Writers Intro: Hello, I'm quite new to the whole writing scene so would love to get some feed back on this. To set up the scene this is a "The Last Of Us" fanfic. I thought that there was just so much left unsaid and untold and with no confirmed sequel i decided to create this to try and fill in what happened next in my mind. I do intend to try and keep original characters to a minimum but i have already decided that i must have at least one for my Plot line to work and yes he or she will be playing a MAJOR part. However there will be plenty of the original characters from the game. BTW this thing is going to be littered with spoilers as i will be carrying on straight from the end of "The Last Of Us". I will be following the story of Ellie and Joel as they enter Jackson.

Chapter 1: A Fresh Start

"Swear to me that everything you said about the Fireflies is true..."

Joel stared at Ellie for a brief moment before finally saying "I swear". Ellie nodded while looking straight back straight back at Joel.

"Okay..."

Joel and Ellie continued their short hike down the cliff side to Jackson with neither of them saying anything to each other. The path was rough and overgrown but the actual scenery around them was beautiful. Ellie would every now and then stop to look at the trees or the wildlife and take in the sights, something she had been denied of while in the quarantine zone. Some how everything seemed brighter without armed patrols and concrete walls. She then looked out to her right and looked at Jacksonville. It wasn't as big as Boston or some of the other areas they had visited in their year long adventure but it was safe and it was somewhere they could call home.

The river that ran straight through Jackson provided the town with power via a hydroelectric plant further up the river. It also provided the town with water for drinking and sanitation. The fields behind Jackson provided farm land for crops and live stock, The people of Jackson were doing better than most of the remaining quarantine zones however the previous winter had caused issues for Jackson with bandits in the area becoming a real nuisance and hitting large food stockpiles so rationing was in effect.

Ellie looked over at Joel and wondered how truthful he had been with her. She had come to see him as a sort of father figure but she still hadn't got him completely figured out. He suddenly seemed distant since she had asked him about what had happened with the Fireflies. She looked back over toward Jackson and quickly realized how much closer they were. They had moved quite quickly all thing considered and were now standing only a few meters away from the towns walls.

"So do we just knock?" Ellie asked in a sarcastic tone.

Joel looked over at Ellie and shook his head before sighing. He looked back towards the wall and then to the sheet metal gates, hoping to find someone to talk to. As luck had it there was a sentry sleeping in a plastic lawn chair on top of the wall.

"Excuse me!" Joel called up to him. The man stirred from his sleep and looked down at the unlikely pair before adjusting a red cap that sat loosely on his head. He picked up a hunting rifle that was leaning against his chair, yanked back the bolt , and leveled it with Joel's head.

Joel quickly positioned himself in front of Ellie before calling back "My names Joel, I'm Tommy's brother!...Maria's brother in law!"

The gates suddenly opened revealing Tommy and Maria.

"Why is it that when ever I come to say hello I have a gun pulled on me?"

Jimmy erupted into laughter before pulling Joel into a hug, Maria on the other hand wasn't fond of the joke.

"how ya been brother? Did you get that girl to the Fireflies?" Tommy asked between bouts of laughter.

"Ask her yourself." Joel replied before stepping aside to reveal Ellie.

"Well how you doin' Ellie?" Maria asked.

"Fine thanks, but I could do with some food." Ellie replied, bringing her arm up to her stomach.

Tommy motioned for them to come inside the town.

He gave them a quick rundown of the town and all that they had to offer. Joel spoke to Tommy about gaining a permanent residence within the town to which he said that they'd sort something out.

The town was in relatively good condition and only a handful of building were deemed unsafe for habitation. The streets had people milling about and talking to one another about daily life and other gossip. It actually reminded Joel of what life used to of been like all those years ago, It brought a smile to his face as he thought he might actually have a decent life here and Ellie might have a safe one. Tommy and Maria listened to the tales that Joel and maria had from their times traveling contently and the people they had met along the way. Some details like the cannibals and their hebephile leader ,David, were kept quiet as some of those memories were still to painful for Ellie to talk about.

"Well it sounds like you've had quite the little adventure." Maria joked.

"Something like that." Ellie yawned "Oh man I'm tired."

Tommy explained that they didn't have any housing ready at that moment in time for them to move into. At least not until morning.

"But you're more than welcome to stay in our home for the night" Tommy grinned.

"Thank baby brother" Joel replied.

Maria then motioned for Ellie to follow her with her hand "We have a spare room that Ellie can have but you can sleep on the couch."

Joel laughed then nodded. Tommy,Maria and Ellie then disappeared up the stairs of Tommy's home.

It was a small redbrick house with two floors and a few small windows. The interior was faded but otherwise clean of dust and decay. The room he was currently standing in was a small room that served as a living room/Kitchen. It had some work surfaces around the side of the room with a small camping stove resting on top. There was a well worn coffee table sitting in the middle of the room and faded brown sofa pushed back against the wall.

Joel removed his Assault rifle off of his back and placed it on the table along with his revolver.

He then placed his pack on the sofa as a pillow before lying down to try and gain some well earned sleep.

He awoke to find Ellie and Tommy sitting around the Coffee table on some camping stools with his rifle disassembled down to it's core parts.

"Good morning brother" Tommy called looking over his shoulder "Hope you don't mind but I'm teaching Ellie how to clean a rifle."

"No problem I guess...just...be careful okay..." Joel yawned.

Maria then strolled into the room and placed three plated onto the table before going back over to kill the gas on the stove.

"Are those...eggs?" Joel asked with amazement

Maria nodded and then laughed. "I forgot how people in the quarantine zones live off MRE's and tinned food."

Joel wasted no time in eating the eggs and semi-toasted bread.

"Sorry about the toast, not much I can do with a camping stove." She explained.

"Don't worry. It could of still been flour and I wouldn't of complained, Trust me the eggs made up for it."

Ellie laughed as she also began to eat her breakfast while cleaning out the lower receiver of the rifle.

She notice a small pin lying on the table and picked it up to examine it much more closely.

"So what does this do then?"

Tommy leaned over to take a look at the thin piece of metal and explained that it was a firing pin and it's purpose was to ignite the round when it was in the chamber.

Tommy then turned to face Joel and broke out into a smile.

"Whats up with you?" Joel asked.

"Nothing. It's just nice to have you back. Oh and by the way, a few of my people have moved a few things into the old house across the street from here. If you want it...Its yours..." Tommy grinned.

Joel smiled and looked at Ellie "Well do yo reckon?"

Ellie looked over at Joel and smiled "Wait I'm being involved in the decision making now?"

"No were gona move into it either way but his way you get to feel like you had some input on the subject." Joel teased.

"Ha ha." Ellie spat back sarcastically.

"Sure Tommy, thanks."

Tommy grinned then shook his head at the two of them and their father-daughter banter.

Ellie quickly re-assembled the rifle and presented it to Tommy whom , upon inspection of the rifle , was very much impressed.

"Make a gunsmith out of you yet." He mused.

A low, rapid thud could suddenly be heard from above causing every one to look straight up at the ceiling.

"What the fuck is that?" Ellie inquired.

"No idea, but pass me my gun." Joel answered.

Authors Notes: I Hate cliff hangers...aren't I just awful...Oh well. As for a hint as to whats going to happen...Britain is all I'm going to say :D I'm a horrible person oh well Ill update as fast as I can :D