I am so sorry about the long gaps between updates I'm kinda hopeless. I really hope that the people still reading this fic don't hate me too much. Constructive criticism is always welcome.
Chapter 6:
Steve arrived at Hopper's on Christmas Day with a big smile on his face. After dodging the various traps and trip wires, he knocked the special knock on the door. The door opened by itself, revealing a very happy Jane. She pulled him inside, barely letting him deposit his bag under the small tree. Hopper was stood in the kitchen, making faces at a very raw turkey.
"Steve." He said gruffly.
"Shoo, out of the kitchen." Steve said, almost impatiently but with a teasing smile. Hopper almost looked relieved. Steve set about making Christmas dinner. He left the turkey in the oven, heading to the living room. Jane was waiting patiently for him.
"Presents?" She asked, a slight inflection in her voice. Hopper rolled his eyes but nodded. After the party, Steve had handed Hopper his and Jane's gifts, waving off the 'You didn't have to'. He'd given the other kids their presents too, ushering them out and cleaning up the remains of mess in his kitchen. Jane started ripping through paper, eyes wide and excited. She'd gotten a dictionary, encyclopaedias (that Steve suspected belonged to Hopper before), one of those writing books for handwriting, a plushie toy, some new clothes (really, Steve thought, did she like flannel that much?), her own Walkie talkie (Steve suspected it had something to do with Mike) and a book of fairy tales (Steve had deliberately picked the one with the nice ending and princesses). Jane looked ecstatic. She looked up at Hopper with the most genuine smile anyone had seen in a while. Hopper smiled back.
Three presents promptly ended up right by Hopper. He looked surprised. One was from Joyce (a scrapbook of all things, but Hopper gave a half smile), another from Steve (he'd given him a cook book of simple meals, handwritten of course, to suit Hopper's taste). Hopper had patted Steve on the shoulder. If anyone asked, the man would deny the smile on his face. Hopper stared at the poorly wrapped gift that was left. He supposed it could be from Flo but by the way Steve was grinning it didn't seem like it. Hopper unwrapped the gift to find a mug with the words 'number 1 Dad' written on it. Jane smiled brightly. Steve had taken her aside at the party and asked her if she understood Christmas. She had given him this odd look and said something along the lines of 'Mike said it was a holiday'. So, he'd explained it the best he could, missing out the weirder parts that he figured might be a bit hard to grasp. When Jane got the gist of it, she asked about gifts. She and Steve talked for a bit, Steve promising that he'd get the gift for Hopper for her (he managed to negotiate for some babysitting power over her). She hadn't been too sure but Steve managed to grasp what she was asking for so he got it. Hopper stared wordlessly at it. He looked between a brightly smiling Jane and a grinning Steve.
"Thanks." He said gruffly. Later, he would deny that the corners of his eyes had pricked with tears. And if the mug ended up on his desk at work, no one needed to know.
When dinner was finally ready, Jane looked like her eyes might pop out of her head. It was definitely one of the more extravagant meals Steve had cooked for them. Hopper patted his shoulder, telling him it looked great while Jane didn't know where to start. Hopper carved the turkey, serving up a little of everything onto Jane's plate. She managed to restrain herself long enough for Steve and Hopper to get their own portions. Jane nibbled, which Hopper thought was cute. Steve smiled and burst out laughing when Jane spat out a sprout like it was the most disgusting thing on Earth.
"Don't worry Jane, I don't like them either." Steve said, piling some broccoli (who has broccoli at Christmas?) onto her plate instead, removing the sprouts. Hopper sighed, realising that meant the sprouts fell to him. The food was polished up, Hopper hiding the left overs for another day. Jane and Steve sat in the living room reading through the book of fairy tales. Steve read in a way that reminded Hopper of a parent, giving each character a different voice. He watched fondly as Jane curled into Steve's side and slowly fell asleep. It wasn't long before Steve started dozing himself, book falling to the floor with a thump. Jane woke up, eyes half lidded with sleep. Steve yawned widely.
"I should be going." He hummed. Jane looked upset as Steve stood up, stretching out the cricks.
"Wait kid." Hopper said, pulling something out of the dresser. He handed Steve an oddly wrapped gift. "From me and Jane."
"Oh, you didn't have to." Steve said, echoing Hopper.
"Shut up and open it." Hopper said with a roll of his eyes. Steve carefully pulled the paper apart. It was a little snow globe with a cabin and snowman inside. "It's nothing fancy, Jane thought you'd like it." Steve didn't respond for a bit.
"Yeah. I really do." Steve murmured. Hopper frowned, he didn't think it was that bad a gift. Looking closer he could see Steve holding back tears. Jane hopped to her feet and pressed herself between Hopper and Steve.
"Shake." She said. Steve gave her a watery smile and gave the globe a little shake. Jane smiled, pointing at the cabin. "Home." She said.
"Home." Steve agreed. If Steve fell asleep on the sofa that evening, clutching the snow globe. Well, stranger things had happened.