It had been six months after they returned from their trek across America. After the fireflies…David…Sam and Henry. It all felt like a surreal nightmare to Ellie; a nightmare that never stops. Every waking moment, every second spent of her life is danger. Danger, be it hunters, clickers, bloaters, or stalkers, it never stopped. And yet, out of all the hell and hardships, there was one man who helped her through it all. After all the bloodshed, he was there. After the dust settled, he was there. Joel. The one man she seemed to trust most in this fucked up world of murder and lawlessness. The ONLY man she trusted. He would give his life for her and she understood that because she would do the same for him.
"We found the Fireflies…" She felt it. The lie. But she wouldn't call him out on his bullshit; she would wait. Wait and see if he tells her the truth. How was she ever supposed to trust this man if he would lie to her about something so extreme? "Swear to me…Swear to me that EVERYTHING you said about the fireflies is true." Don't you fucking lie to me Joel… He was hesitant and kept fiddling with his watch. "…I swear." That was it, the moment of deception. Ellie felt disappointed that her guardian hadn't told the truth. Yet somehow, she felt okay. Everything Joel did was to protect her. He had killed so many men to ensure her survival. He held off giving her a gun for the longest time because he'd thought she'd get hurt. When she jumped off a bridge into rapid water currents, he jumped right after her. He didn't care if he lived or died, he just wanted her safe. Ellie understood this. She understood why Joel is lying to her. That the reason he's lying to her, whatever the reason might be, is to protect her. As much as Ellie didn't like it, she got it. "…Okay." Joel nodded his head then spoke. "Well alright then…" They continued to walk to Tommy's town completely silent.
It didn't take long for them to get settled in. Like Tommy said, there was place for them there. They moved into a house that was vacant. Tommy told them that a young couple used to stay there but were killed by infected during a supply run. Joel had to hide his emotions as he always did. It reminded him too much of his wife. Young couple, picket fence, it was all…too much. TV, couch in the living room, two bedrooms. Not bad. Not bad at all. Ellie went to her room to take a nap. She still had it in her thoughts. The lie. No matter how much she tried to dismiss it, convince herself that it's just nothing; the lie kept creeping up to her subconscious. Joel was just outside her room; he knocked twice on the open door.
"Hey." Joel attempted to awkwardly make conversation. He didn't like making conversations, but with her he'll make exceptions.
"Hey Joel. What's up?
At that moment, staring into her eyes, he forgot what he'd meant to say, in fact, he forgot why he wanted to speak to her. His eyes fell to the floor, his right hand over his watch. He began to speak after a short silence. "Ellie…You know…my life hasn't been easy. I've lost…so many people in my life..." He fought through the emotions that were welling up in him. He wasn't used to doing this sort of thing. He looked at his watch. "…Sarah." Ellie began to feel so sad. This man had everything taken away from him. Ellie was born unto this life; Joel was transformed by it.
"Joel…you don't have to-"
"No, I do. Ellie you are the best thing in my life. I would rather die than lose another…" He took a deep breath, trying so hard not to burst out in tears. "…I know you never had a dad..."
Now it was Ellie who was fighting back tears. The letter and the switchblade were the only mementos she had of her mother, but absolutely nothing from a father. She'd read diaries about fathers who held their daughters close when they felt scared. Whenever they were sad, their father would be the shoulder to cry on. She wanted that…a father. She got up from the bed and walked towards Joel. She stopped just a few inches away from him. She looked up at him…He looked down to her. They looked into each other's watery eyes, than embraced not letting go. They were there holding one another, both now crying. They let it all go. Everything that they had ever gone through, all the pent-up emotions they kept inside, they let everything go. Ellie sobbed on Joel's shoulder while his tears soaked her hair. No matter what would come their way, they would have each others' back. No matter how uncertain her trust would be towards Joel, he will ALWAYS be her father in her eyes. They'll live their lives, father figure/daughter figure.
"I'll never leave you, babygirl."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
This time, he didn't hesitate.