Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

November 6, 2023: Mornings on Demand tv show

Voice over:

In 2016 the world of television was blessed with the amazing show Stranger Things.

In 2022 the world would be shocked when Nancy and Jonathan Byers, both of whom were fictional until this point, came out and released a book called “The Hawkins 16” chronicling their fight against the evil Vecna.

Some still don't believe their story while others want to know how the Duffer Brothers knew so much and why they changed their story.

Host of Mornings on Demand:

We are here today with the author of the best-selling novel, The Hawkins 16, Nancy Byers. Her husband Jonathan Byers provided the photographs and all sixteen of the members pitched in to write it.

We also have the creators and actors from the hit show Stranger Things that seems based on the book.

Today we see if we can prove the sixteen actually exist and if so how the Duffers knew and why they changed their story so drastically, especially with some of the sixteen.

So if we could have Dustin, Max, Lucas, Jane, Mike, Will, Jonathan, Steve, Nancy, Billy, Barb, Eddie, Robin, Chrissy, Argyle and Heather join us on stage, and also Matt and Ross Duffer along with Gaten, Sadie, Caleb, Millie, Finn, Noah, Charlie, Joe, Natalia, Dacre, Shannon, Joseph, Maya, Grace, Eduado, and Francesca come to the stage.

Nancy and Jonathan came out first and sat next to the host.

Slowly the others trickled out with the host explaining every person's personal life.

Jonathan and Nancy have been traveling the world letting people know the truth. They have an adopted daughter starting Hawkins Middle named Carrie.

Steve and Chrissy along with Billy and Heather all came out together.

They made headlines recently by deciding to raise their kids as a poly family. Between them, they have four boys aged 11.

Chrissy and Heather happened to go into labor the same day and both had male twins which prompted the discussion that it was the fate they all stayed together.

Aiden, Levi, Conner, and Issac are all excited to start middle school this year, the teachers in Hawkins, not so much.

Next Was Dustin and Jane, Lucas and Max, Mike and Will all came out in one big group. They each held the hand of their partner.

Will and Mike just made news by adopting their second child, a two-year-old named Olivia. Their first child, Conner turned eleven this week.

Jane and Dustin have decided to wait on kids while Lucas and Max have an eleven-year-old daughter named Zoe.

Barb, Eddie, Robin, and Argyle came out last.

Barb and Robin are focusing on advancing their careers before having kids and Eddie and Argyle are traveling together with Eddie's band.

As the host finished the last part the cast and crew of Stranger Things headed out altogether.

The host had become silent during this making Nancy a little nervous.

Nancy looked over at Jonathan and whispered “what’s going on now”?

Jonathan shrugged his shoulders and tried not to act as nervous as he was.

Suddenly the room went dark and when the lights came back on only the actors remained on the stage looking scared and bewildered. The Duffers looked like they were reliving a nightmare.

The host tried to calm everyone down but couldn't hide his own fear and guilt.

He had set this up. Worked with Vecna to get all his enemies in one place.

Vecna had promised him the sweet taste of power. He promised once he would be an important part of proving to the world that he was real.

Breathing in and out several times he watched the lights on the cameras click on and off while production assistants and the security team ran around trying to figure out what happened.

Then came the laughter. It was full of malice. Then he was there. Vecna himself and with him the sixteen that disappeared in chains.

Nancy gave the host a look of utter disgust and said “you fucking sold us out you asshole”.

The host looked pale and suddenly was grabbed by two officers and handcuffed.

“Vecna help me,” the host cried. Vecna raised his hand and suddenly the host was floating in the air, his bones cracking and his eyes fading to the back of his skull and then he dropped while Vecna laughed maliciously.

“I guess this proves your story is the real deal Nancy. You thought you best me but I just went into hiding to heal, to come back and exactmy revenge on all of you.

This world and everyone belongs to me now,” Vecna said and tugged the chains connecting the sixteen to him.

They gasped for air as the chains tightened.

“Now if everyone would just calm down, Ms. Byers will be reading the story she wrote. My niece is such a wonderful writer isn't she” Vecna said and pulled Nancy's chain so she was in a sitting position.

“What's he mean Nancy,” Mike asked nervously. “I don't know Mike but let's play the game for a while. Our kids are like us, they will figure it out. Plus our parents are there as well” Nancy replied as she picked up the book dropped at her feet.

She began to read:

The Hawkins 16; A story of survival

Written by: Nancy Byers
Photographs by: Jonathan Byers

This book is dedicated to all the amazing people in Hawkins who never gave up and to the fifteen people who stood with me to defeat the evil known as Vecna.

Taking a deep breath Nancy looked at Vecna who motioned her to continue.

Then she looked at the Duffers who looked pale.
“How did you know?” Nancy growled.

Both brothers looked at the floor. “We were born in Hawkins and grew up during it all” Matt said making Nancy even more livid since now she knew they knew the real story.

Feeling the chain connected to her tight she looked down at the floor, gathered her senses, and continued.

Chapter Text

At the Harrington house in Hawkins: 2022

Hopper and Joyce watched in disbelief and anger. They would've been there but they volunteered to watch the kids.

“We have to figure out how to save them,” Joyce said, panicking. “I agree Joyce but what are we supposed to do?” Hopper said thinking about the kids.

Before Joyce could answer she heard Nanyc start to talk again. “For now let's keep our eyes on them this way,” Joyce said cuddling into Hopper's arms.

Hopper held her tightly as they went back to watching.

Back at the studio

Nancy continued reading.

Chapter 1: 1983 - the arrival

Nov. 6, 1983

Billy and Max Hargrove pulled up to the Welcome to Hawkins sign.

“Ready for a new chapter kiddo,” Billy asked ruffling Max’s hair

She nodded and they continued on their way.

They weren't that far in when a boy on his bicycle fell in front of them, luckily Billy was going slow enough to stop in time.

He saw some other kids ride off laughing and sighed. “Even in small-town Indiana kids are shits,” he said and went to the kid who fell.

Helping him up he said, “my name is Billy what's yours”? The kid wiped the dirt off his face and replied softly “Will Byers”.

Billy laughed at the coincidence. “Well kid why don't you put your bike in the trunk and I will take you home,” Billy said picking up the bike and leading Will back to the car.

He was about the same age as Max. Maybe she won't take too long to make a friend. The kid looked like he could use one anyway.

Will gave Billy his address and shocked Billy again. Their house was right next door.

The drive there was silent. Neither Will nor Max said anything and Billy didn't know what to say to a couple of twelve-year-olds.

As they drove they heard a disturbing howl from the forest but chose to just ignore it.

As Billy pulled up to Will’s house a woman and a kid his age came out the door.

As soon as the car stopped Will got out and the woman ran over to hug him.

The scruffy-haired kid looked at Billy and said “thank you for bringing him home. We were worried. I'm Jonathan and this is my mom, Joyce”.

Billy leaned against the car making Max groan. She knew that move. That was his “turning on the flirt” move.

“So Jon, what do you do here in Hawkins for fun and how would you like to experience that fun with me?” Billy said running a hand through his hair.

There it was. The “I'm smooth move”. Max just wanted to hide under the blanket that Billy had put on her during their drive from California but she was also awkwardly interested.

Jonathan blushed and shifting his weight said “I like to do photography if you would like to join me”.

Billy cracked his victory smile and leaning in said “how about you and me take some photos in the woods tomorrow” making Jonathan go red as a beet.

Jonathan nodded silently. “Oh yeah, we just live next door so if you ever need anything don't be afraid to knock,” Billy said making the shade of red on Jonathan even darker.

Max slapped her forehead and looked over at the other house. She didn't she the moving van which meant they were going to have to sleep on the floor making her groan again.

“Oh by the way the moving truck beat you so they moved everything in. The beds are in the bedrooms but the rest of the stuff is just in the living area. I went ahead and made the beds and everything. When my husband gets home with our daughter I will send him over to help move the furniture” Joyce said holding Will close to her.

“Thank you, Mrs. Byers,for helping with the beds and that would be appreciated but maybe he can come by tomorrow so we can get some rest. We've been sleeping in the car for about three days and could use the sleep on a real bed. Plus, I have to get the paperwork out for Max and me to start school here” Billy said looking exhausted.

Joyce looked sadly at the young man and wished she knew their story but she would wait. “Why don't you stay here tonight? Tomorrow is Saturday so Jim will be home all day and I can help you with the paperwork” Joyce said.

Billy looked at Max who had fallen asleep. Taking a deep breath he accepted and went to the driver's side, picked Max up, and followed Joyce and her kids inside.

Joyce got Max set up in her daughter Janes room on a fold-out bed and let Billy have the guest room. The kid looked like he hadn't had a good night's sleep in ages.

Joyce went to get some water for him and when she got back he was completely collapsed on the bed. She took his shoes off and got him covered up and quietly left.

Max was also sound asleep in Jane’s room so Joyce went to the living room to wait for Hopper and Jane.

When she heard his truck she went out to meet them. She told Jane that Max was asleep on a cot in her room and to be quiet and let her sleep.

Jane looked annoyed but nodded and after hugging her mom she went in and headed to bed.

Hopper and Joyce went inside and Joyce told him the whole story.

“You want them to move in don't you?” Hopper said with a knowing smile and Joyce nodded.

“It's fine with me and we can use the other house as a place for the kids to move into when they are eighteen” Hopper said with a laugh.

Joyce kissed him and snuggled into his arms. They both fell asleep right there on the couch holding each other oblivious to the fight that was heading their way.