Work Text:
July, 1984
It’s been eight months since the ‘event’ at Hawkins’ lab and Joyce is just recovering from Bob’s death. At first, the Hoppers ate at her house sometimes and since three weeks, they were eating here everyday. She needed comfort and Hopper did it so good. Every time she calls him - even in the middle of the night because she had a nightmare - it takes him ten minutes max to be here.
Sometime he and El were sleeping at the Byers’. El was with Will in his room and Jim was sleeping on the couch, but when he was hearing screams coming from Joyce's room, he was sitting into the armchair in front of her bed and kept an eye on her all night.
Today, Hop and his daughter come like as usual at 6 pm and El runs into Will’s bedroom leaving her father and Joyce alone. Jonathan was with Nancy for the night.
“Hey,” Hopper says as he steps closer to her and gives her a quick hug “you okay today? Did you eat or drink something?” he knows that she has lost her appetite for several months and that she always had food issues, even since they were teenagers.
“Yeah, Jonathan made spaghetti for lunch, I didn’t finish but…” she immediately feels guilty but Hop lifts her face by her chin and smiles at her.
“I’m proud of you! Really! You do your best, I know it.” he kisses the top of her head, enters the living room and sits down “Come here” he gently pats the couch and lights a cigarette.
-
In Will’s rooms, the two kids are drawing and listening music. The boy takes a look at El’s draw and arches an eyebrow.
“What are you drawing?” he asks.
“This is us.”
“Us?”
“Yes, look,” she points to five little persons drawn around a square “Here it’s me and you, and behind us it’s Jonathan,” she tells him “and here it’s dad and mom... I mean your mom…”
“Oh okay! And what are we doing?”
“I… I don’t know, I saw this in a book, it’s when people eat sandwiches on the floor and-”
“It’s a picnic!” Will cuts her off “I love picnics, and mom too!”
“You think we could make one tonight?”
“Well, daylight’s sill here, I don’t think she started the dinner so we can ask!”
The two stand back up and walk towards the living room.
-
Hop and Joyce are on the couch, still smoking and they’re now watching TV.
“Hi sweethearts, is everything okay?” the women ask with a sweet voice. Will bends down and mumbles something in the girl’s ear. Joyce arches an eyebrow as the kids giggle. “Okay tell me what are you two thinking about.”
“Could we-” the boy starts.
“We would like to make a picnic!” El says with a big smile. “I can help you, and Will too, to make the sandwiches”
“You know what a picnic is kid?” Jim asks.
“Yeah! Will explained it to me.”
“Okay, it sounds fun!” Joyce says looking between the kids and Hopper. “I think I have a tablecloth in a cupboard, let me check that.”
-
8:00 pm
They spent about forty minutes making sandwiches and cookies. The kids set all of this in the back yard on the white tablecloth and bring four pillows and water too.
Before joining the children outside, Hopper grabs Joyce’s forearm.
“It’ll be ok? You know to… eat.”
“Sure…” she answers, staring at her feet as she feels her throat tighten and tears rolling down her cheeks.
Hopper feels his heart breaking and he steps forward, loops his arms around her and holds her tight. “Shhhh I’m here, everything will be alright, if you don’t feel it it’s okay, I'm not going to force you.” he runs a hand behind her head and draws slow circles in her hair.
“I don't want it to happen again Hop, I don’t.” she sobs.
“I don't want either. And it won't. You've grown up now, and these fucking issues are going to fade away, okay? I believe in you, you are the strongest person I know. You're so much more able of fighting them than you were in high school.” He look down at her with glossy eyes and a shaky but strong voice “You heard me Joy?”
She simply nods and wipes her cheeks.
“Mom, you coming? We’re hungry.” Will says “You okay mum?”
“Yeah- yes honey just… tired.” she glances up at Hop and gives him a half smile “Yeah, we’re coming.”
-
As they all sits on the sheet, the two kids devour their sandwich with a joyful face.
“I love picnics!” says El “Just like you Joyce, Will said that you love them too.”
“Oh sweetie,” the women bends toward the girl and kisses her on the top of her head “yeah, I love picnics too.”
“Can we play, mom?” her son asks “We’ve finish and I would like to show my new bicycle to El.”
“New bicycle?” Hop says.
“Yeah, he restored it with fresh paint, some stickers and new wheels.” answers Joyce with a proud smile.
“I’ll show you too Hopper,” the kid says as he and El run toward the front the house.
“So,” sighs Joyce “Is your meal good?”
“Yeah, the kids told me to add cheese and I have to admit that it was a very good suggestion.”
“Still hungry?” she hands him her own sandwich. He takes it and she thinks he’s about to eat it until he pulls it down on a plate and spreads his legs.
“C’mere.” he opens his arms and she raises an eyebrow but sits between his legs, her back’s leaning against him. “There you go, now relax,” he breathes in and out deeply with her and takes the sandwich back in his hand “now, try to take a bite, okay?” he says, taking her hand with his, rubbing his thumb on her knuckles.
She stares at the food in front of her and tears start rolling down her cheeks. Her gaze lifts above her and she meets Hop’s eyes as he smiles at her. She closes her eyes tight and squeezes firmly his hand. With a deep breath, Joyce opens her mouth and let him place a piece of the sandwich in.
“Good! Really, I’m so glad you did it, Joy. You think you could take another?”
She’s hesitating but nods, tears still in her eyes but Jim wipes them.
-
Ten minutes later, Joyce ate half of the sandwich but couldn’t anymore, so Hopper ate the rest.
“Hey you did it! You did it baby I’m so proud!”
They both freeze at the nickname he just used.
“I- I didn’t- I mean not baby I just- it was spontaneous, I’m sorry.”
“Hop,” she chuckles “it’s okay, I don’t mind.”
They both laugh and the kids come back.
“Dad you have to see Will’s new bike!” El says as she hugs Hop from behind.
“Oh really? I think I’ll see it tomorrow, the sun starts to set kiddo.”
“Okay,” the little girl answers “Will? Could we go back inside, it’s a little chilly here”
“Sure,” he says and follows her but turns to whisper something in Hopper’s ear.
‘She’s so much happy when you’re here, with us, and me and Jonathan too.’
They exchange a smile and Will goes back inside as Hop turn back to Joyce.
“What did he says?” Joyce asks with a confused grin.
“Uh-uh,” he mimics a zip on his mouth “It’s a secret.”
“Mkay… You know I really love you hop… thank you for being here.”
He didn’t answers, he just wraps his arms around her and pulls her close to him, pressing a kiss on her forehead. They stayed there, watching the sunset until Joyce fell asleep with a soft, peaceful face, her lips pressed against hopper's forearm.
Thanks for reading<3