Chapter Text
By the time Hopper and El make it back to the cabin, she is fast asleep.
The dance has clearly worn her out, but the peaceful look on her face is well worth the risk of letting her spend a night out in the world, despite Dr. Owens' worries. Hell, Hopper had been worried.
He can't help it. No matter how many times he's been proven to be over-cautious or how often El shows another incredible side to her ever-growing abilities, he worries about her; worries about her safety, worries that she'll be found out, worries that she'll be taken away from him, worries that he'll lose her.
Like he lost Sara.
It always takes him aback a little, how much the thought of losing El terrifies him. For the longest time, he never thought he would have someone in his life that meant that much to him. And now that he does, all he can think about is protecting her and keeping her safe.
But he knows that he can't control her like he did. He can't keep her locked up in that cabin, like a prisoner. He can't keep her away from her friends. She needs to have something resembling a normal life until Hopper can make his adoption of El official and openly claim her as his daughter. But they need to hang tight for one more year.
Just one more year.
But after everything they've been through together in the last few months, Hopper feels like he can make this work, and make things better for the both of them. He's had to relearn a lot about being a parent, and he'll have to continue to figure out how to be a parent to a teenager.
For the first time in a long time, he feels confident that he can do it, that he can hopefully do right by El.
Hearing her shuffling in her sleep grabs Hopper's attention, pulling him away from the thoughts in his head.
He quietly gets out of the car and walks over to the passenger side, slowly opening the door, so as to not wake her.
He reaches over her, unbuckles her seat belt, and gently scoops her up in his arms.
After Eleven managed to close the gate to the Upside Down, she collapsed to the ground. Luckily, Hopper had been watching and had quick enough reflexes to reach out and grab her before she managed to hit the hard metal lift and slowly sank to his knees, holding her slim, fragile frame against his broad chest.
Despite the unbelievably immense power that she had just shown, El felt like a limp rag doll in Hopper's arms.
For the briefest moment, Hopper felt his chest tighten with fear. Had it been too much? Had he just lost her too?
Then, he felt El wrap her thin arms around his shoulders, her small fists clenching his coat tightly.
He let out a heavy breath, relief flooding through him, washing away his fear and worries in a heartbeat. He held her even tighter, never wanting to let go.
"You did good, kid." he reassured her; his voice, thick with emotion, catching in his throat. "You did so good."
Kissing her cheek, he hoped she knew that he had never felt more proud of anyone.
They sat there in silence for several minutes, catching their breath.
Once they made their way back up the lift, Hopper carried El through the lab and out to the truck, her head resting against his shoulder, her body curled against his chest.
"Thank you."
Hopper looks down at El's face as her eyes open just a sliver. She's looking up at him.
"For what, kid?"
The next words she manages to whisper are so quiet that he can barely hear them.
"For letting me go."
Hopper smiles. I promise, kid. I'll learn to do better. For you, I will be better.
And that's a promise he plans on keeping.