"Had your lunch yet?" Joyce asked, clutching the phone.

"No." He replied.

"I need you."

"Is something wrong-" she stopped him mid sentence. "No no. I need you, Chief." He sighed contently, all the sudden anxiety draining away and being replaced by a broad grin across his face.

"I'll be home in ten. Don't go anywhere." He teased.

"Yes Sir."

Joyce couldn't sit still after she hung up. She felt slightly guilty, calling him like that, but it had been one hell of a day. And besides, she knew the request would make his day. It wasn't often they had true 'alone time'. Both boys were still in school for another hour. Karen invited her out to eat lunch with her and Nancy in a few hours and Joyce couldn't tell if Karen was genuinely okay with the situation, or if she was doing a better job at hiding her rage then Ted was. Work had been rough and she was fighting off a headache but she couldn't wait for Jim to get home.

.

He met her in the kitchen, all wandering hands and lips.

"Rough day?" He mumbled against her lips.

"You have no idea."

He unholstered his gun, setting it on the bar before turning his attention back to her. His hands gripped her bottom and lifted her, carrying her away to the bathroom.

"Here?"

"Indulge me." He commented, his beard scratching her neck as he kissed her there. "You won't let me have you in the kitchen or on the couch..."

"My kids spend time there! They spend time in here too-" he kissed her roughly, silencing her complaints.

"It's the bathroom." He sat her on the sink and slid his hands under her shirt. He leaned between her knees, laying her back against the mirror as he covered her torso with nibbles and kisses. "Stop thinking so much." He growled, unbuttoning her jeans. "No one's here, talk to me. Tell me how much you want me. Moan for me. Do something, sweetheart." He pleaded, freeing her of her pants.

"I'm sorry, baby." She admitted, pulling him into her arms and kissing him. "You look so hot in your uniform, Chief."

"That's more like it!" He slid his hand into her panties, feeling just how much she wanted him before he pulled them off and tossed them away. He pushed his hat back on his head and kneeled down. Her legs trembled around him as he crouched between them, his hand working in tandem with his worshipful mouth. He looked up momentarily as he worked her over with his hand. "C'mon, no one's home. Lemme hear it baby."

"Oh you're too good at this." She moaned and grinned between her thighs.

.

He pushed her over the edge, enjoying the noises she made. She wrapped her legs around his neck and he caressed her thighs, pleased with himself.

"C'mere, I need more of you."

He stood and she worked on the buttons of his uniform shirt as he fought with his belt. He managed to get his pants and boxers down his thighs and she squeaked when he grabbed her bottom again, pulling her to the edge of the sink. He produced a condom from the pocket of his shirt.

"Good man." She commented as he rolled it on.

"Now, where were we?"

She grabbed his wrist, checking the time. "Pick it up, baby. We gotta hurry."

"Call me Chief again." He breathed as he moved, nearly pulling her off the sink.

She stole his hat and placed it on her head, grabbing him by the biceps. "Harder, Chief Hopper."

He grunted obscenities under his breath as he moved faster, knocking her against the mirror. She laughed and gripped his shoulders when she accidentally turned on the water, startled at the cold wetness soaking the back of her shirt. He slid his hands underneath her and effortlessly picked her up, moving to press her against the door. His hat got lost somewhere in the transition and her hair fell into his face as he pressed against her, his movements growing more erratic. He watched her lips as she moaned his name over and over again.

"Chief I'm gonna-" Before she could finish the sentence she fell over the edge again, taking him with her.

"Jesus. Fuck. Joyce, we should do this more often." He said as he pressed his forehead against hers, still pressing her against the door.

"Just what I needed, baby." She breathed, clinging to him as he sat her back down on her feet. She grabbed his wrist and checked his watch again. "Shit!" She scrambled to dress as he took his time. "We didn't leave you enough time to eat, either."

"Oh, I'll live." He laughed, stealing a kiss as she wiggled back into her jeans.

.

She heard a key scrape the lock on the front door and she bounded out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind her and leaving him alone to finish dressing and hiding all the evidence.

"Hey boys, how was school?"

Jim grinned as he tucked in his shirt and grabbed his hat off the shower floor. He washed his hands and thinking quickly, reached over and flushed the toilet with his foot. He waited a beat or two and made his exit from the bathroom. Both boys paused to look at him.

"Hey guys." He greeted warmly before turning to Joyce. "Thanks for lunch sweetheart, it was great, but I gotta get back to work. I'll see you tonight." He stole a kiss before retrieving and re-holstering his gun. "See ya later, boys."

Jonathan shot Joyce an odd look as she turned away, busying herself with cleaning the kitchen. "Mom, why is the back of your shirt wet?"

Joyce mocked surprise and grabbed her shirt to turn it and look at the wet spot. "Must've wet it when I was mopping earlier or something." She mused, hoping he'd buy it. What could he be thinking anyway? For all he knew she'd had a quiet lunch with Hopper and he used the bathroom before heading back to work.

"Listen, Karen invited me over for lunch so I'll be gone a little while." Jonathan moved to protest but she cut him off. "It'll be just us and Nancy. It's time for the girls to weigh in on this situation."

.

Karen's smile was warm enough when Joyce showed up at the diner, freshly showered and warm in Jim's hoodie. She needed all the comfort she could get in this tense situation. Nancy didn't look up when Joyce greeted her, but she spoke in return. When Joyce opened her arms to her the teen stood and moved into them.

"You aren't angry, Ms. Byers?"

"Of course not, baby." Joyce replied, rubbing the girl's back in a soothing gesture. "I mean the timing could have been better, but this isn't the end of the world."

She took her seat in the booth opposite the mother and daughter.

"I'm sorry what Ted did, Joyce." Karen offered.

"I'm sorry Hopper ended it the way he did."

"Ted deserved it after what he said. I'm really sorry." Karen added.

"Nothing I haven't heard before." Joyce retorted softly. "The rumor mill has been all about me these last few months."

Karen's eyes fell on the gold band around Joyce's finger. "So it is true?" Joyce glanced at her, unsure what she meant for a beat.

"Oh, you mean Jim? Yeah. The rumor mill has had fun with that one." She flexed her fingers, admiring the band. "He says I'm making an honest man out of him. Speaking of honest men, my whole family's with you every step of the way Nancy. We're here for you. And Jonathan will be attending every doctor's appointment, if you want him to."

Nancy nodded, her hands clasped in her lap.

"This won't be the easiest thing in the world, but we're all here for you." Her mother offered.