-'Not surprised you came out of this one, Jim!' The ER doc smiled wide at the chief,

-'Yeah well...comes with the job'

-'Did you caught the guys? The thieves?'

-'Yeah they're in custody...'

-'Excellent. Well you're gonna have to have a few weeks off okay? We don't want that getting infected or maimed at all'

-'You're really gonna make me stay home with my fifteen year old daughter who is still grounded huh?'

-'Seems to be the case, Hop!'

-'Gee, thanks Adams. Just what I needed' he chuckled sarcastically before signing the papers in front of him.

Dr. Adams walked Jim back to his family,

-'So he's gonna be home for two weeks, I believe'

-'Okay so he's off duty?' Joyce asked curiously,

-'Yeah, two weeks, and we'll be seeing how he evolves'

-'Okay great...'

el frowned, -'Two weeks...dad am I still grounded?' She asked kind of hopeful,

-'Absolutely, Jane Eloise' he said flatly, making Adams chuckle,

-'So I'll have to be your babysitter?!' She wass NOT looking forward to this.

-'When can I get out of here? I'm tired of this' Hop rolled his eyes and sighed deeply, -'They won't let me have a beer, Joyce can you believe it'

-'It's 3am Jim, I think they'll leave you here through the day'

-'Can I stay?' El asked, while fiddling with Mike's fingers,

Hopper frowned, -'Stay? With me? In a hospital? Are you sure?'

-'Yeah, if they let me! I mean I'm your daughter I don't think it will be a problem' she closed her eyes and nuzzled against Mike's chest. He was almost asleep. Almost because a row of waiting room chairs wasn't long enough for him and his legs dangled too much.

-'I guess, El...Michael, you awake?'

-'Yes sir' he responded with his eyes closed,

-'I'd rather you don't drive home sleepy'

-'Why not'

-'A tired driver is worse than a drunk driver'

-'Who told you that' Mike's eyebrows arched,

-'When I was a cop in New York, a young man like you fell asleep, crashed his car against a light post...his brains were splattered all over the fucking car, I had to scrub the ceiling-'

-'Okay! Okay! I'm gonna call my mom. Gee no need for the shock therapy'

-'Oh yes, a lot of need. I don't wanna have to scrub your little brain off your windshield'.

-'Bye, thanks for bringing me here I'm sorry I scared you half to death' El looked up at Mike's face,

-'You're forgiven...I'll see you in a few days or when your dad is better, okay?'

-'Okay, I love you. Talk to you tomorrow'

Mike leaned down and kissed her gently,

-'Sure thing'

El looked behind her boyfriend,

-'Thank you Miss Wheeler, for collecting him'

-'Alright, and I hope your dad gets better soon. He's always been tough, you know? Ever since high school, being the biggest guy in school and all?'

-'Ah yes he always brags about that, like he isn't a total softie'

-'I'm sure he is. Come on Mike'

-'Okay' Mike parted from El's embrace and waved one last time.

—-

-'You sure you'll be fine here sweetie?' Joyce held El's hands gently,

-'I'm sure Ma, it's okay. I wanna be with him because, well I was a total scumbag and I feel like I have to make up for it'

Joyce nodded and extended her a small bag, -'Toiletries for both of you...I have to work tomorrow but I'll try to get off early to come and pick you up. ANYTHING chnages with him, and you call me, ok?'

-'Okay'

-'CALL me'

-'They'll probably let you know, you're his wife'

Joyce nodded,

-'Yeah...I'll take Will...you guys go to sleep okay?'

-'Okay ma' .

-'What are you doing?' El asked, looking at what her dad was doing with a clipboard,

-'It's a report for the police I guess'

El frowned,

-'Dad, you ARE the police'

-'That I know kid. We just have to make sure we have all the statements of what happened'

-'Oh...' she sipped some liquid with a straw loudly. Hopper frowned and looked beside him,

-'And stop drinking soda, it's 5am'

-'Stop asking for beer then'

-'That doesn't count, my body's already ruined you can still save yourself'

El chuckled at her dad's dramatic sayings and laid her head on his shoulder, -'Sorry I was dumb. With the beer and all'

Hopper let go of the pen and glanced at her,

-'Yeah well, I thought you'd know better...that was very dumb, kid. You could've gotten hurt. You and your little twig of a boyfriend'

-'Dad!'

-'My point is...I got mad not just for the sake of being mad and ruining your life as you may think. I got flustered because I worry every time you go out. I'll never take away your freedom El, but whenever you're out...just know your Pa is always alert...and alcohol...alcohol makes people stupid. Especially teeny tiny ballerinas like you'

El looked up at him with her huge brown eyes and nodded,

-'I'm sorry dad'

-'You're forgiven but still grounded. You gotta learn!'

El groaned and slipped off and into the bathroom for her bedtime routine.

—FEW DAYS LATER—-

El was watching TV attentively with her feet on her dad's lap. Not just TV. They were watching Alien.

-'Her hair is like mine's', she admired at Sigourney Weaver with a twinkle in her eyes,

-'Yours is shorter, but yes...'

-'Have you seen this one? It's rated R' El asked her father,

-'Yeah. I like it a lot...you will too'

El wiggled in excitement and went to get herself some cookies and her favorite orange pop.

-'Hey bring me a beer while you're at it'

-'No chance! You're on medicines dad!'

-'Oh my God, tell me the cat's gonna make it...BUBBA GET IN HERE I NEED TO HUG YOU' El called for her cat. A striped feline made its way in from Hopper and Joyce's bedroom.

Hop frowned and turned to the pet

-'What the hell were you doing in my bedroom, I swear if you shat on my shoes again I'm gonna drown you'

-'Dad you're so mean!' El grabbed her cat gently and cuddled it, -'I'll keep you safe from aliens okay? I'll be your Ripley'

Hopper chuckled and tickled the fabric of El's bunny fluffy socks.

El was craddling the fat cat like it was a baby and trying to feed it a cookie,

-'Don't give cookies to the god damn cat, Jane'

El shot her father a glare and looked down at Bubba,

-'You're not a god damn cat. You're a cute cat'

-'Cute cat that shits IN my shoes. IN them, Jane. He hates me'

El chuckled, -'Maybe because you threaten to drown him every other day but I know he's your TV watching buddy at night'

Hop didn't have a time to respond because someone came knocking on the front door.

-'Is it Will?'

-'No, he's with Lucas buying some gift for Max'

-'If it's one of your friends you know they can't be here'

El rolled her eyes and went to get the door.

A tallish woman with blue eyes and golden hair stood on the porch with a baby stroller.

Said woman turned her back to look at El, who was leaning against the door frame and inspecting curiously.

The woman thought the teenager looked like the human representation of Roxette's "The Look". Short, curly hair, neatly trimmed and girly, two piercings in each ear, wearing a blue shirt with Tina Turner's face on it, a belly button ring peeking under it. A pair of red shorts that looked like the ones boys used to train for track (Mike's), which were a tad bit too big for her, were slipping slightly, revealing a sneak peek of the purple underwear she was wearing. And oh my God. Glitter nails and bunny fluffy socks. What the FUCK, Jim.

Diane tried to look past the small girl in front of her, -'JIM?'

-'Wait, who are you?' El's eyes looked up at the woman's stern face,

-'I need to see Jim, let me in'

Hopper froze when he heard Diane's voice. What the FUCK. Wasn't she living in new york with her perfect husband and perfect baby.

Diane pushed past El's protests and dragged the stroller behind her,

-'Hi Jim' she said casually, her glare directing to the huge bandage peeking around his shoulder,

-'H-Hi? What are-'

-'Just...passing by Indiana...didn't know you were into teenagers now' she pointed a casual finger at El, who frowned. Before the girl could protest, Hop took charge,

-'This is my DAUGHTER. Diane.'

El sat beside her dad and continued staring at the stranger. Slightly offended.

Diane froze and stared at El once again.

A little, dainty, small punk.

-'Daughter...what the-'

-'One night stand...nothing you care about'

-'How old is...she'

-'Almost sixteen'

Diane nodded and checked on the sleeping baby in the stroller,

-'She's not blonde' she said, accusingly, -'Weird, since you're blonde and Sarah was blonde...I mean are you sure she's just daughter? You sure some girl you slept with didn't just wanted to latch on your good money and vet bonifications and get some sweet child support out of y-'

-'Diane what the hell are you here for? To insult me and my Jane?'

-'Oh, so Jane...sixteen year old Jane...your dad and I got together like two years after you were born'

El bit the straw she was sipping Fanta with and glanced nervously at Hopper.

The woman chuckled and her smile softened,

-'I heard from your buddies back in the city...NYC...you still talk to Merry, Joe and Robin, right? ...I just...ran into them a few days ago and they told me you were injured, so-so I...I had a field trip either way, and I decided to pass by and see...you'

-'...Where's Bill, Diane?'

The woman froze once again.

-'He-He's back in New York with little Abby...'

hopper closed his eyes,

-'Kid, I need that beer now for sure'

El jumped on her feet and listened to her father.

-'So you come here, with your small baby, thinking you can get me back, maybe? If I'm injured I'd for SURE take back the ex-wife that filed for divorce after my first suicide attempt, AFTER our daughter died...Right'

The truths coming out of her father's mouth made El's eyes water.

-'I was grieving! I didn't want negativity around me Jim...I did what I did to protect myself, and I was so selfish'

-'And now Bill is leaving you and you came all the way out here to get me back, marry me again and get a sweet portion of my salary. Or am I wrong'

-'No...No! I'm here because I-I still love you and-and I want my two girls to have a father and-'

-'And you can't maintain them on your own...who told you where I lived?' His tone was so intimidating, El had never heard him sound like that. Even when he got mad at her sometimes.

-'Flo'

-'Of course...did she tell you anything else about where I lived?'

Diane shook his head and caught herself staring absentmindedly at the teenager handing beer to her father.

-'This is my wife and I's house, you know?'

El could see Diane's face changing,

-'...Wife? You're married?'

-'And I have two step-sons, as well...so you come into my house, first imply that I like teenage girls simply because my daughter, who just so happens to be a teen girl, opened the door for you. Then you ask me why she's not blonde like me...or Sarah, and try to say maybe she's not mine. THEN...you try to take me back? Is this what's happening?' Hopper turned to Jane, -'Isn't this day interesting, kid?'

El nodded vigorously and sipped her Fanta, without a word. This was adult matters.

-'You. The person I once loved, left me dying in depression and substance abuse after Sarah's situation. You never helped me, I had to help myself...trials and tribulations aren't your thing huh? I only mattered when I could maintain your city lifestyleC not when I was sick and depressed'

-'Do you want me to go to my room' El asked with a super tiny voice, her big brown eyes darted from Diane to her father frantically and nervously,

-'No, stay here with me'

El nodded shyly and Diane kept on rambling.

-'Jim it's not like that'

-'Then YOU left ME. I come here, and look...' he held up a picture of him, the Byers and Jane in the snow last winter, -'I found my place. Where I'm supposed to be. And it's nowhere near you...my obligations of giving you money, died when you decided you didn't wanted to live with a sick person anymore...'

-'I thought I could count on you' her voice tried to sound soft and not passive agressive.

-'That's what I thought when our daughter died and I needed your help to get through it'

-'Are we ever gonna go past that?! Don't you care about supporting your family?' Damn. The woman was desperate, El thought.

-'My family is HER' Hop held El's hand, -'My attention, my time, my money...its all hers as well. My only obligations are with Jane because she's my daughter and with my wife , what part of that do you not understand? We are no longer bonded, Diane. So if you came here trying to beg me for money, I'm not having you here...you can leave'

El had started to understand the situation. Hop had explained it vaguely last year but now it was absolutely clear.

This golden haired...blonde woman..had abandoned Hopper when he most needed it. And she had left him alone. And then was back, looking for money...she got angry. She hated seeing Hopper mad or sad about something or someone else.

-'Jim-'

-'...Leave' El requested kindly at first.

-'Excuse me, young lady? You're telling ME to leave?'

-'Dad just told you to leave too, obviously that's what you have to do'

-'El, settle' Jim's grip tightened around her fingers, obviously not wanting El to blow the god damn windows in anger.

-'El?'

-'Her second name's Eloise. She likes it better BUT I don't have to explain anything to you, so you better be going'

The timing is almost perfect.

Jim had forgotten Joyce was coming home during her lunch break to cook as a treat, since he liked home made meals a lot.

The door creaked open and Joyce came in with a stranged look, -'Hey, who's car is that, babe?'.

When she turned around she saw a bizarre scene. A tall blonde woman with brown eyes sat on a kitchen chair with a stroller beside her.

El was clearly trying hard not to send this woman flying off the god damn window, and Jim...Jim's eyes were shiny with tears.

-'...Jim? Who's this'

The woman eyed her up and down. She didn't looked local. She looked quite spectacular.

I mean, Karen Wheeler was magnificent as well but in a small town kind of way. This one was from a city.

At his lack of response, Diane stretched her hand,

-'I'm Diane, Jim's-'

-'Ex wife...or am I wrong?...I'm Joyce' she then left her bag on the kitchen table and went to check on her husband,

-'Are you okay? How are you feeling—Hi, El'

-'Hi ma' she whispered, touching her hand gently.

-'I'm fine, Joyce, it's all fine'

-'No no, then why is she-she here?'

Diane was starting to feel slightly offended.

-'I just heard Jim had been injured and I came to visit! I didn't know he had a whole...new family'

-'She's asking dad for money' El mumbled under her breath, fumbling with the numerous bracelets gracing her wrists.

-'Money? I-I Don't understand'

-'El, should've stayed quiet' Hopper hid his face in his hands and tried not to start crying in front of these women.

-'This has all been a great misunderstanding, I just wanted to see how he was, that's all!'

-'Lie'

-'El, what the hell did I say?!' Jim tried to make her daughter shut up while his wife was just looking very confused.

-'Why are you so upset, babe' Joyce patted her husband's broad back. He was obviously having a hard time keeping tears to himself. He hated seeming weak in front of people but now, reminiscing the hardest time of his life, he wasn't sure he could do it,

-'I should get going' Diane stood up. All 5ft8 of her, grabbed the baby stroller and strutted out the door.

-'No, wait' El got up from the couch and went to the front patio,

-'Jane get BACK HERE'

-'Dad I HAVE to talk to her, she can't just come here and make you feel awful about yourself and then leave!'

-'I can hear you, little girl' Diane rolled her eyes and loded the baby into the car,

-'good luck with that dad of yours' was the last thing she said before slamming the car door shut.

Joyce stood beside Hop, completely confused.

-'What the fuck was that?' She asked her husband,

-'I don't Know Joyce! She just showed up!'

-'But what did she came to say?! Suddenly your ex wife comes to you after what, six years?! What the hell!'

-'She was guilting me into giving her money'

He walked towards him and Joyce's bedroom and laid down. He was feeling good physically, but Diane had just taken a blow to his emotions.

-'Ma? Is dad angry? Or upset?'

Joyce sighed deeply and dragged her into the house, -'Come on...I'm gonna talk to him, you stay here...you were bitchin' talking to that woman like that'

El gave her mom a slight grin and went back to cuddling with her fat feline friend; the thought of her upset father lingering in her brain.

-'Babe...talk to me' Joyce caressed his shoulder and the bandage on it.

-'No'

-'...Hop. Not talking doesn't fix anything, you do know that?'

-'Yep. I just don't feel like talking right now'

-'The when? Why was diane here?'

-'To ask me for money! I don't know if she heard about my salary, my dad's money from the sale of the land or my god damn vet benefits...but she came to beg me because Bill is leaving her and I really can't make myself be merciful with that woman m, Joyce'

She went to close the bedroom door for privacy, pulling a deep sigh out of her husband, -'I don't want El to think there's something wrong Joyce' he said firmly,

-'abut there is! You're clearly shaken and-'

-'I am NOT affected!' His voice made Joyce flinch and put her hands up for cover.

Hopper caught on her body language right away.

-'Joyce...'

-'...You're not gonna hit me, are you?'

-'Joyce. Come here'

She pouted and sat beside him,

-'Joyce. I would never...ever...lay a single finger on you, your boys or El. Do you hear me? I'm not Lonnie, Joyce'

She sniffled and nodded shyly,

-'Do your remember the wedding vow I wrote?'

-'Mhmm'

-'Yeah, I said I would protect you, and love you, worship you, nurse you, be loyal and an ever loving friend...did I not say that?'

-'You did'

-'Then trust me. Joyce, I'd rather be dead than hurt you...come here' he hugged her tight and kissed her cheek, -'I love you, babe...this is just a sensitive matter'

-'I love you too, I'm sorry for asuming things'

-'No, it's okay...I just don't wanna talk about it right now'

-'...I can take the rest of the day off if-if you need'

Hop thought for a second,

-'I mean, if you think you can'

Joyce nodded,

-'I'll go call off...try to sleep a bit okay? Do you need your bandage changed?'

-'Not yet I think...I scrubbed the whole thing in the shower this morning, it's kinda scabby but still clean'

-'Gross'

-'Yeah'.

—-

Mike parked on the driveway Hopper had ordered made during spring.

The Byers-Hopper house looked so much better now at least from the outside. With some (a lot) of help from Hop's money, they retouched the paint, changed the windows and the door, added new garden furnitures and beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pretty homey.

-'Hey El' he peeped at his girlfriend who was swaying on the hammock,

-'Hi-are you shirtless?' She took off her father's sunglasses and eyed him,

-'...It's pretty hot, you know?'

-'No, I'm not complaining, come here' she pulled him from her spot on the hammock and hugged his waist, resting her head against his hip bones,

-'El come on, stop' he chuckled and caressed her soft hair,

-'...Thanks for coming, dad got a bit upset'

-'At you?'

-'No. i'll tell you later...what's up Miss Holly! Ready to tan?!' She looked over Mike's waist to peep at the little girl in her pink bikini and yellow plastic sunglasses, her long golden hair flowing in the summer breeze,

-'I sure am!' She laid her own little Barbie towel on the grass, -'You have to get the hose, El!'

-'You heard the princess, Mike. I have to get the hose' she smiled and kissed the faint mole above his navel before stumbling off the hammock to get the hose.

The wet towel on his back felt spectacular as he laid beside his sister in hopes to absorb some good ole' vitamin D and get tanned. Although tanned in Mike's terms meant his cheeks got pink, his freckles got darker and that was pretty much it.

Joyce came out of the house minutes later with cups of cold orange juice,

-'Here kiddos...oh my GOD you guys are gonna get sunburnt!'

-'Do not fear Miss Byers, Trust me I have tried to get tanned and whatnot. It doesn't work'

Joyce shook her head and chuckled before sitting beside El to go through a home deco magazine.

-'Thinking about re-doing something again, ma?' El asked casually before sipping on the drink.

-'Yeah, maybe inside. The countertops in the kitchen, you know?'

El nodded, -'Yeah...hey? How's dad'

-'He decided to take a nap. And I decided to stay to...keep him company I guess. This whole Diane situation is so weird don't you think?'

-'Yes, very. It made me very upset, to see her just talking to dad like that. It hurt me'

-'It just means you care a lot about him. He's a tough guy, El, he's gonna cope. It just...left him in awe I guess?'

-'Yeah, totally...hope he comes out and enjoys this charming, ungodly hot day in Hawkins, Indiana-'

Before she could finish, Hop's voice thundered from inside, -'GOD DAMN ARE THOSE ALBINO IGUANAS IN MY FRONT LAWN?'.

Holly jumped up and started laughing, -'IM NO IGUANAA'

-'Are you sure Miss Holly? Laying out like that trying get some sun is what iguanas do!' He walked out into the porche and smiled at the little girl,

-'Iguanas are green!'

-'That is correct. Okay you're not an iguana'

Holly chuckled and laid back again on the cool wet towel.

El looked up from her book and made grabby hands at her father, who smiled wide and held her up like a toddler. To Jim's massive proportions, El was kind of like a toddler. A 5ft3, 97 pounds toddler.

The girl inspected his father's face carefully, -'Do you have more hair?'

She was not incorrect. His ashy blonde hair had started to sprout again in some places. Comes when you are content and being somewhat healthy.

-'Less stress, less fallout. Yes...and I also lost weight, or I'm-'

-'YOU ARE?'

-'Yeah! Have you not noticed?'

-'No, you always look fat to me!'

Joyce let out a chuckle, -'I wouldn't accept that, babe!'

-'Oh fat?! You want me to put you down, young lady?'

-'NO! I like it up here! I feel tall!' She shot her hands up in the air and giggled,

-'Well it's fucking hot inside the house...'

-'That's why we can't hang out in my basement, it's a damn sauna' Mike said from his spot on the lawn,

-'Oh hey, albino iguana...you're doing a shit job at tanning' hopper stood beside Mike's lanky body splayed out on his lawn.

-'I know, it's pointless. Sitting here is kinda placebo though' Mike chuckled and got up from the cool, damp towel.

Hopper chuckled at the kids' wit.

-'How are you, Michael? How's home?'

Mike sighed deeply, like it was a total chore to talk about what was happening at the Wheeler household. Where to start?

-'I'm honestly tired...like I don't sleep much and I do a bunch of things on the house like—'

-'How come?' Hopper held El tighter because she was slipping out of his grasp, and leaned over Mike's Mustang. The young man pretended not to care about some huge guy practically seating on the hood of his beloved ride.

-'I mean I have to take care of mom, like she depends on me now on a lot because she's coooonstantly sick' he rolled his eyes.

It wad true. Karen was sick every god damn morning like a fucking alarm clock at 5am and it was up to Mike to help her feel better. It wS up to Mike to cook certain foods because she couldn't stand the smell, and it was up to Mike clean the whole god damn house.

-'The WHOLE house?' El asked, mortified,

Hopper let out a shit eating chuckle and proceeded with the sarcasm,

-'How's being in the top 20 richest families in Hawkins working for you, huh?'

-'Trash when you have to clean a whole house on your own'

Hop nodded understandingly.

Joyce had been good enough to give her house to her new additions, but in the course of a year, Hopper had redone the Byers house to be completely lovely and way nicer. It was much much smaller than the Wheeler's 5 bedroom big house and much easier to clean for sure.

-'So I was gonna surprise El since I know she wanted to know but I guess I'll just tell y'all' Mike looked around at his audience. Meaning, Joyce and Holly.

-'Mom's having another girl'

El let out a huge cackle,

-'Jesus Mike, destiny really doesn't wanna give you a brother'

The boy shrugged,

-'Noo apparently. I'm still kinda...I don't know...I think I'm sharing feelings with dad. I think he pities her'.

Joyce frowned at the sentiment, and suddenly felt bad for Karen,

-'Why pity?' She asked from the front porch,

-'Because mom's been a trophey wife her whole life, she hasn't worked a single day in her life and now...with the divorce thing...Dad's thinking it twice about leaving'.

Sometimes Joyce had to admit she would've liked to be a trophey wife. Just stay home and not have to lift a finger or worry about money and stuff. Now that she was with Jim though, he had asked her not to work anymore, that his salary was more than enough for a wife, a daughter and two step sons. Joyce decided to decline his offer, instead she could use her own money all for herself. And that she had done. A little love of her own made her look radiant and happy everh day and Jim wouldn't change that for the world.

-'So that means your parents aren't separating?'

-'At least I don't think so...? Which is...good I guess. I've never had to deal with family problems, you know? I mean...of all my friends...Dustin's dad died, Lucas has a pretty solid family though, and then you guys...'

-'YOU GUYS?' El chuckled, -'If anything, we are more functional than your family and I'm a telekinetic teenager adopted by a chief of police!'

Mike wanted to laugh at her explanation. Which was entirely and 100% true.

-'I guess you're right. You guys have it better than us now...anyway' he jumped to his feet and stretched,

-'Jesus fuck kid how tall are you now?'

-'Like 6ft2...can't intimidate me with your size now'

-'Watch it kid, I'm at least 100 pounds heavier and 2 inches taller'

Mike chuckled and grabbed El's hand,

-'Wanna go to the arcade with me? I'll let you win Pacman again'

Before El could even answer, Hopper swooped in,

-'She's still grounded Wheeler. You're lucky I let you in today...also, Pacman is the lamest game to have a highscore in, ya know?'

-'Gee, thanks sir, what a true delight you are' Mike squinted at the massive man almost sitting on the hood of his navy blue Mustang.

-'...What are you looking at'

El looked up at her dad and watched him interacting with Mike, a slight grin across her full rose lips

-'You're just...almost sitting on the hood of my car and you're like...massive and-'

Hopper raised an eyebrow,

-'I've been told I'm huge since pre-school...so what, you don't want me to-'

-'To dent the car...okay', the raven haired young man retrieved his car keys from beside the wet towel and flicked the sunglasses off his sister to catch her attention, ignoring the protests.

-'See if this is a good Ford, not even four me's and an El could dent this hood' he sat on the side of it and put El on one of his knees effortlessly,

-'Jim quit torturing the child' Joyce said from the shade,

-'Mind your own business, baby' he said back...

-'Dad's just torturing you, Mike'

-'Yeah, by holding my 40,000 dollar car hostage!'

-'OOOOH hear that Joyce? Forty! Thousand! Dollar! Mustang! I could buy you and Will a car to each of y'all with that AND a downpayment for El's tuition'

El looked up, -'Can I have a car?'

-'Of course! When you work, and make your own damn money' Jim responded with a shit eating grin.

Mike rolled his eyes, -'Come on Holly, it's lunch time'

El frowned, -'Babe, stay for lunch!'

-'Are you sure you want Mike and Holly to stay so you can feed them your salad, instead they can go home to his mother's mac n cheese casseroles, El'

Mike frowned and turned around to his girlfriend,

-'You make him salad?'

El nodded and chuckled, -'He hates them so much'

-'She thinks if I eat one more steak I'm gonna die of a heart attack'

-'I definitely prefer my mom's mac n cheese, El'

Hopper shook his head,

-'Yeah, with the amount of fucking food you eat...Joyce, every time this kid comes here he just raids our fridge, I'm afraid we are gonna have to limit his visits!'

El laughed and pinched Mike's arm,

-'It's true! He even eats my eggos! He's like a vaccuum'

-'Okay okay I'm gonna leave before I get attacked any further, HOLIDAY! MOVE YOUR MONKEY BUTT'

Hopper frowned deeply,

-'Your sister's name is Holiday?'

-'Born Fourth of July...Creative huh?'

Hopper snorted and rolled his eyes, -'I guess'.

Mike leaned down to kiss El deeply when they were of course interrupted by her father.

-'Hey Joyce, is the shotgun loaded?' He said mockingly, making Mike's big eyes get even bigger.

-'Stop torturing the child, Jimmy' she said absentmindedly as she made her way inside to start making dinner,

-'Never. Come on Wheels, get outta here'

-'Yeap, see you around El'

Before the girl could answer, Hop swooped in again,

-'Yeah, in a week and a half when she's no longer grounded!'

-'A WEEK AND A HALF?!' El protested,

-'Absolutely! Don't worry kiddo I bought you a bunch of fun stuff you can do meanwhile-'

-'A book of mazes, letter soups and puzzles don't count-'

Mike wasn't gonna stick around for the father-daughter bickering so he just fitted Holly into the backseat and let her wave bye at the Hoppers.

-'Bye Joyce! Bye El, bye Sir'

The Mustang's engine roared over the incessant arguing of both individuals and Mike pulled out of the driveway, almost knocking out the mailbox AGAIN.

Hopper won though. El had a thing for puzzles and quizzes. Ever since he had just taken her out of the woods, when she was borderline feral.

She sat on the kitchen table while Joyce prepared some steamed chicken, scribbling away into the quiz book with one of Will's purple crayons.

After the fine day outside with the Wheeler's unexpected visit, Jim sat on the couch and thought about Diane's situation.

El caught up with his energy right away.

-'Don't be sad, dad' she said, not looking up from what she was doing.

-'What?' He frowned. Was she a fucking mind reader now?

-'...The thing with your ex wife. Don't be sad about it'

-'Oh-oh I'm not...I'm just gonna...check on the wound and take a nap, wake me up when food's ready baby'

Joyce nodded and darted her worried eyes to her husband's daughter.

-'Talk to me El...'

the girl shrugged and continued-

-'Words, baby. I wanna hear words. What's wrong with him?'

El sighed heavily,

-'I think he feels guilty for...the whole Diane-Sarah thing...I mean the fact that this woman came all the way from NYC to beg him for money because her second marriage is failing is pretty bad as it is...it's just adding stress. She shouldn't have come'

Joyce agreed with a slight nod,

-'...What should I do?'

Jesus, Joyce. Are you really asking your fifteen year old daughter for adult advice?

Then again, underneath all the Cyndi Lauper-Tina Turner-Def Leppard paraphernalia, Jane Eloise Hopper had her head well set on her shoulders. Yes, even if she had two piercings in each ear, one on her belly button, a tattoo on her wrist and wanted to color her hair pink. Joyce knew she could trust her.

If El, a "bubblegum punk" (as she called herself) who was good at math, ballet and calculus quizzes could make it work so well with Mike, a "lovable nerdstack" who was the fastest on track team, had five science fair medals and still slept in Star Wars sheets, then hell...Joyce could fix Jim Hopper.