Happy Halloween Cowboy

Thursday, October 31st, 1985. 6:12 p.m.

Hopper and El were on their way to the Byers household. It was a fairly quite ride but it wasn't awkward it was a comfortable silence. El was super excited to finally go treak-or-treating with her friends for the first time and Hopper, well he was just excited to see Joyce. The easier plan was to just drop El off at the Wheelers house and him head back to his cabin for a lonely night in but Hopper convinced himself that it was easier to take her to Joyces and Jonathan take El and Will to the wheelers since Jonathan is picking up Nancy to go to a party anyways. So there was the Hopper family, heading to the Byers both excited for different reasons.

Upon pulling up to the Byers residence there were a few lights and decorations up but not a bunch. After parking the Blazer Hopper and El both got out and El quickly knocked on the door. Once Hopper caught up with El, standing at the door, he leaned down and whispered something to her, she nodded and they both waited for the door to open.

Joyce opened the door with a smile. But before she could say hello Hopper and El spoke first. "Treak or Treat!" They both said smiling in unison. Joyce laughed. "Well aren't you two ealry treaters." She laughed. "So we've got a ketchup bottle and a grumpy lumberjack?" She smiled. "Hey I'm not grumpy." Hopper defended as Joyce just looked at him with a small smile. "Alright fine, I'm usually grumpy but I'm not right now." He smiled. "Alright cowboy" She laughed. Hopper smiled at her calling him "cowboy". "Will is in his room sweetie." Joyce said facing El. "Okay!" El said excitedly running off through the house. "You wanna come in?" She asked Hopper. "Sure" He nodded as she opened the door wider. "I thought I was a lumberjack?" He smiled cheekily, closing the door behind him. "What?" Joyce questioned, walking to the kitchen. "First you called me a lumberjack then you called me a cowboy." He smiled. Joyce laughed. "You can be whatever you want to be. You can even be an astronaut if you believe really hard." She grinned. "Very funny" He laughed amusingly.

"So any plans tonight?" He asked sitting down at the kitchen table. "Nope, probably just gonna watch TV and hand out candy all night. What about you? Got any hot dates tonight?" She laughed but really hoping he doesn't. "Nope just me tonight." He laughed. Joyce laughed but secretly sighed a breath of relief. Why did she care though? It's non of her business who he's with. And it shouldn't bother her. It doesn't!....Does it? She quickly shook away her thoughts. "So..." Hopper began but was interupted by two kids flying down the hall towards him and Joyce. "Can we go now?" Will asked excitedly as him and El were out of breath. "Sure honey, just see if Jonathan's ready since he's the one taking you." Joyce smiled at her son. "Okay" Will nodded his head before taking a deep breath. "JONATHAN LET'S GO!" Will yelled making the three surrounding him wince from the unexpected volume. "Okay!" Jonathan yelled back before coming out of his room. "You didn't have to be so loud." He laughed, ruffling his younger brothers hair. Will just shrugged.

"Alright now let's go!" Will said hurriedly. "Mike said Max, Lucas and Dustin are already there." El added as Will agreed. "Okay, well be careful you three." Joyce smiled at the group. "We will" Will said.

Will and El started running off to the door. "El, wait." Hopper stopped them. "Yes?" The young girl turned around as he walked towards her. He leaned down, placing a hand on her shoulder. "This is your first time trick or treating so; stay with the group at all times! Don't go off on your own for any reason and don't talk to strangers!" He said sternly. "I promise." El nodded. "How will she say "trick or treat" if she can't talk to strangers?" Will asked. El turned to Will then back to her father agreeing with Will. Jonathan and Joyce quietly laughed. "Alright fine yes you can say "trick or treat" but that's it." El nodded. "Be back at Mikes no later than 9 o'clock." "9:30?" El asked hopeful. "Nine!" He said more sternly as El nodded. "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow kid, be safe." He gently smiled. "Bye Dad." She said hugging him. Hopper was taken by surprise at her words but quickly hugged his adoptive daughter back. "See ya kid." He said kissing the top of her head.