Title: Crazy, just crazy.
Author: Hopping Mad - Chrissy

Authors Note: So I've been doing a rewatch of Stranger Things Season One. I'm clearly a big Jopper fan, so of course my thoughts ran along the lines of... why on earth did they not hook up after going through so much together? Why did Joyce end up with Bob? So here is my take.

Chapter Two

..

Two weeks after Will returns home.

..

Joyce paced the lounge her thoughts flitting from one thing to the next. She had been wanting to invite Hopper over to dinner to say thank you, but pride kept getting in the way. Jonathan had admitted Hopper had helped him fix up the house, and just yesterday a builder had arrived to fix the hole between the lounge and veranda. She had explained to the man she had no money to pay him, but apparently Hopper had already paid him. She needed to thank him, for so much. Saving Will, holding her together, fixing her house... did the list ever end really?

She hated that being a solo mum with a useless ex-husband and a shitty job meant she couldn't even afford repairs to her own house. It somehow stung more that it was him that paid the builder. She couldn't explain their relationship at all. She loved him, figured she always would. They had been friends from grade school, lovers in the latter years of school... that is until he up and left Hawkin's. It was then Lonnie sidled up and offered her the love and stability she desperately wanted. All lies of course. Jim had always told her he was bad news, and she wondered if a part of her chose Lonnie just because she knew it would make him angry when the news reached his ears.

..

After she kicked Lonnie out, she had slipped over to Jim Hopper's cabin, and the look on his face was priceless. She flopped down on her couch, remembering the look on his face…

(( "What on earth are you doing here?" Hopper looked behind her, as if expecting there to be someone else here. "It's the middle of the damn night, Joyce."

"I kicked him out,"

"For good?"

"For good." She confirmed.

"Come inside, it's freezing."

She didn't give him time to even open his mouth to speak again before she was on him. She wound her arms around his neck, the familiar smell of him enveloping her and making her heart sing. It didn't matter if she couldn't have him always - sometimes she just needed her fill. She just needed Jim Hopper. ))

She felt herself blush at the memories, and realized she had an alternate reason for wanting to invite him over for dinner. She wanted to see if there was still a chance, for just another night of solace with him. After all she had been through in the past few weeks, surely, he would need the release too? That is, if he hadn't found another woman to screw in the meantime. She buried her face in her hands. Before Lonnie she wouldn't have even questioned herself, but she was getting old and the other day she had found a grey hair. Hopper might not even be attracted to her anymore. He could find someone younger, prettier, less crazy, less burdened.

The knock at the door made her leap to her feet in fright, she had been so lost in her thoughts she hadn't even heard a car approach the house. She took a moment, hand over heart, to control her breathing.

"I'm coming," she called as the knocking continued. She opened the door to find Jim Hopper on her doorstep. Shit. "Uh, hey Hopper." She opened the door wider to let him in and found she couldn't meet his eyes.

"I just thought I'd pop by and see how you are doing." He was already in her fridge, reaching for a beer before he paused. "Uh, this alright?" He held up a can.

"Of course," she stammered out. "We are fine." She told him, her voice a little stronger.

"Then why are you shaking?" He put the beer down, a concerned expression on his face. "Joyce?" He moved closer and she found herself taking a step back.

"I should have thanked you for paying for our wall to be repaired. I'm sorry." She hung her head, knowing her face was going pink with shame. "I hate that..."

"Hey, hey." This time when he moved in closer she stayed put. "Joyce, look at me." She slowly raised her eyes to meet his. "It's a gift, call it all the Christmas and Birthday gifts I always forgot to buy." He smirked. "Including that Birthday when I told you I was your birthday present." She tried to laugh, it had been funny... but the sound got caught in her throat and turned into a sob.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled and before she knew what was happening she had thrown herself into his arms.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." He gently kissed the top of her head, and suddenly her courage came back.

"Hop," she looked up into his eyes for a moment before continuing. "I need you."

"Uh... I'm right here."

"C'mon Hop, you know what I mean." She pulled herself up on her tip toes, but he still had to bend to meet her lips. He did so without hesitating, after all, it had never been awkward between them. She was sure he had known what she wanted from the moment he entered her house.

"Ah fuck, we have to stop doing this." He scooped her up into his arms and carried her into her bedroom, she beginning to unbutton his shirt before they even reached the bed.

"I don't think we do,"

"It's not healthy." She placed a hand over his mouth and stared into his eyes.

"Shut up and fuck me." She saw a flicker of humor in his eyes.

"Well, if you insist."

"I insist." She removed her hand and replaced it with her lips.

..

She awoke to find herself laying on Hopper and he was giving her a lazy smile. She returned it and kissed his chest where she could reach.

"Thank you, for everything." She told him.

"Best thank you ever." He chuckled. "You just let me know any time you want to thank me again, yeah?"

"I always do, don't I?"

"One day we are going to have to have a serious talk about this." He told her, brows drawn together in worry.

"Not yet," she slid up his naked body and kissed him on the lips. "One day, but not yet." She repeated.

TBC.