𝐽𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑂𝑛𝑒𝑆ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑠

"I did lose you. For eight months."

/\|/\|
"I've got something to show you, kid." Hopper showed up in the doorway of Eleven's bedroom in his cabin.

"What?" He pulled up a chair and put it next to her bed, much like when he read to her some nights. He handed her a couple pieces of paper. "What is this?"

"If I had done adoption papers, then some people may ask to know where you were before I took care of you."

"Jane... Hopper?" He felt a warmth in his stomach that crawled up his chest at the small smile she gave.

"Mhm. This way, it's like you were always with me." He pointed to the section under 'Name of Father' where 'James Hopper' was typed out.

"Mama?" Her eyebrows furrowed, pointing to 'Name of Mother' where 'Terry Ives' was typed out.

"Yup. That's the only thing that's true on there besides your first name."

"So... you're not my dad?" She frowned.

"Not biologically."

"Bi-o-loc-gic-al-ly?"

"B-I-O-L-O-G-I-C-A-L-L-Y. Biologically."

"Biologically."

"That means by blood. It would've meant that I had a baby with your mom. I love and take care of you as my own, but you did not come from me."

"I wish I did. I wish I could've had you when I was a baby."

"Me too, kiddo."

"What's this paper?" She switched the two sheets so the other paper was in front. The top read 'Designation of a Preneed Guardian'.

"That one's just in case. Don't worry about it. I do want you to see one part of it, though." He pointed to one line.

"Joyce?" The bottom of the sheet had her signature below Hopper's.

"That is our statement that if anything were to happen to me, she will take care of you."

"But nothing is happening to you." She spoke sternly. He rubbed a hand along her back.

"I know, kid. It's just in case."

/\|/\|
That 'just in case' was something Jane never imagined becoming real. Until it was right before her eyes.

Joyce watched as Eleven's eyes moved around the area while everyone was being reunited. Her heart hurt watching the girl look for her father. They met eyes, and when Jane saw that Joyce was crying, she knew something was horribly wrong. He wasn't here, and he wasn't coming. Eventually, she fell to her knees, her legs to weak to stand. And Joyce was in front of her, kneeling to be eye-level. "W-where is he? T-tell him he needs to h-hurry up. I wanna s-see him." She could barely get the words out.

"I'm so sorry, baby."

"Gone...?" It was practically a whisper. She could only feel Joyce nod, her head tucked under Joyce's chin as she held onto her torso tight as if she may leave, too.

"Are you okay with coming to live with us?"

"That's where dad said I would go..." She spoke mostly to herself, Joyce could barely comprehend what she had said.

"I'm going to take care of you, sweetheart, okay? I'm going to take really good care of you."

"This can't be real, Joycie. It can't be." Eleven shook her head.

"I wish it wasn't." Joyce sighed, holding her newley deceased best friend's daughter tight. Guilt ate away at her, feeling as if she were the cause for the way the young girl was falling apart right in front of her. Because she had turned that key.