Ellie sat at the kitchen counter, eating her scrambled eggs and sausage while Joel ate across from her while looking over the plans for the next construction assignment. The crew was done building houses, as the settlement had more than enough living spaces for the families already living there and for a few more if any came in. Now they were going to work on building another pantry space for all the rations and a separate space for extra supplies by the hall.

Ever since Ellie got home the night before, she's been hoping Joel would tell her about him and Esther but he never did. Not when she got home, not over dinner, not when he said goodnight, and now not at breakfast. Figuring he wouldn't be saying anything, Ellie just ate her breakfast while Joel looked at his blueprints.

A knock at the door broke Joel away from his blueprints and Ellie from her eggs. "I'll get it, kiddo." Joel told Ellie as he stood up. "I'll get it."

Joel went over to the door, unlocking and opening it up to find Sadie standing on the porch. Her hair was down and rested on her shoulders in waves, her gray t-shirt accenting her eyes that lit up when she smiled. "Morning." she greeted, standing with her hands behind her back.

"Hey Sadie." Joel greeted with a warm smile, always happy to see her. "What's up?"

"I had to see Tommy this morning and before I left my house I found something un my kitchen cabinet that you may enjoy."

Before Joel could respond, Sadie moved her hands from behind her back to reveal a familiar blue container with a tan lid. "It's a dark roast." she told him. "I remember you saying at the town dinner how much you missed coffee and well, I think it's a sacrifice I can make."

Joel's eyes widened the second he saw the container followed by a smile. Sadie held the container out to him. "It's all yours." Reaching out, Joel took it from her gratefully as he read the label he read once so many years ago. He's had a couple cups of coffee since he got to the settlement with Esther, but he hasn't had his own grounds to brew "Sadie…" he said as he looked up at her. "Thank you so much, but I'm not even sure if I have a coffee maker."

"Yeah you do." she told him. "Tommy put one in when he put the house together for you. It should be in one of the kitchen cabinets."

"I haven't been through all of them, must of missed it."

"Well enjoy."

Sadie turned to leave, but Joel stopped her. "Wait a sec." he said, making her turn back around. "Think I could convince you into having a cup with me and Ellie?"

A smile appeared on Sadie's face, a sight that never got old. "Won't take much convincing." she replied. Joel stepped out of the way to let her in and the two rejoined Ellie in the kitchen. "Hey Ellie." Sadie greeted as she took a seat next to the teenager while Joel found a coffee pot in the cabinet under the sink. He plugged it in and got it set up to make a pot of coffee while he listened to the conversation between Ellie and Sadie.

"What are we working on today?" Ellie asked.

"Honestly with all your help, all the cars are fixed and tuned up as best as they can be." Sadie told her. "All the oil and tires are changed, they all have gas, headlights are fixed, batteries are charged, and we put new radiator hoses in…there isn't much left to do in terms of cars. But I'll figure out some more things you can help me out with when I get back."

"Back?"

This caught Joel's attention, causing him to sit down with the two at the counter while the coffee brewed. "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mention it before." Sadie apologized. "Tommy and I go on a water run once a month that's a two and a half day deal."

"Water run?" Joel asked.

"Yeah. The settlement gets its water from the river you two followed to the plant back in the fall, but when you follow it up the mountain it leads to a small freshwater spring. We drive up on the trails and gather a few barrels to add to the surplus supply in case something goes wrong at the plant."

Before Joel could ask anything else the coffee maker sounded, signaling it was done. Joel stood up and grabbed two coffee mugs, asking Sadie how she took her coffee. "Just milk and sugar." Joel set down the mugs on the counter before getting the milk and sugar that he also added to his own cup of Joe.

Ellie watched as Joel and Sadie added equal amounts of milk and sugar to their coffees, making her raise an eyebrow. "So when are you leaving?" Joel asked Sadie as they waited for their coffee to cool down a bit.

"That's what I am going to talk to Tommy about this morning. Hopefully within the next few days before it rains again. The trails aren't fun in the rain."

Sadie and Joel then sipped at their coffee, changing the subject to other things such as baking and construction. It was a comfortable morning, the whole thing feeling natural. They sat at the counter with and Ellie and enjoyed one and then a second cup of coffee before they all had to start their days. Joel had to go start the new construction projects and Sadie had to go to Tommy and Maria's which Ellie tagged along on to see if she could return to the stables for couple of days. After the three cleaned up the kitchen from, they all left the house in different directions.

Although it was only a little after nine, the weather was already warming up significantly with summer kicking as it went farther into June. The sky was blue with barely any clouds and a soft breeze that assisted in cooling down the heat. On the way to Tommy's, Sadie could tell something was on Ellie's mind. She had a hunch it had to do with what Zach told her last night. She knew Ellie was in a weird position. She wasn't Joel's own, but she was important to him. As important as Tommy and Maria. Joel possibly bringing someone into her life was a big, complicated step and something Ellie never had to deal with before.

"What's on your mind, Ellie?" Sadie asked.

Looking at her, Ellie knew she knew. "Zach told you."

"Yeah."

Letting out a breath, Ellie shoved her hands in her pockets. "I just don't get why he won't tell me if he's happy with her."

"He wants to make sure he's bringing the right kind of person into your life. I get where he's coming from there."

"Really? How's that?"

"Um…" Sadie sounded followed by a pause. "I just know how much he cares about you and so would anyone who saw you two with one another."

From that moment until they arrived at Tommy's, Ellie could tell a nerve was struck in Sadie since she was a bit quieter. She couldn't tell what, but something was bugging her. Before she could ask what it was, they stepped onto Tommy and Maria's porch. Sadie knocked on the door and it opened moments later revealing Tommy. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt with a hand towel draped over his shoulder. "Hey bud." Sadie said. "Ready to talk water run?"

"Sadie I think we're gonna have to figure something else out on the run." he told her. "Maria's got a stomach bug. She has a fever, is throwing up, and I can't leave her right now."

"I'm sorry to hear that, is there anything I can do to help?" Sadie offered.

"See if there's anyone who can go with you in my place. I have a feeling more rain is coming and I'd really like to get a few more barrels in the surplus."

"Alright, let me know if Maria needs anything."

"Will do, thanks Sades."

After that, Ellie and Sadie left the porch and started walking again. "Well how about we go up to the stable. Check on the horses you've been dying to see again."

"But what about Mary and Katelyn? If Pete found out-"

"Oh forget Pete. If he gives you any shit, he'll have me to deal with. Now you've seen me in my mechanical element, now let me see you in yours with some horses."

Ellie smiled and the two went up to the stables where Ellie smiled at the sight of some of the horses. Lucy and Ashes were out enjoying the warm sun with two other horses. "I'll hang by the fence. I'll watch ya ride."

"Alright." Ellie replied as she rushed over to the stable happily. She walked into the fenced in area and brought Luna, an all-black horse, in to get a saddle on her. Going through the motions, she brushed Luna first before placing the pad on her back followed by the saddle. She tightened the straps and then attached the reins to the bridle. As she did this, it made her think about Winston. She missed him and remembered how sad she was when she found out about his passing. But she found comfort in the fact that he didn't get torn apart by clickers or shot down by bandits, he died a natural death.

Once Luna was saddled, Ellie got on and rode her out to the field. Sadie smiled at the sight of Ellie riding, seeing as how she immediately lit up while riding the horse. Ellie led the horse around the fenced in yard, easily navigating the animal around. It warmed Sadie's heart to see the young girl smiling and having such a good time. The weather was nice, she was riding, and Sadie enjoyed watching from the side. For a minute, it felt as if the world was normal. Unfortunately the moment was short lived when a familiar voice sounded.

"What the hell is this?"

Pete.

Turning around, Sadie found Pete walking her direction with Mary and Katelyn following behind him, Mary's arm still in a sling with her injured wrist. Ellie saw Pete approach as she rode, making her slow down as she watched Sadie confront Pete.

"Girls go in the stable." he told his stepdaughters.

"But Pete-" Mary began.

"Now!"

Mary and Katelyn rushed into the stable so their stepfather was out of sight as he made yet another scene.

"I thought I made myself clear I don't want that girl around my girls." Pete snapped at Sadie.

"That girl's name is Ellie and she is not at fault for what happened to Mary." Sadie defended.

"But she is not the kind of person I want around her or Katelyn."

"I don't understand how you can defend that when you are being the most immature in this whole situation. Ellie was defending Maria while you screamed at her in the middle of town while right after sticking by your stepdaughter's side after she was thrown by a horse."

"This doesn't even concern you Sadie so why the hell are you even involved in this?" Pete yelled, getting angrier by the second.

"Because I am defending a young girl you are being a complete and utter asshole too." Sadie too was getting angrier with Pete, frustrated with the man who was being so unnecessarily horrible to a young girl.

Pete didn't say anything, but gave Sadie the coldest look he could manage. "Just leave Sadie, last time I checked the girl doesn't work here."

"And the last time I checked this wasn't your stable. Maria runs it and I know for a fact she wouldn't mind Ellie riding for a little while."

Sadie went to turn around, but felt Pete's hand grab her arm. Without a second thought, she made quick work of turning around and sending her fist across Pete's face. He went down with a single punch, clutching the side of his face where Sadie hit him. She turned back around and motioned towards Ellie.

"Ellie I think it's best if we left."

Not having to be told, Ellie got down off of Luna and rushed over to the fence, climbing over it and joining Sadie on the other side. The two took off from the stable in a run to flee the scene. "Sorry I cut your ride short." Sadie apologized.

"Are you kidding?" Ellie questioned. "That was badass. You got to do what I wanted to."

Sadie led Ellie back into town where the slowed down into a walk. "Alright just be cool and don't act like I just punched a guy in the face." Ellie laughed and the two made their way over to Sadie's house.

OOOOO

Joel was across town working with the construction crew starting the new pantry unit and supply house. The crew was split in half, one group working on the pantry while the others worked on the other project. Joel was helping frame the pantry unit while talking with the other guys. Although it was barely noon, the weather was already in the eighties making most of the construction crew ditch their flannels and opted for just jeans and tank tops. Even Joel shed his usual flannel from the combination of manual labor and heat like the other guys since the concern of getting bit by infected wasn't around within the fence.

"So my wife told me you and Esther are getting friendly." Evan told Joel. Evan was what Joel would consider a friend out of all the construction guys. Sure they all talked and got along, but Joel was cautious of who he put his stock into. He trusted Sadie not long after meeting her and of course he trusted his brother and sister in law, but now he was meeting more and more people. They were good people, but the survivor of the last twenty years was still there. He wasn't about to trust every face he saw. But Evan was definitely a trustworthy person.

"Did she now?" Joel questioned as he hammered. "Even after the world ends women still love their gossip."

"Of course. And Esther is a friend of the Mrs. who knows you work with me so, well you know how it goes."

"Yeah. But uh, yeah me and Esther are getting to know each other. Slowly."

"Well she's a heck of a woman. Hope it all works out for you two."

"Thanks."

Joel and Evan continued working when Joel saw a familiar face walk by. Pete. Joel stopped what he was doing to see him walk by with a purpling bruise on the side of his face. "Damn." Evan said as he saw what caused Joel to stop working for a second. "Wonder what the other guy looks like."

Pete turned and caught sight of Joel, causing him to change course and walk towards him. "Here we go." Joel muttered as he set his hammer down. "Gotta bone with this guy?" Evan asked.

"Little bit."

Pete walked past all the other construction guys and straight to Joel who stood his ground while Evan stood by incase he was needed.

"I thought I made it clear I didn't want your kid near mine." Pete snapped. "And now you're having Sadie come to her aid what is she your little girlfriend now?"

"Let me stop you right there." Joel immediately snapped. "You leave Sadie out of this. By the looks of it, my guess, she's the one I can thank for giving you that nice, fresh bruise on your face. I also thought I made myself clear about how I'd handle you again if you came up acting like this."

"Pete." Evan said as he stepped in. "Walk away."

Pete looked at Evan and then back at Joel. "This ain't over." he said before storming off. Joel let out a breath before turning to Evan. "You mind if I go check on Ellie?" he asked. "I won't be long."

"Of course, go on. Take your time." Evan insisted.

"Thanks man."

Joel took off towards his house, only to find it empty which meant they were most likely at Sadie's house. He headed that way, his worry taking over. He knew if Ellie was with Sadie, she would be safe. Sadie wouldn't let anything happen to her, but that doesn't mean Pete didn't get to her with just words. As tough as Ellie was, she was still just a fifteen year old girl.

When he got to Sadie's he found Sadie walking out of the garage below her house. "Hey she greeted as he walked up, trying to ignore the fact that he was out of his flannel and only in a muscle shirt. It annoyed the living hell out of her how nervous he made her feel sometimes.

"Hey are you alright?" he asked immediately, setting his hands on her shoulders as he looked at her. Based on Pete's behavior, Joel doubt he'd hold back when confronting Sadie either. "Yeah I'm fine." she told him. "Why?"

"Pete stopped by the work site." he explained as he dropped his hands. "Wanted to make sure you and Ellie were alright."

"Yeah we're fine she's upstairs in the kitchen. Look I'm sorry about this mess. I probably didn't help the whole Pete situation by punching him."

Joel shook his head. "No don't you dare apologize. If you wouldn't have done it I would have."

Sadie smiled. "Thank you." he said. "For what you did for Ellie. It's…comforting knowing you look out for her."

"Ellie's a great kid. Hell I adore her. She's great to have around."

Joel smiled when Sadie's knuckles caught his eye. The middle two were a bit bruised and split. "Ouch." he said as he reached for her hand and held it to look at. "You sure do pack a punch."

"Good thing we get along then." Sadie joked.

The two chuckled as Joel released her hand. "Ellie's upstairs. Why don't we head up?" Sadie suggested. Joel simply nodded followed Sadie upstairs to the house. Inside the house, Ellie saw the two's interaction from the window and smiled at the sight.