Chapter Text
“SOMEONE GET THE DOOR!”
“CAN ONE OF YOU GET THE DOOR?”
“I GOT IT-”
“MOVE NANCE IT’S MY TURN-”
Mike scrambled to the front door, Nancy yelping in retaliation as he threw it open, the Hoppers on the doorstep.
The Byers were already there, having come earlier in the morning like they always did, so the kids could watch the parade together and Joyce could cook with the Wheelers.
This year, thanksgiving was going to be spent between three families.
“You made it! Come on, Me and Will have this new experiment we want to try-”
“Absolutely not mister, you take that outside. I am not having you blow something up in the house on Thanksgiving.”
But MOOOOOM-”
“Michael, listen to your Mother and take it outside,”
“FIIIIIIIIIINE- Come on! We’ll blow it up outside- WILL GET THE DEMOGORGON, WE’RE BLOWING IT UP OUTSIDE!”
Will ran past Jim with the contraption, clearly already waiting for the green light to blow it up as Mike grabbed Jane by the hand and pulled her outside, Jane laughing as she followed.
“Well, this is very Deja vu.”
Jim laughed, the couple standing at the door doing the same.
Holly waved at Sara from her spot on Ted’s hip, this time opting to stay put instead of launching herself like a rocket, Sara deciding the same,
“Well don’t just stand there Jim! Get inside, Joy is in the kitchen and I’m sure Sara is anxious to play with Holly-”
“Well, I’m not “anxious” to for that yet-”
“Ted….”
“....... fine,”
Ted nosed Holly’s cheek softly, the little girl giggling before he put her down, Jim also releasing his three-year-old as Holly snatched Sara up into a hug, before pulling her up the stairs to play tea party.
“They grow up so fast-”
“Oh my god, you’re so dramatic you big sap,”
Jim laughed, accepting the hug from Karen before grabbing Ted and doing the same to him, the other man squawking in surprise much to Karen’s amusement,
“Hey, Kare, I wasn’t sure if you were ready to add the peas yet- oh, Jim! Hi!”
“Joy, Hi,”
there was a beat of silence as the two looked at each other, daring the other to move first without saying it,
“...... well this is painful-”
“THEODORE-”
Ted laughed, ducking Karen’s hand as Joyce and Jim got bright pink,
“We’ll leave you two to it, iubire, help me with the bird,”
“ keep it pg you two, there are teens in the other room- oW! What did I do?!?”
Joyce and Jim both snorted a laugh as Karen swatted Ted’s shoulder as they went into the kitchen, Karen's traitorous laugh echoing on the halls as she pulled him in by his waist, pressing a kiss to his jaw, the living room erupted in the sound of Steve and Jonathan both groaning in displeasure at the thought of what “pg” meant while Nancy laughed at their discomfort,
Jim shook his head, happily welcoming the feeling of Joyce’s little frame in his arms as they hugged in the foyer.
“You ready for the most chaotic Thanksgiving ever?”
“Well, all the other rugrats aren’t here and the Munsons are out of town so I don’t see how it can be too bad,”
Joyce laughed, pulling back to look up at him,
“Oh you underestimate how much trouble Will, Mike, and Steve likes getting into.”
Jim huffed a laugh, bending down to press a kiss to her soft lips, relishing the warmth that spread through his entire body,
“I can’t wait to see it.”
she hummed, her voice trembling with a suppressed giggle as they looked into each other's eyes, both glowing with adoration for the other,
"Something tells me this is going to be our best year yet,"
she said softly as he tipped his head to the side,
he couldn't help agreeing, he'd never been on for the holidays, especially not after the divorce.
But this year, surrounded by a family he never saw coming when he moved into the culdesac two months ago, somewhere between being terrified of a bigass black dog and becoming a member of the pack, he found that he can't wait to see what the future has in store for him and his girls.
"I'm forced to agree,"
he chuckled as she slapped his arm, taking his hand to lead him into the kitchen where Karen and Ted were bickering playfully, the sound of Nancy and the boys laughing and telling random embarrassing stories as Jane and the boys made a mess in the back yard and Sara and Holly came running down the stairs to announce they were done with the tea party and wanted to watch dinner being made.
He is, forced to agree, every year will be their best yet if it's with this pack.
and if it involves living the rest of his life at Joyce Byers' side, then he knows every moment will be better than the last.