Jopper : You make my heart skip a beat

Chapter 16

Soon the four of them were cuddled up on the couch. El pressed firmly up against Joyce. Will beside her squeezed at the end of the couch but Will didn't mind. My family is happy. That's all that matters to me. Hopper on the other side of Joyce. They were pressed together, the couch was not meant for four. Why can't they just admit they love each other...before it's too late. Knowing our luck with inter dimensional monsters...we never know what could happen...

Joyce had made hot chocolate with, of course fluffy marshmallows on top. The lights were turned off leaving only the light from the tv and the warm, welcoming glow of the fire, giving them heat that they trapped under a warm, furry blanket. The four of them curled up on the couch, watching the kids all-time favourite movies, Star Wars. This is perfect. My family.

I want my mom to be happy. With Hopper. He makes her happy. He makes her smile so much brighter. He makes her laugh, like there aren't horrible monsters possibly hiding around every corner. He makes her happier. She's happy when she's with him. Hoppers less grumpy. And when they have an argument, he's never, ever in a good mood. Until they make up. He needs her and she needs him. They love each other and they're just so blind to it. Adults are complicated.

The loud, piercing ring of the house phone broke the silence of the four. Joyce turned her head really fast, Will knew that unexpected phone calls always made her wary. Hopper stood to answer. He even knows when she's worried or when she doesn't want to do something. And he does it for her. Why can't they just open their eyes?

He spoke into the phone quietly. El nudged his elbow, asking without words, if I knew what was going on or what Hopper was saying. They both were completely clueless, having a silent conversation. They needed to know what was going on. I like the fact that me and El understand each other enough to do things like have a silent conversation, or know what the other was thinking. Like mind reading?

Their 'conversation' came to an end, when Hopper placed the phone back on the wall, with a click. He walked softly back over to Joyce, looking her straight in the eye. "What is it?" She asked cautiously. "Jonathan." He replied. "He's not at the Wheelers. They don't know where he is." 

Hopper helped Joyce into the kitchen when she started to get really worried about Jonathan. El and Will didn't miss a beat jumping into a real conversation. They needed to talk about this, and they both knew it.

"El? Do you think Jonathan is ok?" Will asked in a shaky voice. Tears were brimming his big eyes. I can't lose my big brother. I can't lose Jonathan. I don't know how I'd deal with that. I c-can't. El wrapped him in a hug while still sitting on the couch. Although it was uncomfortable, he embraced her like his sister. She is my sister. Forever. No matter what happens. No matter what, El Jane Hopper is my sister!

"Everything's going to be ok, Will." El told him. She hated seeing his this distressed. Losing Jonathan would be hard for her, but for Will and Joyce...it would be like watching them be tortured. They don't deserve that pain.

"B-but-t..." his voice quivered as a tear slipped silently down his cheek. El pulled away, hands still on his shoulders, looking in his big, watery eyes. "Will. Jonathan will be completely fine." She said firmly and like reading his thoughts she continued, "I'm your sister and Jonathan's our brother. We will make sure he's ok. I'll use my powers to find him and help him. He will be ok!" 

"Thank you, El" he had hope now. He was determined. They would find Jonathan. They would help him. He loved El, for what she said, we are siblings. Jonathan, El and me. We are family.

"Hopper, Joyce?" El called to the two in the kitchen. She waited for someone to answer as Will wiped away his final tears. My mom can't see me like this. She can't see me cry. It would break her heart all over again. I can't do that to her. "Yeah, El?" Hopper called, clearly distracted by something. By my mom! He loves her!

"Are you guys coming to watch the rest of the movie?" She asked concern edged in her voice. El cares about my mom so much. And I know my mom thinks the world of El and treats her like her own. They have a unique and special bond. Like mother and daughter.

After a minute of silence from the kitchen they heard Hoppers voice. "Yeah, we'll be in, in a minute." 

Hopper and Joyce returned a few minutes later. Hopper saw their anxious looks. "We're ok, kids." He and Joyce sat down, side by side, snuggled close together. They love each other! Why, in hell, can't they see that? "We're going to be ok."

El and Will moved their eyes back to the tv, but El wasn't paying attention to the movie. She was listening to Joyce and Hopper. And judging by their conversation, they didn't know this.

"What's so funny?" Joyce whispered in Hoppers ear. "Just the fact they can't keep their eyes off the damn screen for two seconds." He whispered back, making her giggle. "I know. They love this movie too much." Joyce sounds happy. Really and truly happy. Hopper makes her happy. They're in love. They just don't know it. Why can't they see how in love they are? 

El was so engrossed in her thoughts she almost, almost missed Hopper slip his hand into Joyce's hand. Hopper used the blanket to hide their joined hands. But he didn't do it in time. She had seen it out of the corner of eye. 

Yes! Yes! Yes! They're holding hands! Finally!

El smiled to herself, forgetting that they could see her. "What's made you so happy, El" Hopperasked with a chuckle. Their hands were still under the furry blanket. "Oh nothing... I just love this movie." She smiled at them, turning back to the movie.

Maybe...just maybe?