unspoken words | mileven

three

24 HOUR DECISION

"hop! hop!" el greets him at the door whilst jumping up and down as aurelia follows her actions.

"hey, kid." he smiles as he shuts the door.

"guess what!?" she screams loudly as he furrows his eyebrows, "what?"

she holds up a envelope, "they sent me something back! they sent me something!"

"kid, open it!" he exclaims as they walk to the kitchen, "i wanted to wait for you!"

hopper picks up aurelia as they arrive at the kitchen, "open it!" he encourages.

she sits down and nods, "okay, now i'm scared."

"just open it, kid. it'll be fine, i promise you." he reassures her as she nods and rips it open.

she scans the letter, "blah blah, i will like to congratulate you for a job as a reporter!" she cries, "dad, i did it! i did it!" she smiles happily as he cheers, "wait, there's more.... blah blah, but unfortunately there isn't space for you here in chicago so i would like to propose for you to work at out hawkins office instead." she drops the letter with a gasp, "nah, i'm passing on this job."

"el, this is an amazing opportunity!" he exclaims.

"but i have to go back to hawkins!" she cries, "and i'll see the party and him and everyone because hawkins is so tiny!"

"kid, take it. it's an opportunity of a lifetime, even lia supports you, isn't that right, lia?" he asks as aurelia claps her hands.

el sighs again, "they gave me a day to think about it and i will take that day. also, why are you so late today? what's so important at the station that you skip dinner with us?"

"cases, kid. you got leftovers?" he asks her as she nods and grabs aurelia from his arms, "in the fridge, go heat it up. i need to put this sleepy baby to bed first."

he kisses her head, "i'm proud of you, kid."

"thanks dad, i'm proud of me too." she grins and walks out of the kitchen.

"mommy—"

"you're sleepy, i know. you're happy we showered already right?" el asks as she nods, "cuddle."

el kisses her forehead and nods, "another night won't hurt." she murmurs and walks to her room.

"bear bear." aurelia pouts, pointing to her onesie as el lays her down on her bed, "sure thing." she walks over to her closet and pulls out a bear onesie.

once she pulled out the onesie, she walked back over to aurelia and starts to undress her.

"mommy, we go?" aurelia asks quietly.

el shakes her head, "no, baby."

aurelia nods slowly as el finishes dressing her, "and even if we are, i'll make sure you're happy first."

"happy, mama." aurelia smiles as el smiles back, "go to bed now, i'll be up soon."

"night, mommy." she smiles as el places the covers up, "goodnight, sweetie. sweet dreams."