Jopper's Holiday

Winter expectations

December first

It's the most wonderful time of the year, or so the cloying song over the intercom would have one belief. Joyce is trying to be jovial, jolly, generous; but just two hours into her shift she is already feeling a few fa-la-la-la's shy of figgy pudding.

Christmas is supposed to bring out the best in people, but today's shoppers have been doing little to suppress the ugly side of human behavior. Two grown men have almost come to blows over the last holiday Barbie. Half a dozen customers have hollered at Joyce over price discrepancies at the checkout counter.

Following one of the hollering episodes, a kindly – if a bit dotty – old lady approached Joyce and assured her that she was doing a great job, no matter what any of those "rattlesnakes" said; Joyce almost hugged her. That is until the well-intentioned senior citizen patted the younger woman's hand and told her to "wish Lonnie and those little ones a Merry Christmas." With the day she's been having, the mere mention of her lousy ex's name is enough to make her gag.

Joyce does a quick scan to ensure that Donald isn't lurking around, then heads outside for a smoke. On her way towards the back door, Hopper wanders out of an aisle into her path, and as casual as he is trying to appear, this encounter is no accident. For one, he's dressed for work, and knowing the effect that his uniform has on her, he has no business showing up at the store unannounced and looking sexy as hell. It doesn't help that he's in that authoritative stance of his, legs apart, hands on hips. She can't decide whether to smack him or kiss him; either reaction would probably turn him on.

Hopper takes a small container of silver objects off of a nearby rack and Joyce rolls her eyes, anticipating the terrible joke to come. Shaking the box he says innocently, "Excuse me, miss, but I'm wondering if you could tell me about your best screw?"

"God, Hop, that one was especially bad – and predictable," she groans, even as she's smiling from ear to ear. "Besides, that's really a question for the hardware department..." Joyce has gotten so distracted by the hot look in Hopper's eyes that her attempt at coyness has given him another opportunity for naughty wordplay.

"Well, the funny thing is that hardware is my department..." he begins, but Joyce -struggling to keep a straight face - places a finger firmly over his lips. Convinced that he's been subdued, she removes her hand. Hopper is very pleased with himself. "I'm going to need you to come out back for questioning."

They share a smoke in the alley, and Hopper is on his best behavior. The last thing Joyce needs today is her nosy co-workers finding out that she and the Chief of police are an item. She takes a drag and tells Jim about the rampant selfishness and grumpiness she's witnessed during this so-called happy holiday.

"People's traditions are so weird," Joyce observes, leaning against the wall of the building. Seizing his opportunity, Hopper moves forward, tossing the cigarette aside. Putting one hand on her waist and the other on the wall, he bends to kiss her hard on the mouth. Joyce can feel herself melting, but she really must get back to work, and presses him away gently. Both pleased and self-conscious about the warmth of whisker burn around her lips she murmurs, "Mmmm. That was unexpected."

"Not at all. It's tradition," Hopper explains, smirking. Following his gaze, Joyce sees that his hand is pinning a sprig of mistletoe to the wall just above their heads. "People's traditions are so weird, right?"