𝐽𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑂𝑛𝑒𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑠

☕︎︎𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑏𝑒❀

"Hey guys?" Johnathan got the attention of his two siblings, he had gotten up before them and waited in the hall. "We should actually probably head over to Mike and Nancy's..."

"What? Why? What's wrong?" Will asked, the words tumbling off his tongue.

"Nothing, I just think we should give them some... time. Alone."

"Who?" Will asked, automatically.

"Mom and Hopper." Johnathan tried staying quiet so Joyce and Hopper wouldn't hear him and tell them that it was okay and they could stay.

"Why?" Eleven asked.

"Well... you care for him a lot. So you two got some time to catch up and talk and everything. And she also cares for him a lot. So we should also give her... AND Hopper that time together."

"Oh, okay, yeah. Let's go then." Eleven started walking down the stairs and Will started following. So they piled out the door, Johnathan last.

"Bye mom, love you, we're going to the wheelers to play games! See you guys later!" And then the door was shut. Joyce just stared at it for a second, frozen, waiting for waffles to pop out of the toaster.

"Hey, you okay?" Jim put a hand on her arm and Joyce nodded.

"Yeah, that was just a bit sudden. Well, I guess we don't have to make so many waffles, right?" Joyce shrugged with one shoulder.

"Yeah," Jim normally would've chuckled at her little remark. But he didn't.

"Whats wrong?" She turned to him, ignoring the waffle popping up.

"Hm? Nothing."

"No, I know somethings up, so talk to me." She pressed.

"Well, I umm... What are we?"

"What?" Joyce scrunched her face.

"I mean, I get if you were just caught up in the moment, and you don't actually like me-" She cut him off, pressing a hand over his mouth.

"Jim. I DO want to be with you. You make me a happier person. Don't doubt yourself. I wouldn't have kissed you if I didn't like you. Well, more than 'Like' obviously. But what I'm saying is that I'd love to be your girlfriend."

"You would?"

"Absolutely." Joyce replied with a smile and a smile of his own formed on his face.

"I've been waiting forever to hear you say that." He chuckled, looking over at the toaster. "Your food is getting cold." He teased. Joyce playfully rolled her eyes, taking them out and placing the waffles on a plate.

"Careful, or I'll give YOU the cold ones." She raised her eyebrows. He just laughed. The two sat at the table for breakfast, in their normal spots; across from each other. "Hop?"

"Hm?" Jim mumbled back through a mouthful of waffle.

"I just... I want to know if theres anything I can do to help you." The brunette cut up her waffle, pushing the pieces around in the small pool of syrup.

"What do you mean?" Hopper asked once he swallowed.

"You spent 8 months in a Russian prison after already having gone through a bunch of crap. You don't have to act like you aren't traumatized. Not with me. I want to be here for you. The way you always have with me."

"Joyce... I'm fine." He gave her a sad smile. She said nothing. Just turned back to her food. She was honestly worried about the kids. She was scared it wasnt actually over. She was scared she'd lose them. She just wouldn't say anything because when she checks on them they get annoyed. And now Hopper doesnt need her either apparently. He noticed her silence and that she was most likely upset. "I have nightmares." Jim sighed. "About every other night." Joyce looked up, reached across the table, and took one of his hands into hers. "Like I'm still there. But then I wake up next to you... so you already ARE helping." He smiled gently at her and she smiled back sadly.

"I knew I lost you. But I refused to think you were dead. I went to the funeral. I grieved. But it didn't feel real. Because I knew it wasn't... something was up. And I was right. Its all I had. I couldn't stop thinking about you. I missed you. A lot. And so did El. God, she cried every night for months." Joyce shook her head, sighing. "She never watched Miami Vice. And it took a while for her to be able to eat Eggos's again. I couldn't do anything. She just wanted her dad back. But I finally did that. I got you back. For her. And for me. Because I really wasn't ready to let go of you. I never got to tell you how I actually feel." She blinked back her tears.

"I missed my girls too," He rubbed his thumb over her hand. His sad smile turning into a smirk. "And about that last part of your little speech... I'm here now. So tell me, Joyce, how exactly do you feel? Hm?" He rubbed his fingers up and down her arm.

"Shut up, Hopper." She rolled her eyes, her cheeks a pretty shade of pink. Jim got up to discard his plate but he didn't sit back down, instead he rested a hand on the table, leaning near her.

"Well? Are you going to tell me? Or not?"

"Or not." Joyce refused to let her poker face down.

"You're small, I can pick you up until you tell me."

"Fine. I love you. And I have special feelings for you." She looked him in the eyes, not blinking.

"What kind of 'special feelings?'" Jim tilted his head.

"I think you know."

"Well maybe I need a reminder." He leaned down a bit.

"Maybe." Joyce gently bit her tongue, her eyes going to his lips.

"You gonna jog my memory, Joy?" Hopper teased, smiling.

"Maybe." She replied, standing so they were at the same level, she wrapped both arms around his neck, placing her mouth over his.