Thank y'all for the reviews, follows and favorites. I really appreciate and try to write a unique response for each one of you. To speed the release process, though, I didn't answer since 17th July. I'm so sorry. But I saw everyone who's interacted, indeed. So, to thank you, here's the fourth chapter.


YOUNG HEART

CHAPTER FOUR

"What the hell you're doing here, Bill?", said Joel. He two-stepped forward to protect Ellie from his friend who's cursing everything and everyone.

"I came here to see with my own eyes – arrgh… if you really kept the girl with you."

"Bill-"

"Hope you came on foot so you'd lose some fat."

"Oh, fuck you!"

"Fuck you, fat ass!"

"Ellie!", he shushed, "Please… go inside." And she obeyed – not before changing some glares with the older man. "Anything else?"

"'Anything else?', you say. Why the fuck you kept the girl! I thought you would give her to the Fireflies. What Tess thinks about that? Actually, where is she?"

"Let's… not talk about it out loud, ok?"

"Why? She's still sleeping? Call her to-"

"Bill. Not here."

Bill felt something fishy going on so he decided to follow his friend's lead. Joel could feel someone was watching them.

She did go in. But that doesn't mean she would not spy them.

"Ellie, I know you are listening to us."

"…Damn."

"We're going to walk for a while."

"Are we?", Bill asked and was surprised with two improvised fishing rods.

"C'mon."

Sitting on a big rock, the two men were talking while waiting for some fish. Bill has never imagined Joel that way: so peaceful with himself, fishing like no shit is happening outside.

"Why do you let Tess taking care of the brat? Don't tell me you're a family now."

"That's not it, Bill."

"So what?", he thought he'd catch a fish but it was nothing, "No time for mysteries."

"About Tess…"

"Woah! I catch one!"

"G-Great, Bill. Now we have a different dish tonight. Are you going to stay with us?"

"Of course. I have no legs to go back to my town. But what about Tess?"

"We can talk about it later. It won't make a difference anyway."

In the end of the afternoon, before the sunset, they went back home with five fellas. They would sure have a nice feast that night.


Even being Ellie's job chop the food, that time Joel was in charge. The young girl decided to stay in her room and Joel didn't complain. It was better than having her and his friend fighting every time.

It didn't take too long for the food be done. Before dinner, Ellie went downstairs to the place they made for the cow to feed her, and then went eat. "First the cow, then us." - it was like a ritual already.

Sitting in the floor, the three of them started to eat. Put aside all the provocations between the two childish people, Joel found the dinner great and delicious, and so did Ellie and Bill. The latter, by the way, brought some things when he heard about Joel moving. He brought food – which Ellie was really thankful and thought it was about time to him eat less -, some old clothes and-

"A skirt?", she asked.

"Girls used to wear that."

"For what am I gonna wear a damn skirt, Bill? Walking in the forest chasing butterflies?"

"I don't give a shit for what you'll wear this. I just brought it. So take it!"

"Just say 'thanks', Ellie.", Joel said with all world's calmness.

"Thanks."

"Hunf… and I noticed you don't have a table but there's lot of wood outside. I can help you craft one."

"Nah, don't you worry. Tommy and Maria are working on it."

"Ok then."

While Bill was looking for the other things he carried till there, Joel looked at Ellie and she got the signal to go upstairs.

"Adult shit. Got it.", she stood up and went to her room.

Bill started talking and Joel looked at him.

"When?"

"Just before meeting you in your town."

"Damn. How are you, Joel? I mean, I deny almost every time but I suffered after seeing my buddy killed himself. Even though that bastard was a douchebag, stole my battery and left me, I liked him."

"I had to, Bill. Not only for me but for…", he looked upstairs.

"You got really close, uh?"

Joel nodded.

"She kinda make me feel that I could be my old self, you know? She awoke what my babygirl started on me decades ago."

"You know this is too cheesy for you, don't ya?"

"Fuck you."

"So do you. And what happened with your business with the Fireflies?"

Always that someone talks about the faction or Joel hasn't his mind busy, they haunt him. It was hard to overcome but he needed it for Ellie. The decision he – they – made has no turning back.

"My friend,", he started, "after all the shit that hit the fan, I don't give a damn anymore. I just think about my safety and Ellie's. I'm not a hero. I never was."

If that was possible, Bill could swear Joel would cry right there.

"I won't judge you, Joel. Like you didn't that time."

"Inevitable" would be a perfect word to what happened next. They couldn't help thinking about the incident and laugh.

"Back there I thought I'd be in debt to you forever."

"You should."

"I shouldn't. Time's changed and I suffer no more."

"I'm glad with this, Billy… We can assume the apocalypse did at least one good thing for the world: decimated prejudgments."

"…Ditto."


It was late at night, she was sure. Her eyes were heavy, sleep dominating her, but the invader wasn't discreet.

"The fuck you're doing, Fat Ass? Stalking a sleeping baby chick?"

"Hell no. You're not my cup of tea."

Thanks to Maria's hydroelectric, they have some energy in the small farm. Ellie turned the lights on and found Bill carrying a lot of stuffs with his hairy arms.

"What's all this trash?"

"It isn't trash. I brought these as well because they are just occupying space at my place. And I don't have time or guts for 'em."

He placed all the things he was carrying in Ellie's mattress. Her eyes in that very moment shinned like two emeralds.

"Oh, man. Oh, man. Oh, man!"

"I don't think you have many things to do here, so…"

"Bill! I think I won't insult you anymore," she opened one of the dozens comics Bill has brought, "haha! I just stopped here!"

He snorted and kept in silence. It's been too long since the last time he saw a happy kid. Well, actually, a kid in any mood.

"Uhm, Bill?"

"What?"

"You know I stole some things back at your town, right?"

"Yeah, you brat. I felt sorta empty."

"One of those things were a magazine full of men nake-"

"I know."

"Goddamnit.", he thought, "Here we go again."

As in old times, if he was caught he had to explain himself. He knew people don't think that was normal but what could he do? He just likes that. That is his cup of tea.

"Let's just say I rather strong coffee, haha…", he smiled without realizing he lost himself in thoughts.

"…good taste". That was what dragged him out of his mind.

"Excuse me?"

"I said you have a good taste."

"What…"

That's ok. That always happens. People use to make fun of him and he was used to it. The thing was there wasn't that society's sarcasm in the girl's eye.

"…the apocalypse did at least one good thing."

This is it! How he didn't get it earlier? Joel was so fucking right!

Who was in front of Bill wasn't society or one of that kind. The world fell apart and so did all the concepts humanity once created and believed. There is nothing to be afraid of!

Ellie was being really honest with him. She doesn't even realize what she said would put her in a moral bonfire decades ago. She doesn't seem to be offended for Bill's magazine because she wasn't indeed. In centuries of History the schools taught the formers humans, that was the first time Bill saw a little drop, a small fragment.

Of hope.

"Have you ever heard about Adam and Eve?"

"They appeared in the comic? I haven't seen them yet."

Bill laughed, "They are… kind of book's characters, yes. In my time people would kill for that book."

"Damn. That's sick."

"Yeah. Well, in the story it's said they were the first humans. From them everything we had back there was made and achieved."

"Like Humanity's Parents?"

"Exactly. And now the world's shut down. It's possible the fungus will exterminate those infected and no longer infect people that recluse themselves. You know that, right?", she nodded, "And then maybe the young hearts born in this mess will build a better place to live…"

Ellie tried to pay attention to everything her new friend said but sleep took all from her again. He didn't blame her. Before leaving, he whispered alone.

"Perhaps… you are the first of them."


"See?", said Ellie holding the old guitar placed in her lap, "The whole song!"

"I'm impressed.", Joel answered, "I thought in a month you would only learn half of that."

"I'm special, y'know."

"Yeah, yeah.", Joel noticed Ellie was getting too cocky. Maybe she was in that phase.

"So?"

"So what?"

"It's your turn, old man."

"Ha... I was hoping you'd forget this."

"I didn't. Now, go."

"Okay…", he cleared his throat.

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Life is but a dream.

"That's it."

"Damn. You... you should sing…"

She was speechless. Joel knew since he was younger that if things went bad, he could survive singing. He felt satisfied.

"…to kill Clickers."

"What?"

"You're better milking Gene, dude."

"No milk for you today.".


I think this is the true end. My lady cat is very sick and I'm down for everything. She's my friend for 18 years… and I am 18 years, so… I think y'all got it how I'm feelin'.

Any new things I'll start another fic. I guess this one is done.

I love Fringe series so I named the cow Gene. If you like Fringe as well, you'll understand.

Thank you to stay with me until the end. The presence of all of you made me happy in ways you can't imagine.

Take care, everyone. I can be back anytime. And if you have suggestions, they all are welcome :))