Addy's been starting to work on walking. She's been starting to talk too which is adorable. She stumbles a lot, but it looks like stubbornness is a family trait because she just gets back up again and keeps trying.

"Mama." Adeline cries at me and I freeze. She's done this a few times now.

"No Addy. I'm not your mama, I'm your auntie. But you know, I love you just like a mama. Just like your mama and papa loved you. When you're older I'm going to tell you all about them. Child appropriate though of course." Adeline giggles at me and claps her hands, "I can already see it. You're gonna break all the boys, or girls whatever floats your boat, you're gonna break all their hearts. I'm gonna show you how to throw knives. You will be unstoppable." She continues to giggle and look around. I push some of her hair out of her face, "Let's go to the park, yeah?" I scoop Adeline up and we start making our way to the park. When we get there I put her down and let her practice standing. I let her walk around to practice and get her balance, "Let's try walking through town." I grab Adeline's hand and we take a walk through the community, Addy giggles as she watches all the people walk by. She tries to walk over to one of the community dogs but I steer her away. We continue walking until we are near the stables. I look over at the gate and stop.

"Holy shit." I mutter as I see the person entering.

"Shit!" Addy shouts. I whip my head over to her.

"No Adeline! You don't say that yet." She giggles and says, "Shit" again.

"Oh we are not gonna forget that word soon huh." I move my eyes back over to the person and I make eye contact with those familiar forest green eyes. Ellie stops when she sees me. I don't know what to do as Ellie approaches me.

"Hey." Ellie says softly.

"Hi." I look over at Ellie, still not processing that she's actually here. I look down at her left hand and notice that it's missing two of her fingers. I furrow my eyebrows and grab her hand to examine it. Ellie just watches my as I run my hand over the two knobs, "Well... at least your right handed."

Ellie chuckles at this, "Yeah..." Adeline is standing behind my leg and she tugs at my pant leg. I look over at her and she's watching Ellie curiously.

"Hey Addy, this is Ellie. You've met her before... when you were younger." Adeline looks over at her and just giggles. I look over at Ellie, "She's uh, pretty friendly with most people."

Ellie nods, "Just like Leo and Marley."

I numbly nod at her, "Yeah." I mutter, "I'm guessing you saw my note? Your um, your place is still empty if you want to stay there."

Ellie nods, "Right. Are you and Leo still living at your place."

I shake my head slowly, "No. I stay with Kate and Cassie... Leo, he uh, he died a few months ago."

"Shit Lia. I'm so sorry... I should have been here."

I don't reply to Ellie. I don't even know what to say. I'm still in shock that she's even here. I clear my throat, "Scout and Star are back at Kate's if you want to see them?"

"Yeah. I should probably go see Tommy though.. Can I come over after?"

I give Ellie a small smile, "Sure." Ellie smiles slightly. She looks like she wants to say something else but doesn't. I pick up Addy and turn to walk back to the house, "Hey Lia... I missed you."

I turn and give her a smile, "I missed you too Ellie. I'll see you later."

"I'll see you later."

A few hours later Ellie came by the house. Kate and Cassie are out right now since Cassie wanted to play with a few of the kids in town.

"So," I begin, "what happened to you?"

"I found Abby. And I had her in my grasp but I... I just couldn't kill her. I thought killing her would make the pain go away, but it wouldn't."

"I don't know if the pain will ever go away Ellie."

"I know... but I don't know, I want to work on it. Hopefully... hopefully with you, if you'd still want me."

"I never stopped wanting you Ellie. I understood why you left. It hurt, fuck it hurt... I guess we both just had shit to work through."

"Yeah. I should have been with you though. You shouldn't have been alone with what happened to Leo."

"I wasn't alone. I had Kate and Cassie, Jesse and Dina, and I had Addy. Sure I wish you were here, but you weren't."

"Is there anything I could do to make it up to you?"

"Work on getting better."

Ellie stays quiet and looks around at all of the things in my room from our old place. She then looks at me and nods, "I'll try. Lia I promise I will never leave you again."

"Good. Now I want you to prove it. Work on getting better... maybe visit Jesse and Dina- they miss you."

Ellie nods, "I will."

"Good. Do you need any help getting settled back in?"

Ellie shakes her head, "No. I'm going to stop at our house though. Look for some stuff there. Can you- can you come with me?"

I pause. Slowly I shake my head, "I think this is something you have to do yourself."

"Right... well I should go do that, but I'll see you around."

"Yeah." Ellie stands up and I walk her to the front door. She gives Star and Scout a quick pet before leaving. When she's halfway down the path I call her name and she turns back.

"I want to work on things with you too... Know that you're always welcome, and Star and Scout missed you too."

Ellie nods, "I'll be here."

Ellie turns away and walks back into our old life to pack it up and we can start again.