Chapter Text
Joyce starts feeling sick at work and runs to bathroom and pukes up her breakfast. It wasn’t like it was something new to her stomach. It was the eggs that Hopper cooked every morning.
She looked at her watch and realized she only had 30 more minutes left of her shift. She rinsed her mouth out with sink water and got a piece a gum. She decided to finish her shift and call it a day.
She got home around 6:30 and beat Hopper there. She’s changing when Hopper walks in. “Joyce?” “In the bedroom, babe” “oh”. She hears him walk to the bedroom and then door creaks when it open.
She was pulling her undershirt over her head when he walked leaving her in a bra and jeans.
She felt his strong arms wrap around her waist and his face nuzzle into her neck. She giggled when his beard tickled her neck. “How was your day babe?” He asked. “It was alright, I don’t feel to good.” she said. “Oh, what did you eat?” He asked a little disappointed, but not at all mad. “Just those eggs you made this morning and some leftover spaghetti from last night.” She said and turned around to face him. “Oh, well why don’t you rest and I’ll make supper.” He suggested “That sounds great, just yell if you need something”. She said and with that she gave him a chaste kiss. He smiled and rested his forehead against hers “I love you” he said “I love you too” she said back and smiled big. “Okay, well I’m gonna get to it.” He said and stepped back towards to door. “Ok, just let me know if you can’t find something or-“ “rest Joyce” “ok” and he walked out the door.
She changed into some of his sweatpants and a white camisole. She laid down and fell asleep after about 15 minutes.
When she woke up she ran to the bathroom and puked again. Hop got to her and sank to the floor beside her. “Why don’t we go lay down again, huh?” He asked. She could see on his face he was worried but she didn’t say anything. “Yeah, that sounds good.” She said weakly.
Her knees were shaky and she was breaking a cold sweat from being nauseous. Hop ended up carrying her back to bed.
He laid her down and went to the kitchen to retrieve a wet rag. When he got back he sat down beside her on the edge of the bed and placed it on her head. He started to get back up when he heard Joyce mumble “stay… please”. “Ok” he gave and laid beside her on his side of the bed.
After about 15 minutes of complete silence she sat up “Oh my God, where are the kids?” She said frantically. “Shhh, calm down, they called while you were asleep and they’re staying at the Henderson’s house” he coaxed her back to laying down. “Oh, ok” she said softly. “Do you need anything.. water, ibuprofen, anything?” He asked. “I think I’m good right now.”
She rolled over on her side when she felt nauseous again. “Oh my god” she got up and stumbled to the bathroom with Hop right behind with his hands on her shoulders. She fell to her knees right in front of the toilet. He held her hair back while she puked and helped her up. She brushed her teeth and went back to lay down.
“Joyce are you sure you’re okay, I’m worried about you.” “Yeah I think I’m good. I’ll pick up some medicine at work tomorrow” she said. “I don’t think you should work tomorrow Joyce” he questioned. “I’ll be fine I promise” he laid down beside. “ I’ll leave if I start to feel bad, ok?” She added “Ok, but I’ll be there at lunch” he replied. “I get off at lunch remember” she said back. “Take me on a lunch date, Hop?” she questioned. “Ok” he smiled.
She rolled over with her back towards him. He pulled her close and put his arm around her waist. She smiled and hummed herself to sleep.
* * *
The next morning she woke up feeling sick but not as bad the night before. She got ready for work and found a note from Hopper “Meet me at Naugles on 15th street at 11:30 since I have to work until 2 today, see ya there. Love ya, Hop.” She smiled and put the note in her drawer. She grabbed her keys and purse and headed to work.
When she got there she bought some Cold & Flu medicine. While she was walking to the register she passed the tampons and pads.
It clicked, she was late, she was nauseous. It made perfect sense. She grabbed a pregnancy test and rung herself up ,fast. That was one of the perks of working as a cashier, she could get whatever she wanted no questions asked.
She made it through the day but not without thoughts running through her. What would Hop think? What would the boys think? What would El think? What everyone think?
When it clock showed 10:55 the minutes seemed to take hours. She finally left work and sat in the car and cried for a good 5 minutes before driving to Naugles on 15th just like Hop said.
It was 11:25 when she got there and Hopper was leaning against his new blazer the police station gave him after his blew up.
She smiled and walked towards him. He gave her a hug and a quick kiss on forehead before pulling back to look at her. “What’s wrong baby, your eyes are red.” He asked, again worried. “Oh nothing, just my sinuses, you know” she said and looked away while sniffling. Even though he didn’t believe her, he didn’t ask.
They sat down and he ordered tacos while she just got some nachos. They talked about their mornings and what happened at the station. She laughed when he told her about how some dude “accidentally” hit Larry cline while he was backing out of the parking spot. They got their ticket and left the little diner.
They walked to his blazer and got inside. She scooted towards him and he put his arm around her shoulders while he lit up a cigarette. “That smells awful Hop” she said disgusted. “Oh, um, I’m sorry” he threw the cigarette out the window and brushed his shirt off. “You know I still have twenty minutes left of of my lunch break.” He said suggestively. “Oh, really?” She flirted back. He pulled her close and started to kiss her while she squealed. She kissed him passionately and grabbed his shirt collar. He pulled her onto her lap and started to suck on her neck. “Hop, what if someone catches us?” She laughed. “So, what’re they gonna do?” He said back coolly. She smiled down at him and started kissing him again.
They lost track of time and call came over the radio “Where the HELL are you Jim?” Said Flo madly. “Shit, why now” he questioned. He responded “on the way back got stuck in… traffic” Joyce laughed at that quietly and rolled off his lap. “I’m sorry but I’ve gotta go babe” he said apologetically. “I know, it’s okay.” She said sweetly. “Tell you what, I’ll walk you back to your car” He said. “Ok” she smiled and got out of the car. When they got back to her car her gave her one last kiss and told he loved her and walked back to his car with his head down. She watched and got in her car.
Still nervous about her little problem she raced home. When got inside she made sure she was alone and went to the bathroom. She pulled out the pregnancy test and read the instructions. She had done this twice before why was she so nervous now. She peed on the stick and placed it on the bathroom counter.
She sank against wall just like the night before except hopper wasn’t beside her. The most agonizing 5 minutes of her life passed when she finally pulled her head out her hands. When she pulled the test off the counter she closed her eyes and counted to three. One. Two. Three.
She opened her eyes. Her worry was confirmed with two pink lines. “Oh. My. God.” She said quietly and shocked. She smiled and then began to cry tears of sadness and joy. She put her hand on her head. “You’re either gonna be a blessing in disguise or home wrecker baby” she said to her belly “I really hope you’re the first one”.
She went and sat on the couch and watched TV even though she never knew why Sue was mad at J.R. because she was too busy thinking about what to tell Hopper.
When he got home it was 2:30 and she was still on the couch. “Hey joy, you good?” He asked. “Yeah, would you come sit with me for a minute?” She replied.
“Of course” he sat beside her on the couch and squeezed her hand gently.
“Ok” she started “What I’m about to tell you may be shocking and it’s okay if you get mad.. but I don’t want this to ruin” she pointed at him the back at herself “us” she said. “What happened? Are you okay? Are the kids okay?” He asked back looking at her worried. “Hop.. I’m pregnant” she said and looked down at her hands. He put his hands over his mouth and closed his eyes.
“You know, I knew you’d be mad, I should’ve waited and-“ “Oh Joyce, I’m not mad, I’m happy” He hugged her and pulled her so close. She started crying into his shoulder and he pulled back to wipe her tears away.
“Hopper I’m sorry I really am” she said but she was cut off by him “Joyce stop, I’m happy this’ll be something just us have.” And he placed his hand on her stomach. “Are you really?” He questioned “yeah I took the test after lunch” she smiled back. He kissed her and she kissed back through tears of relief. “We’re gonna need a bigger house, you know?” He said smiling “Hop you know i can’t afford a house” she replied back “But I can” he said quickly. “Now what are we gonna tell the kids?”