Hey, here it is! The new chapter! Hope you enjoy! Also, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
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Ellie lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, trying her best not to break down. She had to be strong. If Joel saw her crying, he'd see her as a week little girl and not the young woman that she so desperately wanted to be in his eyes. But it all overwhelming, scenes from the other day swirled around in her head, popping up randomly with no real order other then to make her night worse. It had all happened the day before. The previous night she had slept surprisingly well, but she figured it was because she had had less than 4 hours of sleep in the past three days.
She couldn't hold it anymore, so she carefully tried to get Joel's arm from around her waist and sat up slowly.
"Ellie?" Joel said from behind her. Shit. "Where you goin'?"
"I-" She quickly looked away. "I'm just going to get a drink."
Joel let out a sigh. "Ellie, I'm here for you, sweetheart. If you need to let out whatever you've got bottled up inside, let it out. It ain't gonna do you no good if you're goin' this alone."
He sat beside her now. She held tight to him and buried her face in his remotely clean plaid shirt, crying rivers of tears and sounds of pain escaped her lips. It hurt so much. Why did life seem so set on hurting her? First her mom, then Riley, and then Tess... and now this. When was it going to take Joel away from her too? Or Chaya? She held on to Joel tightly, not even loosening her grip for a second. If this world wanted him, it'd have to pry him from her cold, dead, torn up fingers. There was no way she was going to give up.
"It's alright, sweetheart," He said softly into her hair, his thumbs making small circles on her back. "It's gonna be okay."
After an hour Ellie composed herself, but still had not let go of Joel. Her grip had at least loosened, allowing Joel to be able to feel his feet again, but she still held him like the world depended on it. And to her, it did.
"I love you sooo much, Joel," She whispered, looking up at him through the strands of her own red hair. "I... I can't live without you. Please- Please don't ever leave me-"
"Ellie," He said, taking his face in his hands. "I promise you on my life I will never leave you. I will protect your life with my very own. Do you understand me? I'm not goin' anywhere."
Ellie gave only the slightest of nods, whispering, "Okay."
"Do you wanna try an' go back to sleep now?"
She nodded and lay back down, Joel facing her, arms wrapped around her small frame. It felt as if it was the safest place in the world. Scratch that, the universe even. And it probably was. His scent filled her nostrils and his slowing breathes filled her ears, making her smile. It was a perfect night all of a sudden, and she was starting to feel funny again, the butterflies kicking up like a storm. A pair of warm lips met her forehead and she giggled at the small declaration of love.
Joel was such a gentleman sometimes, and he could be a real ass at other times, but he was hers, and she wouldn't change him for the world she always dreamed of. Even when he was in his worse state, the one that would scare even her, she would't change him. It made him who he was. He was her fearless protector, and that was what she wanted. And she wanted all of him. She wondered when she would be able to lower all his defenses. But Just being right here, right now; it felt good. It felt like a home in his arms.
"Joel?" She whispered.
He groaned. "Yeah, sweetheart?" She loved hearing that.
She looked up at him, pulling back so they could she each other's faces in the dim moonlight cutting through the dirty windows. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Try an' get some sleep, okay?" She nodded and closed her eyes, drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
He took a deep breathe and held her as close as he could without crushing her. If he never left this room with her, he'd be the happiest man alive. But the conflict raged in his head. He questioned his morality every day, but no argument could combat the way the world was now. There was far worse shit out there than an old man and a mid teenage girl being romantically involved. Besides, he wasn't THAT old yet. He still had a lot of life in him. Maybe in thirty years he'd consider retirement, but for now, he belonged to the beautiful little redhead who shared his bed.
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Fuck, it's cold! Ellie thought to herself as she sat up still drowsy. Guess it's still fucking winter. It never get's any easier, does it?
"Ellie!" She heard a young girls voice from the doorway and saw who it was. The small girl ran to Ellie's side and jumped under the covers with her.
Ellie wrapped her arm around the girl and gave her a hug. "Good morning, Chaya."
"Joel made us breakfast!"
"Oh yeah? What did he make?"
Chaya smiled and pointed towards the door. "He said it was a surprise. He said that you have to go and see."
"Alright," Ellie said, throwing off the covers and inwardly cursing the cold air, but kept a smile on her face. "Lemme get dressed then and I'll join you guys, k?"
"O-kay!" And she bounded out of the room, closing the door loudly behind her. Ellie couldn't help but laugh at the little one. She was glad she had brought her. She looked around the room for her backpack and searched throughout it, but found a note inside. Her smile got wider as she read it.
Ellie,
Look in the dresser drawer. Found some clothes that you just might like. They should fit.
Love you, sweetheart,
Joel
Well, that's sweet. She thought as she made her way to the dresser on the other side of the room and placed her hands on the nobs. He got me some new clothes. I wonder if he got me a new book- *HISSSSSSS!*
"FUCKING SHIT!" She screamed as she fell on her ass. The crafty son of a bitch seemed to leave out the fact that he had also decided to get her a snake as well. "MOTHER FUCKER!" She yelled loud enough for a neighborhood to hear.
It was harmless, but she still didn't expect it. Getting up off the floor, she found a small python in the top drawer, coiled up and looking just as shocked as she. That piece of... Picking it up, she looked at it and actually had to admit that it was pretty cute. "Poor thing," Ellie said to it bringing it's face inches from hers. "Was this Joel's doing?" It stared back, it's tongue making contact with her nose. "I think I'll call you Harold." Placing him on the end of the bed, she grabbed a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt.
A few minutes later Joel walked in as she was just sliding the jeans up her legs, her back turned to him. She flipped him off, not giving him the satisfaction of him seeing her turn around. Fucker. She clipped on her bra and slid the t over her head, pulling it down past her waist. She then turned to face him, clearly her pride hurt more than her behind. "Thanks for the clothes... dick."
Joel gave a laugh from deep inside and put his large arms around her. "Chaya thought it was a warm place to put him, an' I agreed."
"Should've figured you guys would plot against me," she pouted, but she hugged him back. "I fucking love you, you know that?"
"Don't hurt none hearin' it." He kissed her. "Love you too."
Joel led her to the kitchen, where Chaya sat at the table, drawing pictures on some old paper, looking up and smiling at the couple standing side by side.
Ellie sat next to her and Joel got her a plate of food. "Rabbit, pancakes an' canned pears, darlin'?" He said, winking at her.
"Thanks, darlin'," Ellie mimicked his thick Texas accent. It kinda sucked, but it made him chuckle.
"Look!" Chaya said, hold up her art. "Joel got me some paper and crayons!"
"Awesome!" Ellie bumped shoulders playfully with her. "That's really pretty! Who's in that picture?"
"That's Joel, you, and me!"
Looks like the family you've always wanted, Ellie. Just need a house to call a home...
The little girl looked serious for a moment. "Are you and Joel married?"
Ellie nearly coughed up her breakfast. She'd never been referred to as Joel's wife, and the thought made her face warm up. "N-no," She stuttered.
Chaya frowned, the gears turning. "Oh. Do you two like each other? Like a mom and dad like each other?"
Ellie's gaze met Joel's, who looked back at her, a glass cup in one hand and a towel in the other. He seemed just as at loss as her. "Yes?"
"That's good. 'Cause last night I saw you guys kissing and stuff."
"What that picture?" Ellie asked, hoping to change the subject. Is it getting hot in here?
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Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter. It was fun writing it :D I'm hoping to make this a very long storyline, at least 50 chapters, but we'll see how it goes. Also, get ready, it might get a little steamy in upcoming chapters, and I believe a Christmas special is in order. Before things get too strong between our two awesome badass main characters, please let me know it I should continue the slower pace in their relationship, make it complicate, or speed it up. I know I haven't posted much up until now, but I'm hoping to get back in the sway of things. Thanks for the reviews, follows and favs, it means a LOT to me! (^_^)
( By the way, I edited this scene because there was something that just didn't quite seem to fit, so if any of you who saw this before the update are wondering what happened, you now know. If you were here to read that scene, you know where I made the changes and honestly I had someone point it out and I agreed that it should be changed. I had just got back and wanted to speed things, along, not thinking things through due to how late it was. Thanks for pointing out a critical plot hole, it was much appreciated! :D )