MATERIAL GIRL
Madonna

Today was the day of the grand opening for the new, and refurbished, boutique. Melissa hadn't imagined her life would have come to this. The American dream a good portion of women, in the United States of America, wanted to achieve. Engaged, her own business, a baby. And a man she calls her fiancé, the greatest father to her little girl, she loved with her all of her being.

Hopper's past trauma relating to his late, daughter proved a source of the majority of his hesitation to form a connection to his little girl with Milly. Once he'd held her tiny body, in his hands, every fear and each of his of doubts washed away.

Milly laboured for two whole days, her way of coping with how to deal with the fact she was in labour was having fits about it was hoppers fault for knocking her up, until she finally found herself holding little baby Sarah. Sarah Jane Byers-hopper. Named after Jim's deceased daughter, a tribute to her, and her middle name is eleven's birth name.

Currently folding little Sarah's clothes in a neat pile Milly, the soft synth noise of tear for fear's song 'Everybody wants to rule world' played in her and hoppers shared bedroom, her whistles are abruptly turned to gasps, of joy, at Sarah's babyish gurgles as she woke up. " Hello, oh no. Did mommy wake you? I'm sorry, baby girl. It is okay, it's just me singing." Milly cooed, she pried Sarah out of her bassinet, her eyes rolled at the normal sound of hopper barking at El's bedroom door. " Let's go see what daddy is up to now."

Melissa hopped on her legs, creating a repeated motion which soothed Sarah all the while cooly sighing at hopper body barging his way into eleven's room. Mike is reading a comic book, Eleven had a as seen on tv catalog ( she is getting more good at learning words thanks to Milly ) Melissa hums.

" What's wrong?" Mike acted confused, biting back a smug little smile. Baby Sarah croaks out a tiny squeak. " Hey, Milly! Sarah is getting bigger. How old is she now? Like two months old? El was telling me she heard you crying last night, in the bedroom. You okay?" Mike wolfishly grinned pretending to be innocent. Jim narrowed his eyes at Mike, Milly instantly became beet red in the face, eleven is cracking up laughing failing to remain docile. " What? I am just asking if she is alright since she cried."

" I am going to send that little shit back to his house, sooner or later, wishing he wasn't born. One of these days I'm going to whoop his rear end. Teach him respect." Jim grunted, to Milly, taking Sarah. Melissa 'hmm'ed' her lips form a creepy smile while watching hopper holding on to her daughter securely. Sarah starts to worm and wiggle in her dads arms, her loud cries as hopper tried to kiss her sensitive squishy cheek brought an exaggerated pouty frown on his lips at how his little girl was more a momma's girl.

" That isn't fair." He grumbles.

" Kid has a fav parent already and she isn't even able to talk."

" Don't worry, Daddy. She just has to warm up to you." Melissa replied, smiling; feigning her naive stare of confusion at how hopper groans at the sound of Melissa calling him 'Daddy'. He disliked how much he liked the fact he is given the label 'Daddy'. It is a new kind of kink he'd realise he reacted to rather inappropriately. As sick as it sounded he got hot flushes hearing it.

" Stop it." Jim strained. " You know how that.. word gets me going." He creased his eyebrows. Melissa nonchalantly shimmies her shoulder, in a shrug. " Come on, Mils. Don't this to me."

Hopper practically struggled to say his words, bumping his hip in the crevice of a book shelf, his jaw became automatically ajar staring right at Melissa's ass outline, inside of her flared jeans, bending to lie Sarah in her bassinet. She was doing this on purpose, to provoke him, he thinks. Simple as her being a mother is a turn on for hopper. She is insecure of the way her body grew more softer, her hips widening after giving birth, and faint pink lines on her waist from her body stretching to carry Sarah didn't matter to hopper. He loved her new mom bod.

Melissa giggled into hoppers lips, as he softly palmed the back of her neck gripping her hair softly, and she glided her hand up to his face. His free hand roamed lower, and lower down, until he pinches her buttocks. Milly moaned, at the sensation of hoppers hardening erection as he hoisted her up onto his body, wrapping her legs around his waist.

Jim removes his tanned coloured polo shirt, ( Melissa is grateful for the door being closed shut. Hopper closed it before hand. ) Milly tugged him down to her. He, attentive to her sudden silence and hearing a deep breath intake at him trying to remove her shirt, gently ran a finger on her pelvic bone.

" You will never disgust me, Mils. All of this is simply a show of strength and what you did to bring our daughter into this world. It make's your body even more beautiful to me." Hopper murmurs, trailing kisses on her the stretched skin of her toros tentatively holding prolonged and purposeful eye contact at each kiss. He got more closer to her Jeans, his finger playing at the belt buckle. " There's nothing you need to be ashamed of, baby. Each piece of you is the most perfect thing Ever. You hear me, right?"

Melissa's face began to feel heated, she covers her cheeks. She yelps when Jim pulled her by her legs and he grabs her by the chin. " Don't hide." He softly says, leaning in, leaving the tiniest of kisses on her cheek, going below her jawline. Milly granted him access to where her neck is craned so he could continue kissing her. " So beautiful." He comments and Melissa fluttered her eyes shut.

' He's gonna make me late for my boutique's opening.'

Melissa could feel the pressure of anticipation at how dozens of mall-goers waited, outside of her boutique all eager to buy an item from the long awaited expansion store everyone wanted to see. Amanda's nerves rattled her chest, as if scared of the ridiculous amount of reporters in front of the entrance antsy to get a story about Melissa Byers new store.

" Are we ready girls?" Katherine came over, her face brightly dressed in a smile. " I think it's time to cut the ribbon."

" Ready as I will ever be, Kathy."

Milly laughed off her anxiety.

She needed to laugh or it would mean she had to face the truth she is scared of the store failing. Her competition is JC Penny, Macy's, and numerous famous fashion outlets. The chatter between waiting customers is loud, a collection of sweet 'helloes' ripple through in the crowd, when Melissa steps out. Reporter's sprung to the chance for an opportunity to get an interview however security held them back.

" Let's not waste more time, Shall we? I'd love to officially say. that Butterfly Byers boutique, is now open for business!" Milly announced stripping the over-sized red bow, her ears are flooded by the cheers. " Come on right in, you guys! gals! Everyone." She laughed quietly to herself, at how several girls stopped to her autograph. Thanking Melissa for opening a store full of exclusivity, giving a safe space for women and those who aren't accepted easily in the community. Milly pointed to a hired waiter who is in charge of filling flutes. " Champagne is being served. I wanna change things up a bit around here! It's not a normal grand opening!"

Looking out of place in his Scoops Ahoy work uniform Steve blushed scoping out the pretty ladies, checking out every lingerie clad dolls on display, and receives a few amused expressions more likely at how stupid he is in the blue and red coloured attire he had to wear for his new job at scoops ahoy. An ice cream parlour. Milly busted out in a fit of laughter upon seeing him.

" Wow, I never thought I'd see the day you, the Steve Harrington, working an ice cream store. Now I've seen it all."

" Glad my humiliation is your source of joy. It brings me so much happiness to be your own personal laughing stock."

Steve, sarcasm aside, laughed along with Milly giving her a hug. She returns the gesture while genuinely feeling happy to see Steve. It's been a quite a long journey to get there but Steve is content knowing he much prefer to have Milly as his good friend, than to ruin it by allowing the feelings he had fester into bitter jealousy.

" Congratulations, on the opening of your store, Milly. It's truly so rad, how far you've come from first starting out in town to now at the glorious starcourt mall." Steve grinned and he replaced his Scoops Ahoy hat using a faux fur topee. " Oh, Yeah. This definitely suits me. Don't you think, Milly?"

" Aren't you supposed to be working, Steve? It seems awfully unprofessional for you missing a day at your first job." Milly kicked Steve on his shin, tapping her stiletto subtly. He is a pain in her ass. " Go back, I'm not gonna be responsible for your lateness. I'll come by later on and get some ice cream." She promised grinning. Steve got rid of the topee, sassily walking off making Melissa head shake.

The lights shuts off in her store. Patrons going to check out their items groan, the entire mall is blacked out, and her back up generators do not automatically turn on. Melissa hurriedly made her way out of the store to find every and all stores are without power. Commotion arose as people on the travelators argued about how there is lack of space.

Milly had an uneasy sense of impending dread. Her face drained of colour feeling the return of the flickering in the back of her neck. Her hand is slow to touch it, simultaneously the power was magically turned back on. Everyone cheered at the sight of the bright Florescent, exaggerated, lights. A distorted roar pierced her mind and she feels her world shrinking in.

" It must be my insomnia, yeah that is what it is."

Sarah's restless cries carried in the wind, of the vacant downtown Main Street. Milly is visiting Joyce at melvald's general store, foreclosures on every property is a marvel to see as they're all gone in the rubbish because of starcourt mall, noticing her mother stringing banners up for discount prices entering the place. Joyce's mood became immensely happier at the sight of Milly and Sarah. " Oh my gosh, is that my little girl and Sa-bear? That I can see? My gosh she is growing so much, Honey. Come here!"

Joyce excitedly hoisted Sarah out of her mom's hold. Laying her on her shoulder. Melissa was standing before her mom trying to not reach for her daughter, trusting her mom's instinct a little more considering she knew the in and the outs of parenthood. She did it three times. She is her mother's first born. And now her baby is being held by her mother, her grandmother.

" You know, honey. You can tell me if you want Sarah back. I won't be hurt, 'cause I know how it is for a new mom to feel about people, y'know, holding their little ones." Joyce cooed handing Sarah back to Melissa, rubbing her little back. " It's your mother's intuition talking to you. It was the same for me, when you were her age."

The stores bell rang. Hopper walked on in and he was quick to walk towards Melissa, Joyce's eyes wrinkled at the sight of Jim lingering his hand over her girls bottom while giving her a kiss. " Much as I love to see you being sweet on Milly, Hop. Refrain from basically groping her in front of me, please." She 'Tisk' at hopper, he rolled his eyes but respected Joyce's wishes.

" What brings you here? I know Milly is here, cause i asked her to come 'round so I can talk to her about something. What's your excuse?"

" He's pouty because El and Mike are spending so much time together, Mom." Melissa spoke, loudly, shuffling her feet a little ways to an end Isle taking diapers and baby wipes. " You don't mind if I take some of these? Sar-Sar needs her diaper changed." Joyce instantly nodded then motioned to the pharmacist, Milly understood Joyce's silent response. She made her way over to the ravaged and wrecked space.

" Jim, I've been telling you. Eleven... she is a teenager now. She isn't a kid, anymore. You gotta let her have her freedom. We need to show her we trust her."

" But it's constant, Mils. Mike, that little son of a bitch, likes to get under my skin. He knows exactly what to do to irritate the hell out of me. You've seen it too! He does it on purpose!"

Joyce, amused at the lovers quarrel she's in the middle of, stayed a good metre in distance out of their way price marking on sale stock while making sure Hopper doesn't cross any lines. She trusted hopper but he did have a temper.

And oh boy, is she right.

JASMINE SPEAKS;

I can't believe I've managed to get this far into 'Out of time.' I am at the third season, already! I am so proud of myself.

It's going to be sad for sure when I have to eventually end this fanfic, Ik I will cry. :(

This is my first actual stranger things book and I feel so connected to it. :(

How did you like this chapter? Milly, Hopper & Little Sarah? We'll get to see Eleven being a big sister in the coming chapters for this part.