The following morning Joyce made coffee and took pills for her wine induced headache. She looked at the plates and bowls of uneaten food and looked down at her hand. It looked bare and foreign without her ring. She tidied up, took a shower and picked the kids up from The Wheelers house. When she arrived Will was waiting, looking concerned.
"Mom? What's going?"
Joyce took a deep breath "what do you mean baby?".
Will explained that Hopper had collected El but not him and that they'd gone back to the cabin.
Joyce took the car ride home to explain, she didn't go into details, just facts that Hopper hadn't been able to get his feelings for Joyce back and so decided to move back to the cabin. She left out the part about drinking herself to sleep, that wouldn't be helpful.
"But" she said "he knows how close you and El are so you are always welcome there and El can always come to us".
It was of little consolation to Will but he smiled and nodded anyway.
Meanwhile at the cabin:
"What do you mean we're living here again? I don't want to live here i want us to live with Mom and my brothers" screamed El.
"El, please, I know you're upset, I am too but I'm not in love with Joyce. Its unfair to both of us...all of us, to keep going down this path".
El slammed her bedroom door so hard it made Hopper shudder. He began to tidy the cabin and organise food for lunch.
A few weeks went passed and Joyce had not seen Hopper, apart from times they'd dropped off the kids.
One morning in the store, Joyce was serving a customer when Hopper walked in. He was dressed for work, his uniform always had an effect on her, especially the hat. She took a deep breath and smiled.
"Morning Jim" she said. He smiled and nodded, he noticed that she had called him Jim rather than Hop. Why did that bother him?
"I...uh...just needed a pack of cigarettes?"
Joyce passed him the cigarettes and took his money.
"Your change" she offered, trying not to look at him.
"Joyce, how are you?...you look...".
"Jim I'm fine, wouldn't be your problem even if I wasn't though would it?".
Hopper looked hurt "Joyce, that's not fair...I'll always be your friend".
Joyce looked up at him either tears in her eyes. "Thank you for shopping at Melvards".
She looked away and after a few seconds of silence, Hoppet left.
The Byers house was quiet, Jonathan was usually working, Will got on with homework and drew up new D&D campaigns and Joyce spent time cleaning the house. She wouldn't talk about Hopper at all and when he dropped off El, let Will get the door.
Hoppers cabin was much the same. Every time El spoke about meeting with Will he looked sad. One morning she confronted him. They sat across the table, El knew this could backfire but she took the chance anyway.
"Dad" she started "how are you feeling? We've been back here a while now. Is it better being here than at Mom's".
"I..I don't know El, recently, I've been thinking a lot about Joyce. I really upset her, that's not what I wanted".
"Do you think you...like her again?" Hopper gave his daughter a smile.
"I can't hide anything from you can I?".
El smiled, Hopper continued talking "I'm starting to remember things, things I'm not going to share with my daughter! I think I made the worst decision ever".
A smile crept over Els face. "Go see her Dad, tell her!".
"Calm down kid, just because I've remembered why I want her, doesn't mean I'll get her back".
"You need a huge gesture Dad, massive. She still loves you I know it".
Hopper decided to think it all over. He knew now how much he loved her and wanted to be back with her but would she take him back?
