realised that they both loved her, more than she realised.

Everything she felt was too much.

She knew that she needed some time to work everything out.

She knew that if she made a decision now, it wouldn't work.

She loved them both for different reasons.

Now she had to work out who it was she was in love with...