Ellie and I have been... working through it. Jackson life just seems so calm compared to everything we've been through. Ellie's been more communicative than I've ever seen her. Talking about what happened in Santa Barbara, she's even talked about Joel. Only a little bit, but still. Adeline already loves her and I can see Ellie loves her. She's drawn her, played with her, danced with her. Every time Ellie see's Adeline her face lights up and she does anything for her. She literally does anything for her. We're currently at Jesse and Dina's so Adeline and J.J. can play with each other.
"Hey, so I think I'm going to go back to the house quickly. Last time I was there I left Joel's guitar, but I want to go bring it back to Jackson for Tommy." Ellie says to me, Jesse and Dina.
"Okay. We uh, we actually wanted to talk to you guys about something." Jesse says to Ellie and I.
"We decided that for the time being we are going to move back to Jackson. We love it out here, but Jesse's mom is getting a bit more sick so we want to be close and to give her a lot of time with J.J."
I smile at them, "Well it will be great to have you guys back in Jackson for a little bit. When are you guys thinking of coming back?"
"We already talked to Maria and we are just going to move into my parents place. Just to be close and she has the space." Jesse tells us and we nod.
"If you need any help just let us know." Ellie tells them and they nod with a smile, "I, uh, I need to go." Ellie says and she gets up, "Lia, you want to come with?"
I nod, "Sure. I want to show Adeline the place since she hasn't been in months." Ellie nods and I give Jesse and Dina a quick hug before following Ellie down the familiar path. When I see the house I smile and start to look around. Ellie picked up Addy and starts showing her around the house.
"You see here? Here your lovely aunt and I-"
"Ellie!" I shout at her since I know where she is going.
"Here we built a fort. God Lia get your mind out of the gutter." Ellie teases me and my cheeks burn red.
"You're an ass." I mutter. Ellie smirks at me and continues to show Adeline around. We get up into her old art studio and I see Ellie left most of her stuff here. Joel's guitar is perched on the window sill. It never really hit me that she can't play anymore. She strums the guitar, but she doesn't have the full ability to play. I take a seat next to her and lean my head on her shoulder so I can look at the guitar. I place my fingers on the chords for Joel's song. Ellie stares at me, but strums the guitar anyways. Adeline sits perched against the desk watching us.
If I ever were to lose you, I'd surely lose myself. I softly sing and change the chords while Ellie continues to strum the guitar, Everything I have found, dear, I've not found by myself. A tear falls out of Ellie's eye and Adeline continues to watch us in silence, like she somehow knows not to speak right now, Try and sometimes you'll succeed, To make this man of me, All my stolen missing parts, I've no need for anymore. Ellie leans her head on mine and continues to strum, I believe, And I believe 'cause I can see, Our future days, Days of you and me. I finish and Ellie chokes back a sob.
"I'm sorry Lia. You deserved better." Ellie says softly.
"So did you El... so did Joel."
"You and me?" Ellie asks softly.
"You and me. Let's get back." Ellie nods and she takes the guitar while I go and pick up Adeline. We leave our house together this time with no idea if we will ever come back.
When we get back to Jackson we grab Star and Scout to give them some air and we head straight to Tommy's. Ellie knocks on the door and we wait for him to answer. We are surprised when we see Maria open the door.
"Hey Ellie, Lia. You here to see Tommy?"
"Yeah." Ellie mutters and Maria lets us in. We see Tommy sitting on the couch and Maria leaves to give them some privacy. I go into the other room as well taking Adeline with me. I lean against the wall so they don't see me but I can still hear their conversation.
"Hey... I thought you should have this." Ellie says. I'm guessing she hands Tommy the guitar now. I hear Tommy sigh.
"Thank you, really. I'm sorry I freaked out on you a few months ago."
"It's okay. I probably would have done the same thing if I was in the same position. I see Maria is back- is that for good?"
"Well we're workin' on it. How about things with Lia?"
"We're working on it."
There's a pause, "Good. That's real good Els."
"Yeah... I really love her."
"Then tell her. She gave me some real good advice a little bit back. Hold onto her this time."
"I will. Well I should get going, but I'll see ya around Tommy."
"See ya around." I hear noise in the other room and Ellie comes through the door.
"You good to go?" I nod at her and wave bye to Tommy and Maria. Star and Scout continues to follow us, just enjoying that they're around us. When we're walking back we walk past Joels old house. No one occupies it still. Ellie stops in front of it and I look back at her.
"Els?"
"Can we go in?" Ellie asks, not taking her eyes off of the house.
"Sure." I mutter softly, "Come on." I grab Adeline's hand and help lead her into Joel's old place. When we walk through the doors the first thing I see is my old coffee mug still sitting on the kitchen counter. The house still looks the same, just more dust now. I follow Ellie as she looks around. Her hand glides over an old brochure of dinosaurs, a photo she drew for Joel of him, and when we get to Joel's room she looks at all of his jackets. She goes over to his bed and lays down, letting out a sigh. I don't really know what to do, but when Ellie looks over at me I can see her asking me to come over. I pick up Adeline and go over to the bed. I lay down next to Ellie and Adeline crawls in between the two of us just resting below our heads. I hear Star and Scout's paws clicking on the ground and they lay themselves in front of the bed.
"Lia," Ellie mutters softly.
"Yeah?"
"Can we move forward. Go back to being a family, waking up together... I need you."
I stay looking at Ellie while on my side, a small smile graces my lips as I nod slowly at Ellie, "I need you too." Ellie leans her head forward so it's on mine. I feel Adeline move around to get comfortable and I close my eyes and just enjoy that I'm here with my family.
"You and me." Ellie whispers to me.
"You and me, Ellie... You, me and Adeline."
Our family.