I DON'T OWN STRANGER THINGS

Hawkins, Indiana

(Joyce's POV)

Joyce Byers looked on with relief as Chief Hopper's truck pulled into her driveway. She was shocked when she saw a van that was riddled with bullets pull up next to the truck. As the kids and Dr. Cameron Reaves stayed outside to talk about the situation that they found themselves in, Chief Jim Hopper walked into the Byers house and was greeted with a huge hug from Joyce. Once they had made a pot of strong coffee and lit a couple cigarettes, Hopper filled Joyce in on the events of the previous weekend.

"So Dr. Reaves found a cure for Eleven's mother?" Joyce asked in disbelief.

"Yep." Hopper nodded as he took a swig of coffee. "One of his egghead friends developed a serum that can fix brain damage, you know, cure Alzheimer's and shit like that."

"And the government is just...sitting on it?" Joyce stuttered in shock. "So many lives could be helped and they keep it for themselves."

"These Majestic 12 sons of bitches are only interested in weapons." Hopper explained. "Reaves says that all they care about is power and control."

"So that's why they keep everyone so secret. The more people know..."

"The less control they have. It's easier to keep the citizenry in line when they're dumber than mud. When people start using their heads, it gets harder to pull the wool over their eyes."

"Those bastards!" Joyce swore as she took a long drag of her cigarette. "Does Cameron really think that Majestic 12 is coming to Hawkins?"

"He's betting his chance at a noble prize on them showing their faces in town." Hopper said. "He said that nothing pisses off this Tyrone Seibert more than hearing the word no."

"How are we going to fight off these government troops?" Joyce inquired. "You're the only one here with any real combat experience Hop."

"Yeah, didn't think that my time in Vietnam was gonna train me to fight off the government." Hopper sighed as Joyce held his hand.

"We can't let them take Eleven back Hop. We can't." Joyce said nervously.

"We won't." Hopper assured her as he kissed her hand. Joyce and Jim looked at each other for a few moments before Joyce crawled into the table like a cat and kissed Hopper with great passion. They made out for a while before the chief picked Joyce up in his strong arms and carried her bridal style to her bedroom. For the next few hours Joyce Byers and Jim Hopper made wonderful love to each other. Back in high school, Lonnie Byers had bragged to everyone within ear shot that Joyce was amazing in the sack; and as much he hated to admit it, the son of a bitch was right. Hopper had screwed many women and he had enjoyed himself with most of them, but Joyce...she aroused him in a way that he didn't even know he could be aroused in. When the two single parents were finally finished with their private display of passion, they were both panting on the bed, trying to catch their breath.

"That was...mind blowing." Hopper said as Joyce held his hand.

"Yeah, my mind...is blown." She agreed as they laughed. Once they had calmed down, Joyce had herself another cigarette while Hopper looked up at the ceiling. There were things that he had wanted to say to Joyce for a while now and in case the fighting with MJ-12 didn't end well for them. He wanted her to know what was on his mind and his heart.

"Hey Joyce." Hopper said.

"Yeah Hop?" She replied.

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry." He said as he looked into her beautiful eyes. "I wanted you so badly in high school, but I knew that if I went out with you, I'd have to satisfied with one girl and I wasn't ready to give up my playboy lifestyle. I should have just manned up and committed to you, but I didn't and by the time I realized that you were the only girl I wanted, Lonnie swooped in and shit on your life. We could have been so happy together if I had got to you before Lonnie did and I'm sorry." Joyce smiled as she kissed Hopper's hand.

"I'm not." She stated. "We're together now and whatever shit Lonnie put me through, he gave Jonathan and Will to me and I could never be sorry for them."

"I know, it's just...I love you Joyce." Hopper said as Joyce kissed him deeply.

"I love you too." She replied. "I'm so glad that you're in my life." Hopper smiled as he stood and walked over to Joyce's side of the bed. Before Joyce could ask what he was doing, he got down on one knee. Her eyes grew as big as dinner plates.

"Hop..."

"Joyce, I love you, I've always loved you, you're my only friend and you're the only woman that I've done right by." He stated as he clasped her hands. "Joyce Laura Byers, if we make it out of this alive...will you marry me?" Joyce's eyes were like waterfalls.

"Yes Hop. Yes, yes, yes. I'll marry you." She said as they kissed even deeper. Except for when her sons were born, this was the most happiest moment of Joyce's life. She finally had a man who appreciated her and who cared for her sons. Jim and Joyce were perfect for each other. True, it had taken Hopper a long ass time to realize it, but he did realize it. That was a miracle, a miracle that too many people didn't get.

SHOUTOUT TO SECTION8GRL FOR HER CONSTANT REVIEWS. I WISH YOU KNEW HOW MUCH YOU ARE APPRECIATED. NEXT TIME IS THE COUNTDOWN TO... THE SIEGE AT CASTLE BYERS. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.