The sink faucet was turned off as Joyce finished cleaning the last dish.She dried her hands with a soft green towel.

It's honestly silly how a simple towel can spark memories.

-----

"Hopper, I swear to god , give that back-." Joyce jumped on her tippy toes to try and reach Hopper's height.

"Come on Horowitz ,what's the magic word."

Hopper replied with a huge smirk on his face and the towel moving up higher in the air.

"Jesus Hop-I'm not a kid!" Joyce pouted.

"Your as small as one-." Hopper was cut off as the small brunette pushed him against the counter.

"Woahhhhh-Joyce I didn't know you liked it rough."

Joyce's face immediately turned to the bright shade of red. Her face practically turned into a tomato.

"I-uh-." We're the only noises she could choke out.

Hopper bursted into laughter "There there ,here you go Joycie I was just joking,unless...OW ok ok I'm sorry."

Joyce pouted and flicked him off as she began to dry her hands.

-----

That memory happened three months after Bob died , she was still grieving but it wasn't as bad as the first night.

Joyce felt guilty , she grieved such a short time over Bob's death while Hopper's death loomed over her constantly. To be honest , she guessed she never really burned for Bob.

Lonnie, yes.

Hopper, obviously .

But never Bob , she just needed the normality that came with him.

Joyce shook herself out of her thoughts and made her way to Eleven's room. She knocked softly on the door.

"Come in."