𝕺𝖜𝖓 𝖂𝖔𝖗𝖘𝖙 𝕰𝖓𝖊𝖒𝖞

- CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE -
HOME SWEET HOME

LIFE IN JACKSON was quiet, despite all the residents walking through the streets and going on patrols, it almost reminded Kathy of what life was like before the apocalypse. Over the past several months, she and Joel had settled down in a cozy two story house not too far from Ellie's little shack and Tommy's place. Ellie had wanted her own little space, but she occasionally stayed in the extra bedroom when she felt like it. Ellie was a growing girl, she needed some time to herself every once in a while.

Joel had settled in much more quickly, he even had his own little collection of guitars which he had retrieved on runs. Every now and then, she and Joel would duet. He'd play the guitar, she'd play on her piano in the dining room and they'd sing together. Those times were precious to them, they never wanted to give it up. Living in a community was easy, everyone had trust in each other, no one was pulling the weight by themselves. Tommy and Maria were their leaders and they shared out the work fairly. Joel and Kathy would go on runs, scouting for supplies and checking the perimeter, even Ellie had started helping out inside the walls.

Although, with Ellie being in contact with so many people, they had to be cautious with her bite mark. If someone saw it, they'd be in a world of shit, the only people who knew were Joel, Kathy, Tommy and Maria. Maria thought it best to cover up the bite, which led to them burning it away with some chemicals. There wasn't a bit mark anymore, only a chemical burn scar. Kathy had the same on her hand.

Most times, Joel often caught her staring at it and he'd feel guilty. But then she'd notice him looking and send him a smile that made all his worries fade away. He loved her so unconditionally, he could honestly say she was the best thing to ever happen to him. She and Ellie brought him out of a very dark place, they gave him something to fight for. He wasn't gonna stop protecting them until his dying breath.

He found her humming in their kitchen, her back was turned while she washed up dishes in the sink. He quietly snuck up behind her and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her back to his chest. He joined in with her, leaning is chin on her shoulder and humming the song as he swayed them side to side.

When she'd washed up the final plate, she stopped humming and sighed happily, "I'm glad we came here, Joel. This is the happiest I've been since the world ended."

He grabbed her chin and she turned around in his arms until they were face to face. He then pulled her in for a lengthy kiss, "Me too."

"I was gonna go give Ellie some dinner, do you want to come? You can give her that guitar that you've been polishing all day." Kathy grinned, reaching up to brush away the greyish hair that had fallen over his face. His age was finally catching up with him. He found it unfair that Kathy still looked as young as the day he met her.

"Of course." He agreed and kissed her again. "How can you be so beautiful?"

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Miller." The brunette smirked, giving him a final kiss before pulling out of his arms. She walked over to the counter and grabbed the plate of food that she left there, "Now hurry up, before Ellie's dinner gets cold."

"Yes, ma'am." He chuckled, leaving the kitchen to go get Ellie's guitar.

They walked down the dirt path together, greeting the other residents that they'd gotten to know in the last few months. They even spotted Tommy and Maria having a drink outside the bar and they waved at them as they passed.

Kathy knocked on the door to Ellie's cabin, opening it quietly when she heard no answer. As she held the door open for Joel, who had his hands full with Ellie's dinner and the guitar, she noticed that Ellie had her earphones in. Nowadays, Ellie spent her time listening to music and drawing in her notebook. Which was what kids were supposed to do, not have to worry about getting killed day to day.

Kathy snuck closer to the auburn haired girl and nudged her chair with her foot while Joel his the guitar behind the couch. Ellie jumped in fright and scowled at Kathy and Joel's amused faces.

"Jesus. You almost gave me a heart attack." Ellie exclaimed, closing her notebook and getting up from her desk. She had a bandage around her arm, covering her her recent burn that now took the place of her bite. 

"We tried knocking, but..." Joel mused.

Ellie nodded in understanding and leaned against the desk, "Hey. What's up, guys?"

"We brought you some dinner. Thought you might be hungry." Kathy said, taking the plate from Joel's hands and placing it on the desk for her.

"Thanks."

"And we're just checking in, y'know, folks are talking about how impressed they are with you and how well you're helping out." Joel added, fiddling with Ellie's little lava lamp.

"That's good." The teen said.

"Yeah." Joel replied softly, "Tommy and I went out riding the other day and he uh, he told me a joke and I thought about you, it's, um...Oh shoot, now I forgot it, uh....It was somethin' about a clock...how do you-"

"Joel." Ellie stopped him, "It's, uh, it's pretty late, and I gotta get up in a few hours."

"We know, sweetheart, we're gonna get out of your hair. Joel's got somethin' for you before we leave." Kathy told her daughter, hinting at Joel to get the guitar. She hated how distant Ellie was becoming ever since what happened with the Fireflies.

Joel spun the guitar in his hands as he walked over and Ellie smiled, "What's this?"

"Some folks call this thing here a gee-tar." Joel joked.

"Funny."

"Do you wanna hear something?" Joel asked the teen. After all, he had promised to play something for her. Ellie agreed.

Joel sat down on the coffee table, resing the guitar on his knee, "Promise me that you won't laugh."

"I won't laugh." She assured, moving to sit in her desk chair. "I won't"

Joel looked over to his girlfriend, "You gonna join in?"

"Sure." Kathy smiled.

Joel softly began to strum the guitar and when Kathy recognised the song, she began to sing along with him.

"If I ever were to lose you
I'd surely lose myself.
Everything I have found here
I've not found by myself.
Try and sometimes you'll succeed
To make this man of me.
All my stolen missing parts
I've no need for anymore.
'Cause I believe
And I believe 'cause I can see
Our future days.
Days of you and me."

Joel stopped strumming and sighed, "There you go."

"Well, that didn't suck." Ellie smiled. Kathy stood up and kissed Joel's forehead.

"I'll take what I can get." Joel lightly scoffed. He stroked the guitar fondly and held it out to the teen, "She's yours."

"No, no, no, no. I don't know the first thing about this." Ellie protested as she took it from him.

"Just take it. He promised that he'd teach you to play." Kathy insisted.

Ellie looked down at the guitar in her lap, "He did."

"So what do you say, tomorrow night, first lesson? Some of your mom's homecooked stew?"

"Deal."

"Okay. Okay." Joel nodded, heading for the door. They were making some real progress with her tonight.

Kathy ruffled Ellie's hair, "G'night, Sweetheart."

"Night, Mom."

Just before they walked through the door, Ellie's voice stopped them, "Did...Did you remember the joke?"

"Um...What is the downside to eating a clock? It's time consuming."

Ellie breathed a laugh through her nose, "That's so dumb."

"Yeah." Joel agreed, stepping out the door with Kathy and reaching for the doorknob, "G'night, kiddo."

❝IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ME, I AM MY OWN WORST ENEMY❞