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Jessie is crabby the entire day; Joyce can tell she’s coming down with a cold, likely from the change in seasons as summer blended into fall.
When it was finally time for bed, she coaxes her into bed with a promise of a story.
“Why don’t we read some stories from your fairytale book?” she asks- Jonathan had found it at a yard sale, and it was Jessie’s favorite thing. It was full of stories, and had been her favorite thing to have read to her before bed for the past few weeks since her eldest brother had brought it home with him from school a few months prior.
“Okay Mama,” Jessie yawns, stubborn, and snuggles into her side once she’s dressed in soft pajamas covered in ducks and her hair is brushed out of the braids she’d had in all day.
“Shall we read the mermaid story? I know that’s your favorite,” Joyce says, and Jessie nods.
Joyce reads through the story once, and Jessie’s eyes barely even blink, following along fervently. Joyce swallows her chuckle.
“Feeling tired yet?” she asks, and the toddler shakes her head. “Okay. We’ll read a couple more short ones. How about Peter Pan?”
Jessie gasps softly, nodding again, and settles her head firmly under Joyce’s chin. They make it through Peter Pan, and then the Jungle Book, and Jessie’s clearly fighting sleep.
“Honey, it’s time for bed,” she says softly, stroking her hair, and Jessie whines.
“One more, Mama. P’ease,” Jessie begs, and Joyce sighs, but kisses her forehead.
“Okay fine. We can read one more story, but then you really have to go to bed,” she relents, and flips to one of the later stories. “How about Sleeping Beauty?”
By the time she finishes, Jessie is snoring softly against her neck. Joyce softly shuts the book, and lays there for a while, listening to her daughter’s breathing and relishing the quiet.
Finally, she extracts herself, placing the book back on the shelf and settling Jessie under the covers, flicking on her nightlight. She leaves the door open a crack, and when she pads down the hall, Hopper is finally home, cooking a grilled cheese on the stove, his uniform shirt unbuttoned and fingers hooked in his belt.
“Hey baby,” she greets, lifting onto her toes to kiss the back of his neck, breathing in the smell of him, all gunpowder and cigarette smoke.
“Missed you today,” he says, wrapping an arm around her waist and tugging her into him, kissing her cheek before burying his face in the dip of her neck, pulling a laugh from her.
“Shh…she’s finally asleep,” Joyce giggles, shoving at his head before stepping away to let him finish cooking. “Long day?”
“Shit ton of paperwork. And Callahan got a girlfriend, won’t shut the hell up about it,” Hopper complains, pulling a snort from Joyce. “Jess feelin’ any better?”
“Her fever went down with some Tylenol, but I think she’s getting a cold,” Joyce sighs, rubbing at the back of her neck. “I’m off again tomorrow, I think I’ll take her to the pediatrician, just to be safe.”
Hopper kisses her head, settling beside her with his sandwich.
“I can take the morning off, go with you if you want?” he asks, and Joyce softens.
“You don’t have to do that,” she starts, and he shrugs.
“I want to. Station’ll be fine without me for a few hours,” he says, and Joyce picks his hand up, kissing his knuckles. “You as ready for bed as I am?”
“All day with a sick kid? I could sleep for a year. Finish that sandwich so we can go to bed.”