Andrea absolutely despised Billy Hargrove with every fiber of her being. He was cocky. He was full of himself and most of all, he was mean. Mean to everyone around him because he believed that he was superior.

He believed he had a god-given right to treat everyone how he treated them and it infuriated Andrea beyond belief.

"You better watch your tone with me," Billy pointed a finger at Andrea before lowering it seeing the look on Steve's face.

"Doesn't ring a bell. Sorry, buddy," Steve stated as he tried to remain calm.

Andrea moved her hand to hold Steve's arm that was draped over her shoulder. Her hand gripping his trying to keep him from getting mad and causing Billy to get into the house before anyone could really get a grip on him.

Billy grabbed his cigarette as he took a puff in. The flame becoming visible on the end of the small thing. A look on his face, he knows.

Billy let out a sigh as he put the cigarette down, "You know, I don't know, this..." He clicked his tongue as he lifted his hand, "This whole situation, Harrington, I don't know. It's giving me the heebie-jeebies."

"Then maybe you should console with yourself," Andrea shot at him.

"Oh, yeah? Why's that?" Steve questioned the other man.

"My thirteen-year-old sister goes missing all day. And then I find her with you in a stranger's house," Billy clearly was not happy, the look in his eyes gave it all away, "And you lie to me about it."

Steve let out a laugh while Andrea gripped his hand tighter, he looked down at her before looking back at Billy, "Man, were you dropped too much as a child, or what?" Steve shot at Billy, "I don't know what you don't understand about what I just said."

"She's not here," Andrea finished for Steve as she gave Billy a harsh look.

Billy pointed his cigarette at the window, "Then who is that?"

Andrea tried to keep the lie going, "Oh! Sorry, that's your mom. She wanted to come and visit us to have a good time."

Steve moved his arm off of Andrea, "Oh, shit. Listen-"

Billy shoved back Steve and Andrea was quick to shove Billy back, away from Steve, "Don't."

"I told you to plant your feet," Billy sneered down at Steve before he shoved down Andrea and kicked Steve.

Andrea got herself up quickly before lending a helping hand to Steve, "We've got to go."

Andrea ran back into the house to see Lucas pinned against the wall by Billy before Billy was shoved back.

"You're so dead, Sinclair!" Billy yelled and before Andrea could get over, she was pulled back and Steve moved forward.

He shoved back Billy, "No, you are."

Billy fell back and as he got up Max yelled, "Steve!"

Billy let out a loud laugh as he turned back to Steve, "Looks like you got some fire in you after all, huh? I've been waiting to meet this King Steve everyone's been telling me so much about! The King that the Queen over there has had to protect!"

Steve was boiling with anger but he was trying to remain calm, "Get out," He pushed Billy back with two fingers.

Billy swung at Steve but Steve ducked out of the way. The two continued to fight as everyone yelled and cheered them on.

"Yes! Kick his ass, Steve!" Dustin yelled.

"Get him!" Mike yelled.

"I'm not paying for damages to this house," Andrea yelled as she watched the madness.

Steve began throwing punch after punch. Managing to land them against Billy's face knocking the bully backwards into a counter.

"Murder the son of a bitch!" Dustin yelled and Andrea looked at him shocked.

"I didn't know you had that in you," Andrea shook her head.

"Now! Now!" Dustin yelled.

"Get that shithead!" Mike yelled.

"Oh, fuck not the plates! I know your ass did not," Andrea watched as Steve went down and she managed to get over the counter and swung as hard as she could.

"Billy!" Max yelled.

"Holy shit," Mike yelled as he watched.

Billy grabbed the girl's hair and yanked her back giving her a sadistic smile, "Shouldn't have done that."

"Try me you bitch," Andrea spit in his face before kneeing him before he slammed her onto the counter.

"Who taught her these words?!" Mike found himself yelling.

The boys all pointed fingers at each other before looking at Max, "She just picks them up! Everyone hear cusses like sailors!"

Billy ran back into the other room going after Steve giving a vicious punch to his stomach and throwing him around as if it was effortless.

"No one tells me what to do," Andrea heard Billy tell Steve before a loud thud raked the house.

Andrea slid herself off the counter and was blocked by the kids, "Whoa! Get up!" Billy yelled at Steve who was on the ground.

"You're going to kill him!" Dustin yelled.

Andrea had to push the yelling kids out of her way as Billy continued to punch after punch at Steve. The girl trying to rip him back before he threw her over her shoulder with a should.

"ANDREA!" Now they were yelling.

Andrea continued to hit and kick at Billy's arm before he threw her harshly against the wall taking down a shelf. She groaned in pain before getting back up before he charged at her, his shoulders digging into her stomach causing her to gasp.

"You're hurting her!" Dustin was now yelling, "Don't hurt her!"

Andrea grabbed one of the glass jars she managed to see and smacked it over Billy's head causing him to fall to the ground as she breathed heavily trying to catch her breath, "Holy shit."

Billy went to go back over to her but Max grabbed a needle and shoved it into Billy's neck, pushing the sedative into his vein.

"The hell is this?" He asked as he moved back, pulling the needle from his neck, "You little shit, what did you do?"

"Shit," Mike looked shocked as Billy hit the ground.

Max grabbed Steve's back before walking over to her brother, "From here on out, you leave me and my friends alone. Do you understand?"

"Screw you," Billy mumbled out.

"I said do you understand!" Max yelled louder after hitting the back close to his... thing, "Say it! Say it!"

"I understand..."

"What?"

"I understand."

Max grabbed his car keys before lifting them up, "Let's get out of here. We've all got places to be."

Everyone looked at one another and Andrea groaned, "Dustin, help me get Steve into your vehicle. Well? Move!"

They all seeed a bit shocked by Andrea's tone but Mike and Lucas grabbed whatever they needed while Max ran out to the car leaving the door open for everyone to come out of.

Andrea lifted up Steve's upper body, "Come on, Dustin. Lift," Andrea was trying to get him up but she was sore as well.

"I'm trying!" Dustin exclaimed still in shock of the previous events.

"Try harder," Andrea's tone was stern but it almost sounded like a plea.

Once they had managed to lift Steve up, the two walked slowly out to the car before nearly throwing his body into the vehicle. Andrea wiped sweat from under her curls before looking at everyone.

"Max, you're driving. Mike's to emotionally unstable and Dustin's in too much shock. Lucas is your best bet for directions. You all get there safely, I've got to go fight my demons now, eh?" She ignored the knot in the pit of her stomach as she moved away from the car.

"You know, you don't have to go," Lucas looked at her, "I know I've been a bit of a jerk but I don't understand what you went through... if it hurts you that much come with us."

Seven tilted her head giving him a small smile, "I appreciate that but I've got to help her. No matter how much it hurts me, she's the only family I've got."

"You've got us," Lucas gave her a small grin.

"Yeah, you're one of us," Mike nods as he looks at Andrea, "You've also got Harrington back there, that's a hard thing to get all to yourself."

"Ignore him, you're like family to us. Your like my dad and my sister," Dustin had a wide grin.

Everyone looked at each other slightly confused by his statement but shook it off. Andrea gave a small smile, "Be safe."

And with that, they left and Andrea looked over at the van she was supposed to be driving. She looked at it weirdly before getting it open. She looks at the keys before sighing as she attempted to drive herself to the lab.

Andrea had nearly hit everything in her path but she had reached the lab. She knew she probably was not in the mindset to get this fixed. She knew that there had been enough time for Eleven and Hopper to get inside of the lab.

She pulled into the lab very roughly. Taking out part of the gate and dragged it with her car. She was quick to get out of the vehicle until she paused to look at the building. She ignored everything inside of her that told her to run.

She went inside anyway. Watching out for whatever may find her and come her way. She knew her way around pretty well and so it wasn't hard. She ran up the stairs ignoring any of the bodies on the ground no matter how bad they scared her.

The loud screech of the monster caused her to stop and duck. She couldn't be found. Not here and not now.

She closed her eyes trying to even out her breathing. She knew if she started shaking it would only make her whereabouts a lot easier to track. Andrea managed to get through fine though, reaching El through the broken glass that blocked the wall off where the portal was.

She got onto the elevator as it went up into the portal with Hopper and El. They were all silent as they stared at the gleam of the interdimensional portal. El raised her hand as she focused on trying to get it to close.

Andrea watched as the shadow creature that traumatized Will and the entire group and she knew she needed to help Eleven. She lifted her hand up as well and focused knowing that two were better than one.

Thinking of memories that would help her strength. Monsters began to crawl up the elevator and Hopper began to shoot them down. Andrea tried her best to help but she needed to focus on the portal with Eleven.

Both had blood running down their nose like there was no tomorrow.

Part of the mind flayer began to come right for them. Andrea grabbed Eleven's hand as she tried to concentrate to keep it away. It wasn't until that a blast sent Andrea off of the elevator with a shriek.

Hopper had caught her hand trying to pull her up. She focused on the portal needing to close it no matter what happened. The growls were scaring her, the fall, Eleven had grown so much since they had last seen each other.

Andrea felt herself growing tired, this was using up all of their energy. Closing this portal could nearly kill them but they needed to do it.

"Come on," Hopper continued to pull Andrea as he focused back on her after hearing Eleven scream.

They were doing it. Eleven was pushing it back into the portal while they closed it. Both gave it their all before it went pitch black. Monsters falling down from the walls while Hopper finally got Andrea over the rails.

The girl sighed in relief as she fell back against the railing. Watching as Hopper went to grab Eleven. The two hugged in an embrace as they cried.

"You did good kid, you did so good," Hopper mumbled to Eleven.

"We," Eleven mumbled out tiredly before they all looked back at the closed portal.

It was over. The portal was gone.

Andrea managed to drag herself over to Steve as she got out of Hopper's vehicle. She noticed everyone standing outside waiting for them to return.

Steve's head immediately shot up as soon as Dustin muttered something about Andrea being back. Andrea gave him a tired smile as he looked over in her direction before he went running into her direction.

Steve hugged Andrea and lifted her off the ground causing her to let out a small laugh before Steve placed his lips against hers. Seven's eyes widened completely as her mind began to race. She didn't have time to react before Steve pulled back.

"I knew it," Dustin yelled before the party began to exchange money.

Steve looked at Andrea's face, "We've got to get you cleaned up."

"My blood is on your lips," She pointed out in sheer shock, "Me cleaned up? Have you seen your face!"

Steve looked down with a small grin before he wiped his lips over his shirt, "Not anymore. Now let's get you cleaned up. My face can wait."

Andrea couldn't protest before Steve was dragging her inside of Joyce's house. The boy began to wet a paper towel and he cleaned off her face, making sure that nothing was left on her face.

She saw how he looked at her. The way she thought he looked at Nancy, but he was looking at her. And she felt bad. She wanted to be around him - to be with him, but how could she? She had no where to go.

"Steve," Andrea gave the boy a look, "I'm sorry."

"About what?" The look on his face made her stomach sink.

"I want this, don't get me wrong. It's just.... How can we work if I'm just running around and constantly hiding?"

Steve paused from wiping her face clean. He placed his hand on her cheek while the other brushed back her hair, "We can figure out something. I'm sure of it."

"We can!" Dustin walked into the room with a giant grin causing the two to jump away from each other, "Oh don't be so jumpy lovebirds."

Andrea let out a small laugh of embarrassment while Steve glared, "What do you mean?" Andrea questioned.

"My mom, she's always wanted to have a daughter and she's looking to adopt. We can make it work," Dustin explained as he grinned.

Andrea didn't know if that would work or even if it would be safe for the family, "Dustin..."

"Don't give me the worry bullshit, we're pulling it off," Dustin gave her a look, "It'll work."

"Listen to him!" Steve was very enthusiastic about this idea, "Hendersons right!"

"Yeah!"

Andrea shook her head before letting out a laugh, "Fine."

With the help of Hopper, they forged a plan to get Mrs. Henderson to adopt her. Andrea came from a family that had fallen apart. The father got arrested and the mother couldn't learn to control herself and hurt Andrea before inevitably dying leaving Andrea in the system.

Hopper even forged adoption paperwork for the situation to make it look more real.

Steve told Dustin for him to call and he'd meet them afterwords.

Hopper drove into the Henderson driveway with the two in the car.

"Are you ready?" Hopper looked at Andrea through the mirror.

Andrea looked nervous, her leg was bouncing in the seat, "As I'll ever be."

"Don't worry," Dustin gave her a look as he bumped her arm, "You're gonna be my sister. Officially."

She gave him a small smile, "If she agrees."

"And she will," Dustin gave her a look as Hopper knocked on the door.

"Dusty! Oh, hello Chief," She looked worried at the sight of a cop at her door.

"I have a favor to ask you about and Dustin says you could help someone out," Hopper looked back at Andrea before looking at Mrs. Henderson, "We have a girl who has been in the system and made it to Hawkins and she really needs a home. Her family... they aren't coming back for her," He muttered lowly.

"She's my friend, Mom. You've wanted a daughter," Dustin was trying to pitch it to her, "Please."

And after Hopper and Mrs. Henderson talked, she signed the paperwork.

The woman beamed at the girl, "I've always wanted a daughter! Dusty bun! You finally have a sister!"

Dustin smiled and hugged Andrea who was grinning like the Cheshire cat, "I do."

***

December had come rather quickly. Nobody had been ready for it when it had approached. Andrea and Steve had been in a healthy relationship for a month, she had lived as a Henderson as well. One of the best things she had ever had happen to her.

"Dustin! Let me help," Andrea was trying to help him get ready for the dance, "I can come with you if you want me to. It won't be a problem."

"No, go have your fun and we can have fun after!"

Dustin was now looking for his hair care. Taking Steve's advice despite the better wishes of Andrea. Steve's advice was... something.

"Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch!" Dustin couldn't find the bag anywhere.

"Where did you see it last?" Mrs. Henderson asked as she looked between her kids.

"I think it was on the counter," Andrea tried to help him out.

Christmas decorations were all over the home. Mrs. Henderson even wore a Christmas sweater as she held her new cat. Andrea wore a white collared shirt with a red shirt visible underneath. The shirt was slightly untucked from her bell-bottoms.

"Right here, where I put it," Dustin continued to look around while Andrea moved to help.

"What's in there that's so important anyway?" Mrs. Henderson asked her son, "You look fabulous, baby."

Dustin rummaged through a few things before Andrea leaned over Dustin and grabbed the bag, "Here."

"Got it!" Dustin ran off with the bag and Seven smiled before the doorbell rang.

"That's your ride! Dusty," She called after her son.

"I've got it," Andrea looked at the woman who was now her mom.

She walked over to the door and opened it moving aside to allow Steve in, "Where's Dustin?"

"He's coming," Andrea gave her boyfriend a look.

Once Dustin had come out, the three loaded up into Steve's car. Andrea took the back seat so Dustin could sit up front.

"Okay, here we are," Steve looked over at the gym of Hawkin's middle, "So, remember once you get in there..."

"Pretend like I don't care," Dustin looked over at Steve with a nod.

"Or, don't listen to this idiot," Andrea leaned forward, "You're going to be fine, Dustin."

"You don't care," Steve repeated pushing a hand back at Andrea.

"I don't care," Dustin repeated.

"There you go. You're learning, my friend. You're learning," Steve was nodding while Dustin looked at himself in the mirror, "Hey..."

"What?" Andrea could hear how sad he was.

"Come on. You look great, okay? You look... you look great," Steve was trying to reassure him.

"Anyone who thinks otherwise is out of their mind," Andrea hummed.

"Okay? Now you're gonna go in there..." Steve trailed off.

"Yeah," Dustin nodded.

"Look like a million bucks," Steve put passion behind his words which made Andrea shake her head with a smile.

"Yeah," Dustin said yet again.

"And you're gonna slay 'em dead," Steve looked down at Dustin.

"Like a lion," Dustin agreed before doing his purr.

Andrea winced, "Dustin, little bro, I love you but please not that."

Steve made a face as well, "Listen to Andrea on that one. Don't do that, okay?"

"Okay," Dustin agreed.

"Good luck," Steve shook his hand.

Before Dustin left, he gave the two a pointed look, more or so directed at Steve, "Keep my sister out of trouble and don't hurt her. Have her home by the appropriate time."

Steve shook his head with a laugh, "Got it, Harrington."

The two stayed behind to watch as Dustin entered the gym. Andrea slid up into the front seat before looking through the windows.

"He's going to do great," Andrea tried convincing herself.

"He's going to be great," Steve leaned over to put his chin on her shoulder, "You don't need to worry."

"I know but the world... the world is a bad place," Andrea sighed.

"Hey, Dustin has us. We'll always be there and so will his friends. Nothing will happen," Steve tried to reassure her.

Andrea moved to look at Steve who somehow was leaning over to have his chin on her shoulder which must've been uncomfortable, "I hope so. Now, don't you have a movie and IHOP to take me to?"

Steve pressed a kiss to her lips before moving back, "Yes ma'am. I do."