Requested by anon: El wants to start calling hopper dad but isn't sure how to bring it up.

Pop

El flipped through the book, pausing once in a while as she read the words on it. Sometimes, she would say the words out loud, enunciating it carefully. At the top steps of the porch, Will stomped on his boots before he took a seat next to her.

They had a kinship, much to Joyce's and Hopper's relief, a bond formed by the familiarity of their time beyond the Gate. They had fallen into a routine. When Will had a nightmare, Hopper would know to send El over to the Byers the next day and they could both be seen talking quietly to each other.

"Will, do you have a papa?"

He paused, the ice cream dripping down his hand. He blinked, licked it clean off his hands before turning towards El.

"Yeah," he answered. "My dad lives in the city – Indianapolis. He's not around much. He comes over sometimes, once or twice a year."

The young girl nodded, as if that explained everything. The frown deepened as she thought of another question.

"When you do see him… You still call him 'dad', yes?"

Will studied her carefully.

"Yep, what's wrong?"

"Mike has a dad…" El bit her lower lip, thinking. "Lucas' got one. Steve has one too, but he doesn't like his dad. I've never seen Dustin's or yours."

"Dustin doesn't talk about his dad," Will shrugged a shoulder. "But hey, you have one, too!"

"Yes… Papa…"

"No, not him. Hopper!" Will's voice raised an octave in excitement. "Hopper's your dad. Mom told me that he took you in, made it official and signed papers. I'm not supposed to talk about it to anyone yet until it's safe. But this means he's your dad. He takes care of you, gives you food and sent you to Snow Ball – just like my mom did!"

"Yes," El nodded slowly, processing his words. "So I can call him that?"

"I think you should – I think he'll like that?"

Her eyes lighted up, "Really?"

"Yeah, really," Will smiled. "And my mom's like your mom anyway. She loves you like she loves me."

At that, a smile bloomed on El's face, like she was proud of that fact.

"I – I love her too. Can I have two of them - a mama and a mom?"

"Jonathan says that if my dad marries his girlfriend, Cynthia, she'll be my step-mom," he explained. "I don't really like her, she's not very nice when I was at my dad's place. But your mama and my mom, they're both nice to you and you like them which mean you're the lucky one."

It made El grin. She never thought she would ever be lucky but her life now was turning around for the better ever since she escaped from the lab.

"If I ask Hopper to marry your mom, she'll be like my mom mom…. Yes?"

"Um, I guess so."

"And my dad will be like your dad dad."

Will blinked, cocking his head to the side and shrugged. "I think that'll be cool. Imagine telling everyone the Chief is your dad… Nobody will call me zombie boy."

El shook her head violently at that. "When I get to start school, I won't let them call you that."

Will laughed easily and loudly which made Joyce poked her head out of the door. She smiled at the sight of them.

"Will! Is that ice cream? Before dinner?"

He grinned, looking at his mother sheepishly.

"Come on, come inside," Joyce ushered them in. "It will get dark soon."

In the middle of the game on Will's Atari, Jonathan joined in, flopping on the worn out sofa. He grabbed his camera, snapping photos of the two of them for his keepsake for when he leave for college.

The familiar sound of Hopper's truck pulling on the driveway diverted El's attention away from the game. She looked up just as Hopper stepped in. This too was becoming routine – Hopper dropping her off at the Byers whenever Joyce was off from work so El would not be alone at home and then picking her up after his shift, sometimes staying over for dinner.

"Hey, kid," Hopper ruffled her hair as he passed them to get to the kitchen where Joyce was poorly attempting to fix dinner. "Boys," he greeted, popping open a beer can.

"Hello, dad," El replied, her eyes focused on the game.

Hopper sputtered, choking on his beer. Joyce moved immediately, rubbing his back gently.

"Easy there, Hop," she spoke softly. "Is this the first time that she calls you by that?"

"Yeah … Yeah, I – "

"That's nice," Joyce smiled. "It's sweet. Oh, here she comes."

El wandered into the kitchen and stopped, assessing the situation in front of her. She took in the sight of Hopper a little red in the face and Joyce beaming down at her.

El stepped forward, peering at him from under her curly bangs. "Are you okay?"

"Yep," Hopper nodded, smacking his lips together. "Bit of a shock. Dad?"

"I talked to Will and I've decided that I'm going to call you dad because you are. Right?"

They had this talk before when he sat her down and told her that she would be staying with him permanently, and that he would look after her. He had used the word 'guardian', just so it wouldn't spook her seeing as how she didn't really relate 'papa' with something positive.

Joyce and Hopper glanced at each other, both wondering if the conversation their respective child had was something they wanted to know more about.

El's inquisitive stare bore into them as she patiently waited for an affirmation.

"Alright, yeah, sure," Hopper nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. He hadn't heard that word, hadn't been called as such for years now. It was making him feel things… It was making him giddy and he realised that he was choking up. He pressed a thumb on the corner of his eyes. "I mean – yeah – it's… it's… Dad… Yeah, we can – we can do that."

"Okay," El nodded, moving to the dining table to see what was for dinner, completely oblivious to the emotional upheaval she had just put Hopper through.

Hopper stood there, acutely aware of Joyce resting a comforting hand on his arm.

"Hey, El, come here," he beckoned. El stepped into his embrace without hesitation and he dropped a kiss to her head. "I like the sound of that, kiddo."

Tilting her head up to him, El smiled.

"Mrs Byers takes care of me when you're working… like a mom."

"Alright," Hopper clapped her shoulder abruptly. "Let's not jump the gun."

Hopper threw Joyce an apologetic look as he led El out but Joyce…. She was looking at the pair with obvious fondness in her eyes.

I figured with El, she wouldn't beat around the bush. She will just do it/say it. Like that's it he's my dad i'm calling him that, no discussion.