-Chapter One-
-Mistletoe-
Christmas break had began and Hawkins was getting festive. The town was covered in fairy lights and Christmas trees, and Hopper and EL's cabin in the woods was getting decorated. Joyce, Will, Steve, Nancy, Dustin, Lucas, Jonathan and Mike were all over helping to prepare for El's first Christmas with them. The tree was up and ready to decorate, Joyce had brought over a plate of festive cookies and Hopper had made eggo sandwiches for everyone! (Literally just two eggos stuck together with cream and candy)
Everyone was wearing horrible jumpers but none were as bad as Nancy and Mike's. The Wellers were notorious for having the worst jumpers ever, and Nancy and Mike loved it.
El's hair was now slightly longer, just past her ears and the curls were falling out but still visible. She had a nice blue dress on with a black ribbon around her waist. Nancy had taken her shopping.
Mike was bent over unpacking bobbles and El was beside him examining each one to make sure it was in perfect condition. In the mean time Dustin had pulled a stepladder beside them and him and Will held it as Lucas stepped up, holding a piece of mistletoe over the two. When Mike finally lifted his head he started batting at trying to knock it out of Lucas hands before El saw it, or worse Hopper. When Mike finally managed to hit it out of Lucas' hand the three boys collapsed on the floor laughing, and everyone in the room turned to see the three boys rolling around clutching their sides.
It took them a while but soon everyone was back to their work, Mike thoroughly embarrassed glaring at Will, Lucas and Dustin every so often. Nancy and Jonathan were on the couch making popcorn strings, Steve looking at Jonathan with silent hatred.
Once the tree was finished everyone stood and marvelled at their creation. Hopper picked El up and let her attach the star to the top, topping off their masterpiece.
The mantle had a big green garland, every surface was covered in glitter and lights, and the tree had a pile of colourful presents underneath.
"Christmas." El whispered understanding now the warm feeling that only came from preparing for Christmas.
"Hot chocolates all around!" Hopper announced and setting to work in making everyone a hot drink.
"I'm fine Hopper. I'll be heading off." Steve said putting on his jacket.
"You sure?" Hopper asked.
"Yeah, I need to go." He started doing his scarf while being badgered by the kids begging him to stay. "Hey guys! Don't forget I'm babysitting you lot after school tomorrow!"
That night El was in her new room. Hopper had done it up before the Snow Ball as a welcome home/thanks for saving the world present. It still had the wooden walls, but now had a white bed and matching chest of drawers with a mirror balancing on the top. Hopper had made her a side table and wardrobe as well as a desk to do her homework at when she started school in January. Her bed had white sheets and pillows but a large pink blanket with white, stitched flowers. She had a large rug spread out on the ground and pink curtains on the window. The desk had a small desk lamp and the side table had a clock and lamp. El had set out some makeup on the dresser that Nancy had given her and had a vase filled with roses that Mike had gotten for her. On her neatly made bed was a small teddy bear that she had collected from her mama's, and a handmade blanket draping over a wicker chair in the corner.
It was El's dream room, and this was her dream life.
After El had brushed her teeth and had a glass of warm milk she pulled her curtains and climbed into bed. She hugged the teddy close and picked up a book from her side table. She was struggling through endless books, desperately trying to learn enough for school. Hopper came in after a while to tell her it was bedtime. He said goodnight and turned off the light, and after only a few seconds El had a flashlight out and was reading once again.
El woke the next morning at around 10:00am. She got up slowly and rubbed her eyes. The room looked fresh. The flowers had clean water, the curtain were pulled and the window slightly open. Her slippers were under a radiator to warm them up and her dressing gown was hanging up behind her door. Hopper did this a lot, always before he went to work. El got up and slipped on her dressing gown and putting on her warm slippers. She left her room shivering with cold and saw a plate on the table wrapped in tin foil. She unwrapped it and saw a warm stack of pancakes covered in syrup and berries with a dash of cream on top. Hopper was very into big breakfasts.