Hey everyone sorry it's been a fewww days- I've been sick so haven't felt like writing, I'm hoping to get into the fanfic mode again... but I dunno - just gotta see- so without further or do - the chapter with my second favourite ship. No smut here, next chapter ..: will be only that..: sorry not sorry? 0.o also I'm writing this as a sort of AU for season 3 which will explain some things I hope, cause dunno what happens in season 3 yet can't wait to find out though hehe! Also it's a short chapter but it aligns with other chapters I'll be writing.

Chapter five: Cool Couple!

El has been having a real strange day... it started that morning - three days after the Castle Byers incident-

When she woke up, she was expecting the usual morning routine, Hopper banging on her door demanding she get up and eat already! Then him making her some Eggos or Eggs and bacon ... it was usually Eggos though... instead she woke up late that morning... not the usual -

8:... 3... 0... No instead she woke up at around - 10:... 0... 0...

Feeling slightly out of it, she had sloppily made her way from her room... and sat at the table waiting for the usual hair ruffle, then she could dig into her - well when finally wiping the sleep from her eyes she realised that one- No Eggos ... two- no hair ruffle... and three- no Hopper !

No instead their on an empty plate! a note sat saying.

'Hey kid, sorry I had to rush out pretty early didn't have time to make breakfast, you know where the Eggos are... an remember only have two . . . Once you've done that get ready and meet me at Joyce's house. Around 12:40. Love you kid'

"12:... 4.. 0.. " El looks contemplative, maybe thinking of what the notes says. Perhaps she is thinking why does Dad want her to meet with him there, or perhaps she is thinking of how long she has to get ready... maybe ..?

"Need Eggos.." oh ... Never mind.

So now thinking of what the note said; El was feeling completely and utterly bugged out, cause Hopper and notes aren't always a sign of good news, remembering the time two months ago- he wrote a note saying to meet him at his job seeing as he was working late, then she got there only to find him covered in cow shit, he had a case at the local farm, cow found dead unexpectedly , Hop found out the hard way that the cow died from eating plastic... the evidence being tested off of his chief uniform! El had never laughed so much... commenting to Hop how 'he looked like shit!' Hop let her off for swearing finding the dry joke kinda funny.

El thinks all this while she went to the freezer and took out two and a half Eggos taking the half out of spite! Cause if she needs to deal with shit again, she will do it with a full and happy stomach!

Finally finished eating her Eggos, El decided she better get ready now, since she had taken near an hour to eat- though to be fair she made herself another batch of two and a half Eggos feeling bored and a bit rebellious. Also her stomach has needs when comes to her delicious lover!

So throwing her napkin on her now crumb licked plate she goes to her room to get herself sorted.

Dressed in casual bubblegum jumper top and high jeans with high top shoes.

El leaves the cabin locking the door with her mind!

It's now 12:... 3... 5... according to Els watch, which is the one Mike lent her around when they first met, he had gotten a new one for the Christmas she was wandering the woods, so gave her his old one a week after the snowball!

El arriving at Joyce's on her bike five minutes early, see's Hops truck outside which makes her breathe out in comfort, she didn't quite understand why that was.. eventually putting it down to him being the only one around her for so many days. He was a comfort to her, different to how Mike comforts her - no one could even imagine getting to Mikes level of comfort for El.

Now at the door she knocks loudly, having been told by Hopper plenty of times that- just cause you opened the door once with your mind, doesn't mean you do it every time you visit Joyce's.. of course El learnt to respect that after the fifth time of using her mind to unlock the door- the fifth time being at night, the night Hopper had a shit fest, so seeking Joyce's help in cleaning shit from clothes she barged in only to face a rave crazy Joyce who was holding a gun. Joyce later laughed her butt off at Hop when finding out the late emergency!

So very much so stuck in thought El reels back somewhat when in a few seconds the door opens revealing Joyce, who isn't holding a gun this time, 'knocking good, mind knocking not good' El thinks to herself as Joyce welcomes her in.

"So how have you been sweetheart?" Joyce asks feeling all protective and motherly towards El as always, both having bonded after the salt pool situation where Joyce held her and helped her while she was in the void. Both walk towards the kitchen as El answers her.

"G-good, miss Mike though!" El replies in her unique casual way, Joyce smiles conspiracy like towards Hopper, who stands quickly looking flustered and red faced, Johnathan and Will who are still sat at the kitchen table now are giving Hop wide eyed freaked out looks, not expecting him to go all wierd all of a sudden! El just looks at him with a small smile, since she just is use to him acting awkward at times. Remembering that strange dance he did for her when he turned on the... umm v-v- vinyl. El mentally congratulates herself for getting the thought word right.

After saying hi to the boys, El sat down next to Will, while Johnathan sat opposite them. Now Joyce and Hopper stood facing the kids, feet shuffling, hands clammy - then is when Hopper slowly wraps his arm around Joyce's shoulders, while Joyce fidgets with her hands eyes wide with nerves. Johnathan is the first to click, realising something ... well photo worthy!

"Wait... are you two...?" Johnathan starts while gesturing between them both with his hand.

"Together? Well a-a-ah technically-"

Joyce begins to explain...

"Kids me and Joyce are together, as in we are now a couple!"

Hopper gets out suddenly sounding like he's giving a command rather then explaining to them the situation...

At Hoppers sudden announcement Will had jumped making his chairs leg screech, Johnathan just starts nodding slowly...

"Okay ... cool!" Johnathan says Will wide eyed smiles then.

"Yeah cool guys, that's great!" Will leads off from what Johnathan said...

Now El just looked right down confused..

"Co..uple...? El says slowly not knowing what that word means, she's heard Lucas and Dustin say it after Mike and her kissed. But no one has ever explained it to her. Yet !

Joyce smiles tenderly at Eleven adoring her innocence and finding it so endearing especially after all the young girl has been through.

"It means two people who are together romantically, like going to the snow ball!"

Joyce explains...

"Oh.. okay... cool!" El smiles happily up at the two adults now sort of getting it... she thinks- they are like me and Mike, they have a special connection.

"Yeah kid, so we just want you all to feel okay with it, and so that's why we got you all to meet us here today.. annnd we also wanted to smooth it all over with a trip to the Ahoy ice cream shop at the new mall!"

Hopper finishes making it all seem casual and not so out of normal... then again what's normal when it comes to the group of people who have seen a lot of strange things. Perhaps everything else is?

So everyone nods Will saying 'awesome'! Johnathan saying 'yeah sure', and El saying... 'cool' ..

And so then all five manage to pile into Hops truck...

An while on the ride to the newly opened Mall.

El stares out of the pulled down window, air breezing semi cool through her short hair.

And she thinks to herself - ice cream as well as Hopper - Byers time. Joyce and Dad-

They are a ... Cool Couple!