Chapter Text
"So, you let her come after all."
Hopper glances over at Joyce. Her sweet smile and approving eyes warm his heart.
They're leaning against her car, waiting outside the school while the kids are inside enjoying their school's annual Snow Ball dance.
Trying (and failing) to contain a smile, he shrugs. "Yeah."
He drops his cigarette and puts it out with his boot.
"Figured after everything she's been through, she deserves to have at least one night out in the world with her friends, acting like a normal kid."
Now Joyce's expression looks more concerned.
"You're not going to keep her away from the boys for another entire year, are you?"
"No." He shakes his head. " I'm not gonna do that to her again, but we're still gonna have to be careful. Owens says we shouldn't push our luck, and I gotta agree with him on that. "
Choosing not to argue, Joyce holds her tongue, but her continued suspicion of Dr. Owens is all too obvious. She knows that Hopper has a way of scaring people enough to make them think twice about how much they value their own safety before ever betraying him, but that doesn't stop her from worrying.
"You really trust him?"
Joyce's voice has that tone of anxious concern that Hopper has come to instantly recognize.
"To an extent."
After hesitating for a brief moment, Hopper reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out the folded envelope that he's been keeping hidden there for the past several days. He's been too nervous to show it to El yet, or to even tell her about it. But right now, he wants Joyce to see it. He wants to know what she thinks; wants to know if she believes that he's capable of doing this, or if he's completely lost his mind.
Without saying anything, he hands it to her, surprised by how reluctant he is to let go of it; the document in that envelope has become as precious to him as anything he owns.
"What's this?" Joyce asks, slightly confused.
"Open it."
Seeming to sense Hopper's nervousness, Joyce gently opens the envelope and pulls out the forged birth certificate that Dr. Owens made for him last week.
She silently studies it for what seems like ages, but in reality was probably nothing more than a minute or two.
Hopper stubbornly refuses to show her how anxious he is to hear what she thinks, but his stomach is in knots.
But when Joyce looks up at him, she's smiling. It's the most genuinely happy smile he's seen from her ever since Bob's death.
"Oh, Hop." she sighs. "It's perfect."
He smiles, his chest swelling up and his stomach knots fading away.
"This is wonderful," Joyce glances back down at the certificate. "Jane Hopper." she reads out loud.
Hearing someone else say those words sends Hopper's heart fluttering.
Jane Hopper.
It's official now. On paper, Hopper is the biological father of Eleven. Dr. Owens thought it was safest that way, just in case any questions were asked.
"How did you...?"
"Owens. He made it for me. It's as good as any forgery out there."
Putting the certificate back into the envelope, Joyce hands it back to Hopper. "Well, congratulations."
Hopper tucks the envelope back into his pocket, glad to have it back in his possession. "You don't think I'm crazy for doing this, do you?"
"No... well maybe a little crazy." she teases.
Hopper chuckles, glad to see Joyce showing some life and humor again.
Then Joyce reaches out and grabs hold of his hand, squeezing it firmly. "But you're going to be a great dad."
Hopper studies her face for a moment. "You really think so?"
The concern in his voice makes Joyce smile at him reassuringly. "I don't think there's anyone in the world that loves that little girl as much as you do."
"Don't let Mike hear you, he'd heavily argue with that."
"That's different." Joyce playfully hits his arm.
They sit in silence for a little while longer, then Joyce turns to face him again.
"She loves you too, you know. She loves you so much."
Hopper doesn't smile, but instead looks sadly hopeful. "How can you tell?"
"It's easy to see from the outside, but just be patient with yourself. You'll see it in time."
Later that night, when the dance starts to wind down and the kids start to make their way out of the auditorium, Joyce has one last bit of advice for Hopper.
"Tell her. Tell El about it. If not tonight, then soon. She'll want to know."
Squeezing Hopper's hand one last time, just before the kids are within earshot, she reassures him. "She'll be so happy."
As soon as Joyce releases Hopper's hand, he finds it's become occupied by a much smaller one.
"Ready to go home, kid?" he asks, his voice soft and warm with affection.
Eleven looks up at him, her eyes sparkling and a loving smile on her face, and his heart melts.
"Yes. Ready to go home."