The school week passed in a blur of study sessions, flash cards, and finally the end of the semester exams. The only exam Hopper was worried about was Algebra. Praying he had passed by the seat of his pants, he headed to Joyce's locker mere minutes after the bell had rang signaling the start of winter break. Finding the top of Joyce's head over the crowd of his peers, Hopper couldn't help the smile that was on his face. When he finally reached her, he wrapped his arms around her waist, chuckling at the way she gasped until she realized who had a hold on her.
"Jesus Hop! You scared the hell out of me!" She scolded, turning around in his arms and gently swatting his chest.
"Come on, you should know by now that anyone coming up behind you like that is going to be me." He playfully kissed her lips.
Releasing her from his hold, she turned back to putting the last of her supplies into her locker. Carefully closing the door, she threaded her fingers with his and watched as he brought her knuckles to his lips.
"Ready to go?" He asked with a smile.
"Ready."
Hand in hand, Joyce and Hopper slowly made their way down the crowded hallway. Upon exiting the school, they were met with the sight of tiny snowflakes falling and littering the pavement.
"I hope it stops in time for the parade tomorrow." Joyce muttered as she pulled the hood of her coat on over her head.
"More than likely will, we're not supposed to get any real amount of snow until Christmas Day. Come on, I don't need you getting sick." Hopper states as he drags her along to his truck. He opened the door for her and helped her inside before making his way to the driver side.
"We gotta run by the station real quick hun, dad needs me to pick up the banner for tomorrow."
"That's fine Hop, gives me a little more time to watch it snow." Pulling out of the parking lot, Hopper turned the heat on full blast. He could feel Joyce shivering from across the cab.
"Hey come here." Hopper called, lifting his arm for her to snuggle into his side. He laughed, then winced when her felt her cold fingertips digging under his layers, finally coming in contact with the skin under them.
"How are you always so warm?" Joyce smiled, moving her hands from his side to his stomach.
"What can I say, im a hairy man." He jokes. "Something has to keep me warm when you steal all the blankets in the middle of the night."
"Hey, I don't steal the entire blanket. I'm tiny I don't need that much."
"Yeah, well your tiny ass sure loves burying into a burrito which takes the whole comforter!"
"Maybe if you kept me warm I wouldn't have to burrito as you call it." She huffs, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You okay?"
"Yeah Hop, just a little tired is all. Not to mention I just feel achy." Joyce confided. Pulling in beside the various squad cars of the station, Hopper places his hand on her forehead.
"You're not running a fever, might just need some sleep. We'll try to go to bed early tonight, how does that sound?"
"Sounds like I'm a burrito in waiting." She teased. Reluctantly moving her hands from his stomach, she allowed him to exit the truck.
"I'll only be a minute, I promise. I love you." He calls as he quickly closes his door.
Joyce couldn't help the smile on her face. Hopper had been saying those three little words more frequently the past few days, making her heart hurt in a good way. She still couldn't believe that someone perfect like him could have any interest in plain, boring, her.
Hopper hadn't been lying. He was already out of the station. The muffled sound of the banner landing in the bed of his truck momentarily filled the air before he was sliding into the cab once again with his body heat.
Hopper carried the banner onto the front porch, barely laying it down before Greg came out the front door, two thermouses in hand.
"Hey kids, how was school?" He questioned, sitting down on the old porch swing to lace up his work boots.
"It was good, pretty sure we both passed our exams, now I'm just ready for a few weeks of relaxing." Joyce piped up, going to grab her own boots from the mat by the door.
"Well I'm glad to hear that Joy. And you don't have to put on your boots sweetheart, I can handle getting the horses ready for tomorrow by myself."
"It's okay, I want to help, and besides if all three of us go out there it wont take any time at all to get them brushed and fed."
"Suit yourself then. I do appreciate the help." Watching Hopper get his own boots, Joyce stood to take one of the thromouses from Greg.
"I believe the one you have is filled with coffee and from what Mary tells me, that's not your thing." He commented, already heading down the front steps and toward the barn.
"Go on ahead, I'll be out in a minute." Hopper told Joyce, knowing she was anxious to get the job started.
"Don't take too long or you're the one shoveling shit!" Joyce laughed before running off after Greg.
The barn was a little chillier then Greg would have liked, he needed to add a thicker weather strip around the bottom of the barn doors. Joyce was already grabbing the wheelbarrow and shovel from the back wall, determined to earn her keep he guessed.
"You can always leave that for Jim to get Joyce. It's going to take the longest to get them brushed if you wanna start on that."
"Sure thing Mr. Hopper, I'm just trying to get everything ready for him."
"Joyce, you don't have to call me Mr. Hopper, call me Greg or whatever. Mr. Hopper just makes me sound old." He joked as he began to brush the first horse.
A cold breeze accompanied Hopper as he opened the barn door. "It's quit snowing for the time being, hopefully it holds off until after the parade tomorrow." He gave his shoulders a quick shake before grabbing the pitch fork.
"Should be fine, the two of you will be in the blazer anyway, don't need y'all getting sick."
Joyce nodded at Greg's words, thankful they would be able to run the heat. Even with the windows down, she would at least be warm.
The evening in the barn went by peacefully. Any of the awkwardness from earlier in the week had vanished between the three of them. Greg was ribbing Hopper like usual while Joyce just smiled and kept herself busy. Occasionally she would let out an accidental snort from laughing so hard. What seemed like only a short while later, the horses had been brushed, fed, and were good to go for the night. Hopper gathered their now empty thermoses, and tucked them under his arm.
"Come on you two, Mary has been working on dinner since you came home, should be done by now."
Joyce once again pulled her hood up high over her head, knowing the short walk back to the house would be a cold one. Quickly sliding off their boots, the trio went into the warm house, nothing but dinner and sleep on their minds.
Saturday morning came way too early for the teenagers of the Hopper residence. They were used to getting up early on weekdays, Saturdays however were made for sleeping in.
"Ugh, whoever volunteered us to to this parade needs to be knocked in the nose." Hopper grumbled as he pulled on his borrowed Chiefs uniform.
"That would be you Hop. You wanted an excuse to wear the uniform again." Joyce yawned, going to the closet to grab one of Hoppers old flannels.
"Yeah.. well.. you have to admit I look fantastic in it. I mean look at my ass in this thing!" Hopper spun around, showing off is rear end in his newly dawned Khacki pants.
"Gotta given it to you there, you do have a nice ass." Joyce giggled, walking over to him to give it a small smack.
"Remember what happened the last time you teased the hell out of me? You don't know how difficult it is to try and walk around with a hard on."
Standing in front of him, Joyce stood on her top toes to try and get a kiss. Hopper playfully ignored her, even going as far as to crossing his arms over his chest.
"Come on Hop, please?" She whined, not having had a kiss this morning. She gave him her best puppy dog eyes and eventually it worked.
"Kids you up yet?" Mary's voice called from down the hallway.
"Yeah mom, just putting our shoes on!" Hoper called back, not wanting to share Joyce with the rest of the world just yet. He leaned down and nuzzled the crook in her neck. Smiling when he felt her tilt her head back to allow him more room to work with.
"We need to stop or we're both going to be walking funny." Joyce sighed, pushing gently on his chest.
It didn't take anytime to get the horse together and into the trailer. Greg and Mary were pulling the horses in Hopper's truck, while the teens went in Greg's blazer. Pulling out of the driveway, Hopper gave the blazer a little more gas than necessary.
"How mad do you think dad would be if I turned the sirens on?" Hopper laughed, adjusting himself in the driver's seat.
"Probably pretty pissed if I'm being honest." Joyce laughed, moving to sit on her cold hands.
"We need to invest in a pair of gloves for you, you're hands are always freezing."
"Well it's not like I can help it! I'm just cold natured I guess."
"Well, at least I know another thing I can get you for Christmas." He mentioned, pulling in behind the horse trailer.
"What do you mean another thing? I thought we agreed no presents Hop!" Joyce exclaimed, not meaning to sound as whiny as she did.
"Yes, you and I agreed not to get each other gifts, however, my mom and dad came to no such agreement."
"Hopper that's not fair!"
"Life isn't fair Joyce, now come on, we got horses to unload."
Joyce reluctantly got out of the blazer, still frustrated that The Hoppers we're going to get her stuff for Christmas. She didn't have a way to get them anything in return, hell she hadn't even had time to make them a Christmas card. Putting all thoughts of Christmas gifts behind her, Joyce walked up to the trailer, ready to help unload the horses for their temporary riders.
What seemed like hours later, the parade percussion was finally in order. Obviously starting out with the local cub scout division, Girl Scouts, Hawkins High JROTC, cheerleaders, the high school band, various shops in town, and finally the police department and Santa Claus.
The procession was just as slow as Joyce expected, but at least she had heat on her hands and feet.
"I think the candy for the kids is in the back there." Hopper stated as he cranked the blazer and slowly pulled into formation behind his parents and two officers of the Hawkins Police Department. Joyce and Hopper both casually threw out candy to the tiny residents of Hawkins, giving them big smiles and waves along the way.
"Careful Hopper, we might hit ten on the speedometer." Joyce laughed as she reached for his hand.
"Come on Joyce, it's not that bad. You're just in a bad mood because of the gift thing."
"What are you talking about? I'm not in a bad mood at all."
"Ahuh, whatever you say." He said as he threw another handful of candy out the blazer window.
"So did you ever decide if you wanted to join the force when we graduate?" Joyce questioned, as she moved to thread her fingers with his.
"Honestly? Not really. I mean, yeah I'm sure at some point or another, I'll end up there. But I think maybe I want to do a little something different before I go that route. What that is? I have no idea, but I have a little while to figure that out. What about you? Thought about what you want to do after High school?"
"I think I would like to do something with photography honestly. I mean, before that shit with Chrissy there wasn't a day when I didn't have my camera in my hand ya know? I miss that feeling. Of being able to capture a moment and have it forever."
"Speaking of Chrissy." Hopper nodded toward Joyce's right. Sitting on the side of the road, her two little sisters on either side of her was Chrissy. Her eyes locked with Joyce and a look of disgust formed on her face. Joyce made sure to throw a generous handful of candy toward the little girls and gave Chrissy a shit eating grin and a wave.
"What do you say about going to the diner with me after the parade? Get a bite to eat before we go home and decorate the tree?"
"Sounds like a fantastic idea to me Hop. Now we just have to survive the next half mile." She grinned.
Patsy's diner was packed with the after parade crowd. Opening the door for Joyce, Hopper's hand found the small of her back, ushering her in out of the cold.
"Just the two of you Jim?" Ashely's voice came from their left.
"Yes ma'am Miss Ashley."
"Alright I can get y'all a small table toward the back if that's okay?"
Joyce and Hopper both nodded and followed Ashley toward one of the last unoccupied booths.
"Do you know what you want or do you need a minute?" Ashley asked, holding a pen and a notepad in front of her. Without glancing at Joyce, Hopper rattled off both of their orders.
"Am I that predictable?" Joyce laughed as Hopper sat back in his chair.
"Nah not at all, I've just known you for so long it's kind of second nature I guess." Hopper reached out to take Joyce's hand in his and she felt her cheeks begin to turn red, this was the first time they had really shown any signs of affection in public.
"I feel like everyone is watching us." She whispered, unconsciously rubbing her thumb over his hand.
"It's because they can't get enough of me in this uniform, I mean come on, my ass looks great in this thing." He laughed.
"You have a point there. Had to stop myself on more than one occasion from smacking it today." Joyce confided, giggling at the look of amusement on Hopper's face.
"That so huh? Might have to start wearing this thing more often then."
In that moment Ashley returned with their food. Joyce and Hopper reluctantly let go of each other's hands to make room on the table.
"Anything else I can get you dears?"
Hopper and Joyce both looked around the table, each of them finding their preferred condiments.
"I think we're good Ashley, we'll holler if we need anything." Hopper smiles before reaching for the mustard. Both teenagers dig into their food as if they hadn't eaten three hours ago. Neither one talked much, just a giggle here and there, or a comment on how everything tasted.
"Any idea what we're going to do when we get home?" Joyce questioned over a ketchup drenched French fry.
"Probably hang up our stockings since tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Maybe help mom and dad prepare for the snow tomorrow. We're supposed to get around nine inches I think." Hopper took a drink from his glass and sat back with a moan, his hands coming up to pat his stomach.
"You going to make it over there?" Joyce giggled as she grabbed a napkin from the dispenser. Reaching over the table, she wiped mustard from the corner of Hoppers mouth.
"Can't have you walking around looking like more of a fool then you already do."
"Hey! I'll have you know Jim Hopper never looks like a fool!"
"Yeah...whatever you say deputy."
"Hop! Hop wake up! You've got to see this!" Joyce practically squealed as she jumped up on down on the bed, causing him to unceremoniously hit his head on the headboard.
"Fucks sake Joyce what's going on?" He growled, running his hand over the tender spot on his head.
"It's snowing! Look how much we have, you can barely see the fencepost for the horse pasture from here!"
The excitement in Joyce's voice made Hopper's heart flutter. Her being this excited had been a rare commodity up until she had moved in full time with them. Throwing back the comforter and regretting it almost immediately, he joined her at the window. He wrapped his arms around her middle and stood behind her, his chin resting on the top of her head.
"Damn, you weren't lying. Hopefully we don't lose power." He whispered as his lips found the crook of her neck that he loved so much. Placing a lingering kiss on her goosebump covered flesh, he began to sway their bodies back and forth to a soundless rhythm. Joyce leaned into his embrace, loving the heat of his body.
"We probably need to get dressed, go check on the horses." She mumbled, making no move to actually get dressed.
"But it's cold outside." Hopper whispered, tracing the outline of her hips under her night shirt.
"That's what snow usually does Hop, makes everything cold."
"Good thing I have you to snuggle up to then." He whispered into her ear, gently nipping her lobe.
"You are such a tease Jim Hopper."
"But you love it Miss Horowitz."
"That I do Mr. Hopper, that I do."
Walking back from the horse barn should have taken two minutes, maybe three with the depth of the snow. But when Hopper felt a wet, cold, ball of snow hit him in the back of the neck, all progress in his walk ceased.
"Really Joy? You dare challenge me, the snowball king!" He dramatically exclaimed as he turned to find Joyce already forming another snowball between her small hands.
"Yes your highness, I challenge you to a snowball fight!" Joyce lobbed another snowball at Hopper which he dodged masterfully, bringing his own glob of snow up, he chunked it at Joyce and hit her small frame in the shoulder. He watched as she ducked behind his truck in an attempt at fending off his attack and snuck around the front. Hopper grabbed Joyce from behind, spinning her around in the snow until she squealed for the second time that day.
"Okay, okay! I give, you win again snow king!" Joyce laughed as Hopper placed her feet firmly on the ground.
"Ahh the feeling of being King for another year." He joked, holding her gloved hand with his and the two stood in silence with the exception of their breathing. Joyce laid her head on his chest, trying to find heat under his damp coat.
"You okay Joy?"
"Yeah Hop, my shoulders just bothering me again, guess it doesn't like the cold."
"Well come on, let's get you back inside, we can warm up a bit before lunch." Nodding into his chest, Joyce didn't move.
"Just a few more seconds?" She pleaded, not wanting to leave his embrace just yet.
"We can stay here for as long as you want Honey. I love you."
"I love you too Hop. Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving me." She whispered, burrowing her head into his chest. Hopper brought his hand up to her chin, gently coaxing her to meet his gaze.
"That's what a real man does Joy, he protects the love of his life, no matter the costs."
The smell of slightly burned Jiffy Pop filled the house.
"Greg insisted I let him do something." Mary whispered to her children, both of whom were cuddling on the love seat, Joyce had her feet in Hopper's lap, loving the foot rub he was dishing out.
"Sorry if it's a little done, but it's still edible." Greg called into the living room as he rounded the corner, two large bowls of popcorn in hand.
"I didn't miss anything did I?" He asked, handing Joyce one bowl and Mary the other.
"No hun, it's just about to start." Greg sat on the couch beside Mary, lifting his arm for her to snuggle into his side. She brought a few pieces of popcorn to his lips, only dropping one into his lap.
The sound of Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol filled the small living room. Bringing smiles to all four occupants faces. Joyce threw a piece of popcorn at Jim, surprised when he actually caught it in his mouth.
"King." He whispered, glancing back at the tv. His hand rested on Joyce's leg, drawing small circles onto the pattern of her pajama pants. Halfway through the movie, Joyce adjusted her position on the loveseat, bringing her head to rest on his shoulder. The grandfather clock in the corner of the living room chimed midnight before anyone knew it.
"Merry Christmas Joy." Hopper voiced, bringing her hand to his lips.
"Merry Christmas Hop." Quickly sitting up, Joyce places a kiss on his cheek.
The sound of Greg's slight snores made the two of them glance over at Mary and Greg, both of them had stayed up way past their normal bedtime and had fallen asleep on the couch.
"Come on, let's wake them up then go to bed." Joyce instructed, using Hopper's body as a support as she climbed to her feet.
"Goodnight kids, Merry Christmas." Mary yelled sleepily down the hall.
"Goodnight Mom, Dad, Merry Christmas." Hopper calls back as he closed the door to his bedroom. Letting his sweatpants hit the floor, he lazily climbed into bed. Joyce stood on her side of the bed, removing her pants as well. She reached around to unclasp her bra, super aware that Hopper was watching her every move.
"See something you like?" She questions, turning to climb into bed.
"You know it darlin', I'm a sucker for a good view." He said with a smirk, watching as she pulled the covers aside and crawled on top of him, her legs on either side of his hips. When she didn't lay against his chest like normal, he opened his mouth to speak, but stopped himself when she leaned forward and kissed him.
A kiss at night before bed wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but the way Joyce was sliding her tongue inside his mouth almost desperately meant she had no intentions of actually going to sleep any time soon. When her left hand started sliding the hem of his shirt up his body, Hopper finally pulled away to catch his breath.
"What are you doing Joyce?" He asked, not bothering to stop her when she slid his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the bed beside them.
Joyce smiled, biting at his lower lip carefully. "Giving you one of your Christmas presents."
Hopper grinned at her nip and removed his hands from her hips when she shifted lower on his thighs. "What do you mean?"
"Since I can't buy you anything and you like to break the rules, I figured this was something I could actually give you." Joyce's palm found its way over his erection through his boxers and brushed against him lightly before hooking her fingers over the waistband of the thin material. "Lift your hips." She demanded.
Hopper's eyes went wide at the authority in her voice and did as asked even though his brain was telling him they needed to stop. "I'm confused…" The way Joyce swiftly jerked his boxers down his legs and away from his body made him reach for the blanket to cover himself. She'd never seen him completely naked before and he suddenly felt exposed.
"Hey now, none of that." Joyce said, grabbing his hands to place them above his head.
"But my parents-" He started to protest.
Joyce placed a finger over his lips and shook her head. "It's almost one thirty in the morning Hop, there's no way they're going to wake up."
Knowing she was right, Hopper sighed and didn't dare move when she let his wrists go and started kissing down his neck and across his chest. Her delicate fingers wrapped around his dick and she started stroking him slowly, never stopping her path down his body with her mouth. A small gasp escaped his lips when her tongue found its way over his nipple, the sensation causing him to twitch in her hand. She was going to completely ruin him before she even got started at this rate. His skin already felt like it was on fire and he was so hard it was almost painful.
When her thumb swept over the tip of his cock and through his precum, spreading it back down his length like he'd shown her at the tree house, he couldn't help but close his eyes and bite back a moan. The last thing he wanted to do was wake his parents.
Joyce licked and kissed across his abs, continuing to slowly move her hand up and down his length. The feel of her mouth against his hip caused him to jump and snap his eyes back open to look down at her. He should have known she planned to do more than just jerk him off the way she'd been moving down his body, but he wasn't at all prepared for what she did next.
"Fuck!" Hopper hissed when she quickly flicked her tongue against the head of his dick and took the first few inches of him into her mouth. "Joyce...you don't have to do this." He panted, forcing himself to lay as still as possible.
Joyce lifted her head, sliding him out of her mouth slowly. "Do you want me to stop?" She questioned with a mischievous grin, her lips still touching him as she spoke.
"No, it feels good but-"
"Then shut up and let me do this for you."
Authoritative Joyce was something Hopper didn't get to see often, but when she came out to play he was at her beck and call. Before Joyce could bring her lips back to him, Hopper sat up in bed, placing her pillow behind his head.
"If you insist on doing this, then I want to be able to see everything," He murmured, reaching out to touch her cheek lovingly. Taking this as her cue to continue, Joyce once again ran her tongue down his length before putting him back into her mouth. Hopper brought one arm behind his head, the other sliding through Joyce's hair, gently caressing his fingers across her scalp as she swirled her tongue around the head of his cock.
Joyce carefully started taking more of him into her mouth each time she sucked up his length and back down again, praying he couldn't see how intimidated she was at his size. There was no way all of him was going to fit in her mouth, matter less anywhere else when that time came. Not to mention she'd never done this before and was terrified she wouldn't be any good.
"Just go easy Joy, you don't have to take all of it." Hopper breathed, brushing her hair back out of her face. Joyce took his words to heart and only took enough of him to touch the back of her throat without making her gag. She slowly brought her mouth back up to the tip, before going down once again, stroking him with her hand where her mouth couldn't reach.
"Mmm, fuck you feel amazing." Hopper moaned, fisting his fingers into the pillow behind his head as he carefully lifted his hips to see if she could handle him moving. When she didn't try to stop him, he met her thrust for thrust, making sure to not choke her.
"I don't know if I'm going to be able to last much longer." He whimpered, both of his hands now in her hair, twisting the strands between his fingers as he watched her cheeks hollow every time she sucked her way back to his tip, then back down again, doing this several times before he couldn't take it anymore.
"Joy… I'm gonna cum." He grunts, trying his best to keep his voice down. When she doesn't stop, he quickly tugs on her hair and pulls his dick out of her mouth, barely getting his fingers wrapped around himself before he's shooting thick white ropes of cum across his chest and stomach. Turning his head to muffle his moans into the pillow, his back arches off the bed as he continues to stroke himself, the force of his orgasm causing his legs to shake.
Joyce watched in fascination as Hopper came undone in front of her. The raw emotion of his pleasure possibly the sexiest thing she'd ever seen. The events at the tree house didn't even compare to what she was currently witnessing.
"You okay?" Joyce asked when he finally stopped moving.
"Holy shit." Hopper rubbed a hand over his face and finally opened his eyes to look at her. His chest still rising and falling heavily as he tried to catch his breath.
"I thought you said it was never that much?" She questioned, slightly amazed at the amount of cum covering his body.
With a sigh, Hopper lifted his head when he could finally think straight and reached for his shirt beside them. "I don't think you understand what you do to me Joyce. I promise you this only seems to happen when you're involved."
Joyce took the shirt from him and started helping wipe off his stomach after he cleaned the stickiness from his hand. "That stuff shoots pretty far." She said with a giggle, noticing a small puddle of cum near his throat.
"Yeah, it has some force behind it." He laughs, sliding his boxers back up his legs as she throws the soiled shirt in his hamper. Hopper holds out his arms when she makes her way back across the room. "Come here." He coaxes, pulling her so she's resting against his chest like she does most nights.
"You don't know how much I love you." He whispers, giving her a quick kiss.
"Did you like your present?" She asks nervously.
"It was the best present I've ever gotten." He smiles, pulling the blanket over both of them.
"Merry Christmas Hop." She snuggles into his neck.
"Merry Christmas Joy."
"Joyce! Joyce wake up, it's snowing!" Hopper yells as he bounces up and down on his bed.
"Ugh, Hop, it's too early" Joyce whined, trying to once again bury her head under the blanket.
"Yeah sucks when someone wakes you up super early about some snow doesn't it?" Hopper laughed, throwing the covers off of Joyce's body in an attempt to get her moving.
"Hopper! It's freezing!" She exhaled, searching blindly for the blanket once more.
"Well put some clothes on and you won't be cold. It's time to go down stairs!" He laughs, throwing a pair of her sweatpants onto the bed.
"You're lucky I love you." Joyce mumbles as she lifted her hips and slipped her sweatpants over her calves and up her legs.
"And why's that?"
"Because if I didn't, I would throw you out the window."
The smell of coffee assaulted Joyce and Hopper as they walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, good morning." Greg says as he buttered a piece of toast. Joyce couldn't hold back the laughter at Greg's attire. He had on black boots, Santa pants, suspenders, a black tee shirt, and a Santa hat, complete with frills.
"Merry Christmas." Both Joyce and Hopper said in unison.
"Merry Christmas to you. Did y'all sleep well?" Mary questioned from in front of the coffee pot.
"Slept like a log, how about y'all?"
"Slept better once we were in the bed and not on the couch." Greg laughed, pouring some sugar into his coffee.
Joyce and Hopper sat down at the table and instantly had a plate put in front of them. They both knew the drill, breakfast first then presents. While Hopper inhaled his food like a starving man, Joyce took her time, not in a hurry to feel guilty about not getting anyone anything.
"Come on Joy! Presents!" Hopper whined from the seat beside her.
"Don't rush her Jim, those gifts aren't going anywhere." Mary scolded over her cup of coffee. Hopper sat back in his chair and rested his folded hands on his stomach. Catching onto his impatience, Joyce finally finished the rest of her food and slid her plate away from here.
"Alright I'm done."
The words were barely out of her mouth before all three Hoppers jumped to their feet. The sight of the three of them racing into the living room brought a smile to her face. This was her family, maybe not by birth, but by heart.
"Come one Joyce, what are you waiting for!" Greg called from the living room. Laughing, Joyce made her way into the living room to find all three of them standing in front of the tree with Hopper holding a perfectly wrapped box in his hand.
"As per tradition, the youngest one in the house gets to open the first gift." Hopper held out the box to her while Mary brought her camera to her eye.
"Go on and sit down." Greg instructed as he moved to sit on the couch. Following their requests, Joyce sat down on the loveseat, a feeling of excitement starting to form in her stomach. Hopper placed the box in her hands and she was startled by the weight of it.
"You guys really didn't have to do this." She voiced as she began to untie the big red bow on top.
"Just rip it open Honey." Hopper begged as he bounced on the balls of his feet in anticipation.
Rolling her eyes, Joyce ripped the first shred of wrapping paper, exposing the corner of the box. Revealing a grey and black color scheme she was all too familiar with.
"Oh my god, you guys didn't!" She squealed, tearing through the rest of the paper. The flash from Mary's camera went of, temporary blinding Joyce who was now fumbling with her box. There sitting in her lap, was a Canon S7, Joyce's dream camera.
Joyce was unsuccessful in holding back the tears of joy that we're currently threatening to fall onto her cheeks. There was no telling how much this had cost them and yet here it was.
"There's four rolls of film in the box, we figured it was time for you to get back to doing what you love." Greg mentioned from his seat on the couch.
"I don't even know what to say. This is beyond amazing. I can't thank y'all enough."
"You can thank us by taking pictures of the rest of the morning, you always seem to get nicer ones than I do." Mary laughed as she moved to sit beside Greg. Digging in the box, Joyce found the film and expertly popped it into the camera.
"Come on, the first picture I want to take is of the three of you in front of the tree." Joyce stated, her natural photographer rhythm awaking with the feel of a camera in her hands again. The Hoppers all posed in front of their Christmas tree. Jim and Greg in the back, with Mary standing in front of them.
"Say Christmas Cheese." Joyce laughed as she adjusted the focus on her family.
"Christmas Cheese." They chorused, bringing smiles to their faces. The room quickly lit up from the flash, before fading back into the normal dimness of the room.
"Now let me take a picture of you and Jim, it is your first Christmas as a couple after all." Mary smiled, reaching for her own camera.
"You can use mine Mom, I mean y'all did buy it." Joyce carefully held out her camera.
"Thanks, but no thanks honey, that thing is way too important for my clumsy hands, I'll just stick with old faithful here. Now go stand beside Jim." Mary ushered. Following orders, Joyce made her way to Jim's side. He quickly snuck his arm around her waist, pulling her to him.
"Do you like it? We weren't really sure which one to get so the guy at the store picked it out." He murmured as he placed a kiss on the top of her head. A flash filled the room as Mary laughed in delight.
"Got it! Now let's get one without you kissing okay?"
Christmas morning went by in a rush of photographs, bad jokes, and crumpled wrapping paper. Along with her camera, Joyce received a pair of high waisted Bell bottom jeans. "It's time to show off that figure we know you have hiding under there." Mary whispered as Joyce held them up, wondering if she was going to fit in them.
Hopper received a new record player, along with a Johnny Cash, and The Beatles latest vinyl. Mary received three new cookbooks, along with a diamond necklace from Greg. Greg, received a new holster for his pistol, brown work boots, and a new set of wrenches.
A calm that can only be associated with Christmas feel over the Hopper household. The four of them lounged around the house all day, messing with their new gifts, snacking on leftovers, and just enjoying life. Snow began to fall once again around sunset. Hopper and Joyce were in his room, listening to The Beatles, and cuddling on the bed when Joyce let out a sigh, gaining Hopper's attention.
"You okay Honey?" He questioned, adjusting his hold on her.
"Mhmm. Just completely happy." She mumbled, resting her head on his chest.
"Did you have a good Christmas?" He whispered, beginning to rub his fingers through her hair.
"It was the best one I've ever had." Joyce confessed, snuggling deeper into his chest. Thinking back to the events of the past twenty four hours, Hopper had to agree, It had indeed been the best Christmas he had ever had.
"I love you Hopper." She sighed into his chest. Pulling her closer, Hopper kissed her temple.
"I love you too."
