Legendary Swordsman: Haha, there is actually something later in this fanfiction pertaining to Ellie wanting to celebrate Joel's birthday, but she doesn't know when it is. :)

Chapter 37: Unknown Friend #1 Is…

"Why are you so willing to help me?" Ellie asked, glancing over at Sam as they walked, "You just met me, and now you're helping me rescue Joel."

Sam gave a short laugh at her questioning, reminding her somewhat of a more open Joel.

"It's not every day that you see someone wanting to help a friend," he answered, "Most people turned on each other during the first days of the infection."

Her interest instantly perked; Sam was definitely a lot more open to sharing than Joel was.

"What was it like?" she questioned, feeling curious. It wasn't every day either that she got to hear about what it was like before the pandemic; Joel had opened up some, but she knew that the memories had caused him pain.

Sam looked like he was thinking; he didn't answer for a moment.

"Well, there were lots of riots. People demanded to know what was going on behind their backs. The police were called in to handle things, but shortly after, everything fell apart. Neighbors and friends started turning on each other, and then there was the Infected…"

She listened to him continue on about what the first few months had been like for him, ever mindful of the hideout becoming closer in the distance.

"Is something wrong?" Joel's voice brought her out of the memory, and she shook her head, clearing her mind of it.

"No, just remembering something," her answer made Joel nod.

They were now in California, searching for the Fireflies. What she had never thought of in the beginning was that how hard it would be for them to find the rebel group.

A thought came into her mind, and she hesitantly glanced over at Joel, wondering if she should ask the question. She waited for a few moments, deciding that the worst that could happen was that Joel wouldn't answer her.

"Hey Joel," he glanced at her and she continued, "If you don't mind me asking, who was Unknown Friend #1?"

Joel's gaze grew thoughtful; he stopped walking and stood still, his gaze staring at something past her.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you," he mused, then met her gaze, "Unknown Friend #1 was the person who asked me to bring you to the Fireflies in the first place. Her name was Rosanne."

"Rosanne," she repeated and then tilted her head, "How did you know her? Did she have the same occupation as you?"

Joel shook his head, a somewhat bitter laugh coming from him a moment later.

"No, she didn't have the same job. I knew her from back in Ohio; she used to live in the same neighborhood as me. I was friends with her husband and her when we were growing up."

"Oh," she stated, not sure what else to say. Something was bothering her at the back of her mind; Joel seemed to notice this.

"Anything else you would like to ask?"

"Yeah," she answered with a nod, but then felt somewhat hesitant, "Who was Rosanne?"

Joel took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. Ellie wondered if she had asked the wrong question. She opened her mouth to say something, but Joel beat her to it.

"Rosanne was your mom," he stated, making any hope of something coming out of her mouth fade.

She stared at him, her mouth slightly open, not knowing what to say. Joel didn't say anything; he was obviously giving her time to process what he had just told her.

"My mom was the person who asked you to bring me to the Fireflies?" she asked after a while, and Joel nodded.

She felt a wave of emotions run over her: confusion, sadness, anger, and emptiness.

"She was alive that whole time?" she whispered, then glancing at Joel, "Even that day when I started traveling with you?"

Joel was quiet for a moment; he took a deep breath before answering.

"Yes, she was alive then," he answered, making her somewhat angry.

"Why didn't she come with us?" she asked, trying to keep from yelling at him.

He knew this whole time where she was, that she was fine; Ellie kept trying to reference back to the letter, kept trying to keep herself calm, so I don't blow up at him.

"She knew I could get you out of the quarantine zone," Joel answered, and she could tell something was distressing him. One look into his eyes, and she knew the answer.

"She was infected, wasn't she?"

Her voice was barely above a whisper now, trying to keep back the flood of emotions running through her. Joel's gaze cut to the ground, answering her question. She bit her lip, refusing to cry.

I didn't know my parents, so why should I care? The question nagged at her mind, and she shook her head.

"Let's keep moving," Joel suggested after a while, and she nodded. She trailed behind him, a flood of questions spinning around in her mind.

She waited an hour, taking deep breaths periodically. Feeling somewhat better after a while, she decided to voice some of her questions.

"What did my mom look like?" she asked, trying to get a mental image.

Joel glanced back at her and stopped walking. He stared at her for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. His gaze wandered to a small puddle of water nearby and he pulled her over to it.

Ellie felt confusion run through her; what did Joel want with the water? Her question was answered when she felt his hand reach around her ponytail and tug the hairband out, making her reach back to try and grab it.

"Joel, give it back!" she exclaimed, trying to reach it from his hand. Joel was now holding it out of reach, making her somewhat mad. She glared at him, wondering why he had taken her ponytail down.

"Calm down for a moment. Look in the water," he pointed at the puddle, and she obeyed, seeing her reflection.

Her hair was down, with her bangs blending into the rest of her brown hair slightly; the only way she could tell where they were was because of their slightly shorter length.

"I don't get it," she kept glancing between Joel and her reflection, noticing a moment later that he looked like he was trying not to laugh, making her confusion increase even further.

"What are you laughing at?"

Her question made him smile a bit and an amused expression came onto his face.

"It's somewhat creepy but you look nearly exactly like your mom."

"I do?"

"Yeah, except for maybe a few facial differences and your bang length is a bit longer."

She glanced back at her reflection again, trying to imagine what Joel was describing. She shook her head, deciding that it wasn't working.

I only see myself.

Joel gave her back the hairband and she retied her ponytail, smiling a bit when she looked more like herself.

"That's better," she whispered, looking up at Joel. He shook his head, a smile on his face as well.

"Come on. We'd better get going," Joel waved his hand forward, and she gladly followed right behind him.

Another short chapter, although this one had important information in it. Unknown Friend #1 (or the person who asked Joel to bring Ellie to the Fireflies) is her mother. I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen in the game, but I will explain more in later chapters. The next chapter enters the Fireflies (including some of the names that you guys sent in :) )! Tell me any thoughts you have in a review!

-AnimeWolfGirl9