Hopper wished there was something he could do. Joyce was dead set on moving out of Hawkins, and he would do anything to make her stay.

"Please, Joyce, think of Will, he has all of his friends here."

"I'm aware of that, Hop but, we've had too many bad experiences here and I just think we need to be somewhere else."

"Then Joyce...stay for me."

"Hop, you've been a good friend over the years, but-"

"I love you."

Joyce stopped mid-sentence surprised at what Hopper just said.

"It's true, I've always loved you. I've just been too scared and stupid to actually do anything about it until now."

Joyce struggled through the shock and tried to find words, "What do you expect me to say to that Hop?"

"Maybe...ideally...that you loved me back." Hopper turned around knowing this was all a lost cause.

"Okay" Joyce said matter-of-factly, making him turn back towards her, "Okay, maybe I do love you. Maybe I've always loved you, too. Maybe I was also just scared and stupid about what you'd think if I said that, maybe I want to be with you more than anything else."

Hop stepped across the room until he was right in front of her, "You mean that, Joyce? You love me? Cause, I meant it, I really do love you."

Joyce started to smile, "Yes, H...Jim, I really do love you, too."

He couldn't take it anymore, grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her in for a deep soul-burning kiss. His arms moving around her back as he felt her return the kiss and her arms pulling around him.

They continued like this until they heard something like a small squeak on their side, both of them turning their heads to Eleven standing in the doorway with a huge smile on her face before she realized what she should do.

"Don't mind me" she said awkwardly moving across the room, "I'm not here, I'll just be in there" she said heading into her bedroom and closing the door never losing the huge smile.

Hop and Joyce separated, both chuckling awkwardly, before Joyce spoke up.

"Would you want to get some dinner some time?"

"Yeah, actually, I'd like that. I'm free Friday night."

"Friday it is. Um, call me and we can sort out the details."

"Yeah, I plan on it."

Joyce started heading towards the door, "I better get home and tell Will we're not moving."

Hop jumped ahead and opened the door for her, "Yeah, you do that...Um, bye."

"Bye" she said heading out.

Hopper closed the door behind her and started jumping up and down with happiness and quietly cheering to himself...before he glanced over and saw El peeking through her door and closing it again when she saw him see her.