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Hide 'N Seek >> Jim Hopper X Reader

Title: Hide 'N Seek

Paring: Jim Hopper X Reader

Warnings: fluff, cutesy, flashback moment, Jim Hopper as a parent, told in the 3rd Person.

Spoilers: make sure you're up to date with the show!

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Usually, the first thing that Jim Hopper did when he came home was try and find his girls. Ever since he adopted Jane – or, by the insistence of her and her little friends, Elle – he'd found it sort of hard to get through the work week, what, being a single Dad; it was never an easy feat, and something he'd never had to do before. That was why he loved his then-girlfriend, now fiancé ________ so much, for taking him and Elle on; they were a packaged deal, and ________ understood that. But today, when Jim hopped out of his police car, he noticed something was different. The kid's bikes were outside the cabin, but unlike any other time it was D&D night, there was no whooping and playing around, no trace of the kids around.

If the last two years hadn't happened, he would think nothing of it. But since the whole trauma of saving poor Will Buyers from the Upside Down, taking in Elle, working through the aftermath of it all without exposing the truth, he was on edge still, and his first instinct was to reach for his gun.

"Ugh, man! I thought this place was foolproof!" Dustin Henderson whined, his new teeth improving his diction. "Who even looks up?"

Jim sees Dustin, sitting in the lower branches of a tree by his home, and his friend Mike, staring up at him. "I do, mouth breather," he protests. "Anyways, you're out. We've still got to find Will, Elle, and ________ –," he stops, seeing him.

Dustin jumps down from the branch, waving, "Hey, Chief Hopper! What's up?"

His hand relaxes at his side, perching atop his hips to consider the two boys. "What're you doing out here, boys? Isn't it game night?"

Mike nods, hands thrust deep in his pockets. "We're waiting on Lucas and Max." He says, kicking a stone, "and ________ said we could play Hide and Seek while we waited for 'em."

"Could you help us win?" Dustin blurts out, grinning at Jim.

Mike elbows his friend. "I don't need help to win. And who asked you to help me? I'll find Elle and Will in no time by myself." He glares, going off around the backside of the house.

Jim pats Dustin on the back, and says, "Don't mind him, he's just mad we'd find everyone in an instant."

Dustin beams at him. "That's right!" He chirps, "I'm going inside to grab a soda, want to come with?"

"Sure do, kiddo. I live here," He says.

When Jim enters his house, he notices other differences. There's a container of grape juice sitting on the counter, condensation surrounding the benchtop beneath it. ________'s handbag sits on the tabletop, fallen to one side, the contents spilling from the faux leather insides. As Jim goes to straighten it, he sees a small polaroid photograph fall out. His fingers fumble trying to pick it up, and peering at the black and white ink, he makes out two figures. It must have been taken a couple of months ago, at the Wheeler's house – ever since Nancy got into photography, he keeps finding traces of it all over Hawkins. But the picture was taken at the Wheeler's mailbox; Elle's wearing a Princess Leia costume. Beside Elle, stands ________, grinning.

Jim's heart jumps a little, seeing his girls so happy.

"________? Babe?" He calls out, tucking the photo back into the handbag, and turning to the peg beside the door, hung up his hat. "I'm home."