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Billows of smoke filled the air above, the world was different now, it was something that couldn't be comprehended with the gaze of an eye. Whatever happened, it happened for a reason. Her fingers weaved around the mug in her hands, her eyes squinting slightly as she took in the sky above, the smoke smearing the clear blue sky causing a greyish tint that she could only describe as morbid. It made her shudder. Joyce's eyes glanced over her shoulder, she smiled at Jim, her eyes brighter than the world outside. She dropped her gaze to her half-empty coffee cup before turning her head to look out of the window.
"We'll deal with it tomorrow" her voice wavers slightly breaking the silence, the unknown present, the fear causing a prickle of goose bumps over her skin
"And if we can't?"
"We'll find a way" her eyes scan the sky above from the window before turning to Hopper, she smiles weakly before turning back to stare out of the window watching the ashy clouds swirl
"You have a plan?" he almost teases, she sighs looking at him, she didn't have a plan, she didn't want this, she wanted him but none of what was going on outside of these four walls
"Sleep" she whispers softly, he smiles and pats the space beside him on the bed so she joins him even if the reluctance to tear her gaze away from the window was there
"We're going to get through this" he mumbles, his strong arms wrapping around her body, she felt safe here as if she could conquer the world "Me and you...we are, and the kids"
"Just sleep" it was too much to think about for Joyce, she feels his body relax more against hers, she still couldn't keep her eyes off the window as the sky darken, the smoke now unseen
Time didn't matter but she felt something in her sleep. She shivered, she wasn't cold but it woke her, the sounds of gasping breaths. Joyce's head shot around, her brows furrowed before she sprung into action, turning the side light on and grabbing the glass of water from the side. She sat on Jim's side of the bed, eyes wide with concern, worry, all of that mixing causing her to have sweaty palms. A panic attack, hardly surprising after everything he had been through she thought. An arm slid around his neck and she pulled him against her body, his head dropping against her chest, her hand rubbing his back, supportive circles against the t-shirt he was wearing.
"Speak to me, Hop" she whispers, her voice was soothing, he still couldn't bring himself to speak - something in him was afraid of hurting her
"No" he grits out, it was affirmative, she knew not to push him to open up
"I'm here" her voice cracked, caught up in her throat "And I'm not going anywhere"
"I'm sorry"
"No" she shakes her head, the movement had a hint of defiance "You do not apologise"
"I feel like I can't breathe," he says, in one motion he feels her arms wrap around him so he wraps his around hers, his hands resting on her back
"It will get better" she assures him, she hoped it would, she didn't want to see him suffer "With time, patience..."
"You went through so much" he breathes, "I wasn't there"
"Stop," she says, her hand still rubbing supportive circles on his back "I'm fine"
"I should have been there"
"It's ok" she squeezes his body closer to hers, he nuzzles against her neck causing a whisper of a smile
"I am never letting you go again," he tells her, it was as if all the truths were coming out now, she smiles to herself and at his words, in a way thankful he couldn't see as his face was pressed into her neck, she wondered if he could feel her smile
"I'm not going anywhere"
He calmed eventually, they were laying in bed, snoozing, his hand draped over her middle. When she woke in the middle of the night, he was snoring softly, fast asleep like a baby. Joyce couldn't keep the smile off her face at his peace. Her eyes turned to the net curtains, the pattern spread across the floor as the morning sun started to rise, illuminating the room. She got up and pulled the curtains tighter across before feeling the only other set of eyes on her. Turning her head to look over her shoulder, she let out a small smile before passing back over to the bed and climbing back under the covers, tucking herself against his body, head on his chest. He played with her hair, that was nice, it felt right.
"What happened?" she asks, she had asked last night but he didn't let up, she understood but she needed to ask again for her own peace of mind
"Things happened, bad things" he didn't want to go into detail, she nods having to accept that, his reluctance was there, she got it "The sky still covered in smoke?"
"I was hoping it wouldn't be" she admits, he chuckles softly praying, hoping the same, that the events of before would correct themselves
"Me too" he continues to play with her hair, it was comforting for them both "The kids?"
"Are fine" she tells him, it was all he needed to know for now "The kids are fine, you're fine, that's all I need, all we need"
"We?" he thinks about it for a moment and picks her hand up, her arm was draped over his torso; their fingers link together
"We" she nods, he knows they were both tired "Looks like our date will have to be postponed"
He snorts slightly, it made him smile, the way she said it.
"Yeah I suppose it will" he chuckles, she smiles to herself happy that he seemed brighter "There will be other times"
"There will" she confirms, a yawn escaping her lips, he kisses her on the head, it made her feel fuzzy inside, warm
"We should go and see what the kids are up to"
"Five more minutes?" she finally looks him in the eyes, he smiles and swoops down to kiss her
"Let's make it ten"