Chapter Thirty-Three

Little Sister

After leaving Steve in the girl's bathroom with Robin, Veronica walked quickly through the halls of Hawkins High and straight out the front door. She wasn't naive to the whispers in the hallway from her peers when she walked by. They also weren't very good at keeping it secretive with the giggles and pointed fingers. The fact realization of who Veronica's true father was, was kept a secret this long in the small town was amazing. She thought for sure it would come out sooner once she "came back" after over twelve years since her kidnapping.

It was like everyone around her was trying to act like that never happened along with gossiping about it at the same time.

Veronica pulled her coat around her small frame as the cold wind whipped past her as she walked through downtown. By the time she walked through the front door of the police department her cheeks were a bright rosy color from the cold, along with the tip of her nose, eyes shimmering from the unshed tears. The noise and energy of the police department were enough to make her skin feel like it was electrified as her senses went into overdrive. Her dark eyes scanned around the small town department before noticing the door at the back. On the textured glass of his office door, written in gold, was the name Chief James D. Hopper. She took a few deep breaths before walking toward the small swinging doors that sat at hip height and through the maze of desks. The closer she got to the door, Veronica was able to hear her father's voice as she spoke to someone.

"...I understand that, and trust me I'm working on it." Hopper spoke, pausing for a moment. When Veronica stepped into the doorway and saw he was on the phone. The sound of the door creaking open more caused his head to swivel at her. His blue eyes widened for a moment, before realizing who was standing in front of him. "Marty I'm gonna have to call you back later, yea?"

Hopper didn't even wait for Marty to reply before he hung up the phone. He stood from his office chair and looked at Veronica with a bit of amazement. The last person he'd expected to see at his office was, sadly, his own daughter.

"What's going on? Why aren't you in school?" Hopper asked

"I-I..." Her full lips opened and closed a few times, before she seemed to sag slightly with defeat, "I don't know...honestly."

"Is something wrong?" His thick brows pulled together tightly, moving closer to her, guiding her into his office more. Hopper closed the door, giving them privacy.

Veronica rubbed her hand over her face a few times as she walked over to take a seat in one of the two chairs that sat across from his desk. Hopper moved back to stand in front of her and leaned against the large wooden desk. The way she stared up at him with her large doe eyes made his heart stop for a moment.

"Just...something happened at school...couldn't deal with it." Veronica shrugged her shoulder, looking down at her lap as she fidgeted with her nails slightly. "Steve got into a fight because of me."

"Because of you? Did you say something?" Hopper asked, causing Veronica to quickly shake her head.

"Some of his former friends or whatever I guess they were saying some stuff about me, to him. Knowing that it would make Steve upset. He got into a fistfight with four of them." Veronica shook her head, images of Steve's bruised and bloody face flashing in her mind. "He was being a good friend and defending me."

Hopper sighed heavily, "Are kids bullying you at school? And I want you to be honest with me, Veronica."

"Yes." She answered without hesitation. "We were all naive to think that I would be going back without someone causing something. I heard a couple of the girls whispering about it when I was in the bathroom one day. Some kids' mom over heard you and Joyce talking about me. They know I'm your daughter."

"So what if they know." Hopper shrugged.

"D-Didn't want people to not know that I'm your daughter?" Her voice was soft, but the question alone was enough to have Hopper feel like a fist was put through his chest.

"No. No, never," Hopper spoke and shook his head, moving to kneel down in front of Veronica, quickly grabbing her hands. "I never was ashamed of the fact you were my daughter. Never. Did you truly think that?"

"You didn't...you made me live with Joyce. After everything and finding out the truth." Veronica spoke, "On top of that taking in El when you could've taken me in too. What else am I supposed to think?"

"It was never about shame," Hopper spoke firmly, "I thought it would be easier for you. I was in no state to take in a child when everything happened. My trailer was trashed and gone. I technically didn't have a home, or even know how to take care of a kid...on my own." Hopper hesitated and began to rub his thumb over the back of her hand, "There are somethings that you don't know, about me...and I guess I was ashamed of you finding out about it. Seeing what your old man was truly like behind closed doors."

Veronica's brows pinched together tightly for a moment, before reaching to caress his face. Feeling the roughness of his stubble as her hand caressed his cheek. "You were ashamed of yourself."

It wasn't a question. It was a feeling she was able to pick up on. Hopper's eyes closed and his head hung for a moment before slowly nodding his head.

"Yes. I wasn't a good...person...before you came back. I, on some level, still think I am that asshole that hid away from his issues instead of dealing with them. I'm honestly not sure if I am a good person still. And I knew Joyce would be better for you when it came to coming back."

Veronica frowned slightly, her hand dropping away from his face. Because looking beyond her hurt and pain, she knew deep down, that her father was probably right. She came back after twelve years, and even before that, Hopper wasn't allowed to be her father. Instead of having it be a secret that was harbored deep within his heart.

"But I need to do a better job at being your father, I want to be your father. Be able to tell you things about your mom...and Sara," His face twisted slightly with pain as he spoke the last name.

Veronica looked down at him confused, "W-Who is Sara?"

"Your little sister," Jim spoke, "Right before you...were taken, I got married. To another woman, she was amazing and I loved her deeply. And then we had a little girl, her name was Sara. She'd only be a few years younger than you right now."

Veronica softened, noticing the use of the past tense as Hopper spoke. "She's gone?"

Hopper nodded his head, a sadness coming over his face that seemed to age him slightly right before Veronica's eyes.

"Cancer. She was diagnosed a year or so after you were gone." Hopper sighed deeply, "And she passed away a year or so after that."

Veronica's chest tightened as she felt pain and loss for a sister she never knew she had. On instinct, she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her father's shoulders. Her face rested into the curve of his neck, as his arms wrapped around her. Hopper froze for only a moment before his arms tightened slightly. Veronica could feel his body sag with relief as the tension slowly left his body.

"I'm sorry," Veronica spoke sincerely, her voice slightly muffled.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Hopper spoke softly, his larger hand rubbing gently along her back.

The two of them sat there for a moment knelt in front of his desk, Hopper couldn't ignore the overwhelming happiness to take a step forward with Veronica.

After a few long moments, she pulled back and moved back to the seat, Hopper standing back up. Veronica didn't miss him reaching up to wipe at his eyes as he rounded to take a seat behind his desk.

"Am I gonna be trouble for skipping the rest of school?" Veronica asked

"It'll be our little secret for now," Hopper smiled slightly, "I think the circumstances are a good enough reason for me."

Veronica nodded her head, before speaking again, "I-I was gonna call today...about maybe coming over for dinner? Come and see El."

"I would like that a lot, and I'm sure she will too. I wasn't lying when I said she missed you, I wasn't trying to use that as a weapon or anything. I just didn't want her to be punished for my mistake." Hopper explained.

"H-How is she?"

"Doing better." Hopper nodded, "Dr. Owens has helped it so she can be out more and not be cooped up in the cabin all day. She enjoys reading, watching old movies, and music. Wheeler is over a ton."

Veronica didn't miss the sound of annoyance in her father's tone at the mention of Mike.

"Dr. Owens also...changed her name...or gave her an alias. So if anyone came around it would look more legit. Her name is Jane Hopper, legally. Though she still prefers El."

"Hopper?" Veronica whispered with her brows pulling together tightly, "S-she's your daughter?"

"Legally...yes. I-I wanted to tell you in person." Hopper spoke, his nervousness returning, "I-I wanted you to hear it from me."

"So...legally...she's my sister?" Veronica asked

Hopper looked confused for a moment, expecting a different reaction. "Uh...y-yeah. Legally she is your sister."

Veronica's face spread widely into a smile, "It's real now? It's real now."

Hopper laughed lightly and nodded his head as she seemed to celebrate the moment of Eleven being her sister, officially. Little did she know, Hopper already placed it into motion for her to legally become a Hopper as well.

He no longer wanted to hide the fact she was his little girl.

Veronica got out of the Chief's car once he pulled up in front of the Byers' home. After having lunch together and talking a little more, the both of them felt like they were taking a step in the right direction. But what Veronica wasn't expecting to see was Steve leaning against his car, seemingly, waiting for Veronica. He stood up straighter at the sight of the Chief's car, giving a weak wave and a small smile when he saw her sitting in the front seat.

"Shit, you weren't kidding," Hopper commented when he got a clear look at Steve's face. "Kid wins some points with me, defending you,"

"Steve's a good friend," Veronica nodded, "I'll see you this weekend. For dinner."

"I'd love nothing more," Hopper smiled

Veronica gave him a small side hug, before opening the door and hopping down from the truck. She slowly walked toward Steve as she heard the Chief's car pull off. Steve stood there sheepishly as he watched Veronica walk toward him.

"You and the Chief good now I'm guessing?" Steve asked once she was standing in front of him.

"On our way to being better. I-I sort of ended up at the station when I left the school." Steve nodded his head, the two falling into silence before Veronica spoke again, "I hate that you're hurt because of me."

"I would do it again," He shrugged his shoulders, "Billy and Tommy don't get to be assholes, especially to you."

Veronica pressed her lips together and sighed heavily, "I don't care that they make fun of me, because deep down, I know it means nothing. They aren't part of my life, they aren't my friends, and they don't matter to me. But you, Steve, you I care about. And I don't want to see you in pain, especially if it's because of me."

"Ronnie," Steve spoke softly, stepping closer to her.

"No, Steve," Veronica interrupts

"How you feel about me being hurt, is how I feel when I see the look that crosses over your face anytime one of those fucking assholes say anything to you," Steve spoke sternly, even beyond the bruises, Veronica noticed the stern look in his eyes and across his face. "Not when I can do something about it. Bruises heal, I don't care. I'd do it again."

Veronica sagged slightly knowing this was going to be a disagreement between the two of them. She shook her head before reaching down for his hand and pulling him into the house.

"At least let me clean you up better. Robin and I did a shit job earlier," Veronica spoke with a teasing smirk on her lips.

Steve followed behind her and looked down to where their fingers were laced together. Loving the feeling of her smaller, softer hand clasped in his – tightening the hold slightly as the two of them walked through the front door.

Only a few days later, Veronica found herself standing in front of the cabin door where Hopper and El were staying. It was a decent-sized cabin tucked in the back woods of Hawkin right on the edge of town. Veronica liked how peaceful and quiet it was with the sound of birds singing high in the trees around her. Her hand reached up to knock on the door, but before her knuckles met the worn-down wood, it swung open. Veronica had expected her father to be the one to open the door, but her eyes were directed downward to see El standing in front of her.

Her brown curls were longer than the last time she'd seen her, only slightly beyond her ears. She stood wearing an old tshirt and a pair of jeans, her brown eyes wide as she stared toward the older girl. El tried to keep her excitement about her sister possibly coming over for dinner at a minimum. But the moment she saw her, standing right in front of her, El couldn't help herself. She nearly launched herself into Veronica's arms, holding her tightly in fear that she'd fade away from before her.

"You came," El spoke, her arms tightening more around Veronica.

Veronica bent slightly to nuzzle her nose into El's curls, feeling the familiar burn of tears in her eyes. She tried to think of something to say, but it seemed her mind was blank as she was hit with the wave of happiness coming from Eleven.

"I'm so sorry," Veronica spoke, sniffling as she pulled away and looked down at El. "I'm so sorry."

El shook her head, her eyes filled with unshed tears, Veronica caressed her face slightly, wiping away the few stray tears.

"You're here now," El smiled slightly, before stepping back and grabbing Veronica's hand, pulling her into the cabin.

It was larger on the inside than it looked on the outside. It was an open area with a living room right when you walked in. It was a large yellow floral couch with a green throw blanket across the back. A brown recliner at off to the left of it and a tv is stationed in front of both with a coffee table in the middle. A bookcase sat on the wall beside the door, filled with records, books, and trinkets. Behind the television was a small brown table with four mismatched chairs tucked in. The counter of the kitchen could be seen slightly before being blocked by a wall that curved and led to the hallway kitchen. Veronica could hear the sound of pots clinking together from the kitchen along with the delicious smell of food.

Behind the recliner, Veronica could see the doorway that looked like it led to a small hallway. The worn green clapboard walls were nearly bare, except for a few photos that decorated the walls. The cabin was filled with a soft yellow glow that gave the cabin a warm feeling.

Veronica loved it.

That small bit of jealousy flared at the fact that El got to live with her father.

AN: Please leave a review with thoughts, feelings, and/or predictions.