The comfortable silence was broken by a sharp tap of metal against porcelain. Jane, startled, quickly looked up from where she was staring at her plate to watch as Hopper was settling back in his seat from across the dining table. She thought he hadn't noticed, but of course he did: she had happily devoured the overcooked meatloaf, and over zealously inhaled her buttered slice of bread...but she just couldn't get herself to stomach the steamed broccoli.

He lifted a brow, then motioned towards her plate with the fork he had just used. He pushed whatever food was in his mouth to his cheek, and spoke around the mound. "It's not gonna magically disappear if you keep starin' at it."

"Oh, Hop, it's okay." Joyce cast Jane a reassuring smile. "Really." She cut into her own meatloaf, took a bite, and grimaced at the texture. She gestured towards the meat with her knife. "We're lucky she even ate the main course."

Hopper swung his head toward Joyce. He swallowed his food, hiding his wince rather well, before protesting. "C'mon, Joyce. It was delicious." He leaned forward, placing an elbow on the tabletop, and continued. "Besides, that's not the point. She needs to learn to eat her vegetables."

"She can hear you," the young teen muttered underneath her breath. She felt rather than saw the warning scowl Hopper sent her way, and instead picked at the little green trees glumly.

"Then she can sit here until every last bite of broccoli is gone." The patented glare was sent in his direction, but Hopper didn't back down. Instead, he grabbed his plate and stood up. He managed to take a step towards the sink, before he paused and turned back around. "I mean eaten," he said firmly, priding himself for clarifying when the tiny smirk at the edge of her lips vanished. "By you."

Will, who was quietly stuffing his face at the remaining seat at the table, snickered at her crestfallen expression. He reached over to pat her on the shoulder. "It was a good try, though."

"Don't encourage her," Joyce laughed before Hopper could turn to lecture him too. The larger man grumbled to himself as he rinsed his plate.

"Why? It's gross." Jane wrinkled her nose, and pushed at the veggies again.

"Because they're good for you, sweetie." Joyce reached over to pat the top of her hand. The younger woman couldn't help but smile back. The Byers were all about reassuring pats.

"That," Hopper said as he lathered his plate, "And they'll make you big and strong."

Jane pushed her plate away at that, and Hopper frowned. "I am strong." She tapped her temple. "Up here."

"Of course you are," Joyce agreed brightly, casting Hopper an indecipherable look. "But it's also important to make sure your body is strong too."

"I don't want to be a giant, though." Jane frowned, and folded her thin arms across her chest. Hopper, confused, turned off the tap and set the plate down. "What are you talking about, kid?" He grabbed a dishtowel, dried his hands on them, and took a knee by her seat. "They're not going to make you ten feet tall or anything. They're just providing your body with, uh, energy and crap."

"Nutrients," Joyce chimed in.

"Yeah, and fibers. I think." Hopper scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I didn't really listen to the doc..." he trailed off, and placed a giant hand on her shoulder. "Just eat the veggies, kid. It's healthy, and you being healthy is very, very important to me. Okay?" He dipped his head to meet her sullen gaze with his eyes. "O-kay?"

She sighed in defeat, snatched up her fork, and offered him a curt nod. "Okay."

"Good," he grinned and stood back up.

The sink taps creaked as Hopper turned them back on, and resumed washing his dishes. The rest of the 'Thursday Dinner' evening proceeded as normal, until Jane cleared her throat and motioned towards Hop's middle.

"I meant fat. Not giant." She offered Hopper a toothy grin. "Like you, dad."

Joyce's guffaw of laughter rang out over Hop's meaningless threat.

TBC...

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