Steve, Nancy, and Daphne stepped outside into the chilly evening air, their breaths visible in the cold as they headed next to the barn, where they threw everything out, and shed for heaters to give to Joyce and Jonathan.

The night was unnervingly quiet, the silence only broken by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a night bird. They knew they didn't have much time.

As they rummaged through the cluttered stack of junk, Steve glanced over at Nancy. The tension between them was palpable, a mix of unresolved feelings and the weight of everything that had happened.

"You should go with him," Steve said suddenly, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but there was a hint of something deeper—resignation, perhaps.

Nancy looked up from where she was sorting through some old boxes, confusion knitting her brows together. "What?"

"With Jonathan," Steve clarified, turning to face her fully.

Nancy shook her head, almost scoffing at the suggestion. "No, I'm not just gonna leave Mike. He needs me here."

Steve took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "No one's leaving anyone, Nancy. I may be a pretty shitty boyfriend, but it turns out I'm actually a pretty damn good babysitter."

Daphne, who had been quietly sifting through some old tools nearby, suddenly felt like she was intruding on a private moment. She stood up and brushed off her hands. "I'm gonna go inside... I feel like a third wheel right now."

Steve quickly turned to her, his expression softening. "No, it's fine, Daph. You don't have to go."

Nancy's eyes flicked between Steve and Daphne, her internal conflict clear as day. "Steve..."

Steve gave her a small, sad smile. "It's okay, Nance. It's okay."

Nancy opened her mouth to respond, but the words seemed to catch in her throat. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to fix the mess between them.

"I—" Nancy started, but before she could finish, Steve gave her a reassuring nod and headed back inside the house, leaving the two girls alone in the cold night.

Daphne watched Steve go, then turned to Nancy, her expression serious but understanding. "Nance, go. We'll stay with the kids and protect them. Nothing bad is gonna happen."

Nancy hesitated, her mind racing with worry. "Why are you not going with your mom and Jonathan? You should be with them."

Daphne sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she leaned against the side of the house. "Because... I can't stand seeing Will suffer like that. It's tearing me apart. I just need a break from it all, you know? And besides," she added, glancing back at the house, "I promised myself I'd protect Max. I'm not leaving her. She needs someone looking out for her, especially now that she's in this mess with us."

Nancy looked at Daphne, her expression softening as she saw the pain in her eyes. "I get it. It's just... I don't want to leave Mike, but I don't want to leave Jonathan either. It feels like no matter what I do, I'm letting someone down."

Daphne nodded, understanding all too well. "You're not letting anyone down, Nance. You're doing the best you can, just like the rest of us. Sometimes, it's not about being in the right place; it's about being there for the people who need you most at that moment. And right now, I think Jonathan needs you more than Mike does. You guys have been through so much together..."

Nancy bit her lip, the decision weighing heavily on her. "But what if something happens while I'm gone?"

Daphne reached out and placed a reassuring hand on Nancy's arm. "We've got this, Nance. Steve, me, the kids—we'll keep them safe. You do what you need to do. We'll be okay. I promise you that nothing is gonna happen to Mike and the others."

Nancy looked at Daphne, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Thank you, Daphne. You're a good friend."

Daphne smiled, squeezing Nancy's arm gently. "So are you. Now go. Jonathan needs you."

Nancy nodded, finally making up her mind. She turned, took some of the heaters they found and headed toward the car where Jonathan and Joyce were preparing to leave, glancing back once to see Daphne watching her with a supportive smile.

As Nancy walked away, Daphne took a deep breath and headed back into the house, where Steve and the kids were huddled near the window, anxiously watching the tree line.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Hopper and Eleven were already on their way to the lab, ready to face whatever horrors awaited them. Steve stood by the window, his bat clutched tightly in his hands, while the kids—Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Mike—watched with wide, fearful eyes.

Daphne joined them, her heart pounding as she stared out into the night. They were ready for whatever was going to happen, but the uncertainty of it all hung over them like a dark cloud.

They didn't know what the next few hours would bring. But they were together, and in that moment, that was all that mattered.