Author's Note: There are some tender moments in this one that felt really good to write. I hope you like them. Next chapter, there's to be a little more action before the end!

But will the end be truly happy…?

Enjoy!

Ellie leans over the bubbling sauce and sniffs. The sharp scent of the cooking tomatoes mixes with the basil, and it smells delicious. Not as good as Dina's did, not yet…

She looks up at Abby, standing nearby and watching. "What do you think?"

Abby eyes her. "Aren't you the head chef?" She takes the spoon off the rest, dips it in, blows on it, and tastes it. Her cheeks crinkle. "Still sour."

Ellie frowns. That's what she was afraid of, of course. The basil was supposed to make it sweeter. "Like really sour?"

"Ellie, if I ate an entire plate of that, I'd get heartburn."

"Damn it. Let's add some honey."

Abby puts the spoon down and starts opening cabinets. It's their house, of course, but they haven't been there that long. Ellie particularly appreciates the line of baby blue tiles running along the back of the counters and the lacy, Suzy-homemaker curtains over the kitchen sink.

"Lev," Abby asks, "where is the honey again?"

Lev looks up from where he is chopping vegetables for the salad. "I believe it is in that left one, on the bottom."

Abby ducks down and a few moments later rises with a jar in her hand. She unscrews the lid and dips in a spoon.

"Whoa, not too much!" says Ellie.

Abby gives her an exasperated look. "Well, how much?"

"I don't know, like… a medium amount."

"A medium amount?"

"Look, cooking is an art, not a science. Try that, that could work."

Abby sighs, and dips the honey-laden spoon into the sauce, stirring it around until the honey is all gone. They both watch in anticipation, letting it bubble a little longer. Out of the corner of her eye, Ellie notices Lev watching them. When she looks, he turns back to what he's doing, but completely fails to hide his smile.

Ellie looks at Abby expectantly.

Abby gestures with her head. "You try it this time."

Ellie dips in the spoon, blows on it, then takes a taste. She smacks her lip and frowns.

"Bad?"

"I mean… it's sweeter. Still kind of burns the tongue, though."

"Ellie, I don't think your tomatoes were ripe."

"It's fine, dude. Um…" Ellie grasps at ideas. "So it's definitely not possible for it to ripen while you're cooking it, right?"

Abby's eyes roll back as she looks up, hands on her hips.

"Maybe more honey, or—Oh! I just remembered something!"

"What?"

"What was it? I can't remember who said it… Someone once told me you can add a little baking soda. Do you guys have any of that?"

Abby looks at Lev.

Lev shoots Abby back a look. Abby suppresses a smirk for a second, then starts laughing.

"What?" Ellie asks.

"It is where the honey was," says Lev, "but it would not be my first recommendation."

"What does that mean?" Ellie asks.

"When I found it in the crate," says Abby, "I dared him to try some."

"Ugh!" exclaims Ellie. "That's messed up!" She looks at Lev. "What does it taste like?"

"Bad."

"Let's get some of that." This time, Ellie rifles through the cabinet, it's dim, but she's able to find a small jar with white powder. There's tape on the side and someone has written 'baking soda' on it. "Perf." Ellie gets a little spoon out of the drawer and starts scooping.

"Whoa, whoa," says Abby. "How much do you need? Do you even remember what they said? Or is this part of the art?"

"It's all part of the art," says Ellie. She sprinkles some around the sauce, sets the spoon aside, and starts stirring it. The sauce dulls in color slightly, and an oily pearlescence appears in the dish. Ellie has no idea if that's a good sign.

"That doesn't look right," says Abby.

"Try."

"You try!"

"It's your turn."

"It's your sauce, Ellie!"

"I thought we were a team."

"I am not trying that."

Ellie scoops up a little sauce and blows on it. She takes a sip. The acidity is way down, and there's a bit of sweetness, which is great, until it is completely ruined by a horrible, bitter aftertaste. She screws up her face.

Abby raises her eyebrows.

Ellie sniffs. "More honey, I think."

Abby's skeptical, but she goes along, until she tries the sauce next. After a couple seconds she recoils. "Ugh, that's foul, Ellie!"

"More honey?"

"It tastes like cleaner! Like sweetened cleaner!"

"Kind of killed the zesty tomato part."

"Is it really that bad?" Lev asks. Abby beckons him. He hesitates a second, then comes over and takes a sip from the spoon in her hand. His eyebrows shoot up, then he screws up his face, too. "Ugh! Abby's right!"

"Is that what baking soda tastes like?" Ellie asks.

"No, but it's not much better!"

"Ellie, we can't eat this."

"But I mean…" Ellie struggles for a second, but the fact is, they're right.

Ten minutes later they're sitting at their little table, each with a plate of salad in front of them. Lev added tomatoes and onion to the lettuce, along with some roasted nuts and Marie's delicious vinaigrette.

"This is really good, Lev," says Ellie.

"Thank you! Marie's sauce is my favorite. I heard she has raspberry and strawberry, too!"

Ellie can't help but smile at Lev calling it 'sauce.'

"Lev's really good with salads," says Abby, "but I'm pretty hungry…"

"There's still noodles," says Ellie.

"Plain noodles?"

"Could add butter. JJ likes it."

"You said that was a killer recipe."

"It is when Dina makes it…"

They make small talk while they eat, but a few minutes later they're all sitting in front of empty plates. Ellie rests her cheek in her hand. She'd been looking forward to the sauce, too. She looks at Abby. "Still hungry?"

Abby nods.

Ellie looks at Lev.

"I could eat more," Lev says sheepishly.

Ellie sighs. "Alright, sense I guess I kind of broke a promise, I could treat at Arnold's."

Abby looks at Lev. "I could go for that."

"Me, too," he replies.

And so it happened that they wound up at Arnold's after sundown, hunting for a table amidst the chatter and the low, warm light. It's Thursday, but Arnold's is still probably the most popular spot in town, and it's pretty busy.

Arnold's behind the bar, as usual. He does run the place, but he seems to like serving drinks himself. He's tall, with a great big jaw and receding blonde hair. He's got a khaki vest and white button down with rolled up sleeves. "Well, look who it is!" He proclaims when he sees Ellie. "Been a while since I've seen you in here. I hope you three are hungry."

"No worries there," says Ellie drily. "Anything good tonight? Elk? Beef, maybe?"

"Better," he says. "Boar."

"Yeah?" says Ellie, actually excited. "What cut?"

"Full cut."

Ellie frowns. That's his way of saying 'ground.' "What you got then? Burgers?"

"I imagine."

Ellie looks at the others.

"I haven't had a burger in a long time!" says Lev. Ellie smiles at the way he enunciates 'burger.'

"Spuds?" Ellie asks Arnold.

"I hope so," he replies.

"What's the oil?"

"Peanut, lately."

Ellies brows shoot up. That sounds awesome. "You guys good for that?"

"Pretty sure I can make room," says Abby.

Ellie pulls out her leather pouch and extracts some notes. "Three of those, medium, all the trimmings, and a big basket." She lays the notes on the counter.

"Right up," says Arnold.

They manage to find a big table in the back that's not taken. There are extra chairs, and Ellie kicks her feet up on one next to her. "You guys are in for a treat."

"Boar burgers and peanut fries, huh?" asks Abby, sipping a cider she'd picked up at the bar.

"Oh yeah. Arnold's fries are great, too, he does the criss-cut thing."

That gets Abby's attention. "Really? I haven't had those since Lumen Field."

"Huh?"

"That's the stadium, in Seattle. Was our city, basically."

"Ah, wolf-town."

"Don't call it that," says Abby. "That's where all the civilians lived. The parents, and old folks, and kids. And the food was great, for your information."

"Hmm, well, I'll take your word for it."

"Oh," says Lev suddenly. He's looking across the bar.

"What is it?" Abby asks him.

"Um…" he shows rare hesitation. "That's Mrs. Lowdry. She's been very friendly with me. Perhaps I should say hello."

Abby cocks an eye. "Well don't let us stop you."

Lev bounces out of his seat and across the bar.

"Something strange?" Ellie asks.

"Not sure," says Abby. She looks Ellie's way. "Hey, I almost forgot after the disaster earlier. I wanted to tell you—"

As she's speaking, a figure appears over her shoulder, and when Ellie sees who it is, she's stunned for a second.

"In town for two weeks and no time to visit?" Jordan asks her, shaking his head. "For shame."

"Oh, shit, dude!" Ellie actually jumps out of her chair and hugs him. When she lets go, she feels a wave of fear. She's about to ask where the others are when she sees Sarah behind him. A surge of affection goes through her. "Dude!" Sarah smiles, hands on hips, and accepts Ellie's hug. "You guys aren't leaving, are you?"

"Well, I just got my first beer, so…" Jordan looks at Sarah, who gives him a look. "So not soon, I hope."

"Dude, sit with us! There's more chairs! Are Thomas and Kate…" she trails off, afraid of what might come next.

Jordan turns around, finding the eyes of the younger couple in a booth across the room. He beckons them. When they see Ellie, their eyes widen. They hurriedly gather up their food and walk over.

"Holy crap, Ellie!" says Thomas, putting a half-finished basket of fries and a drink on the table. "So glad to see you!" Kate, for her part, is carrying a glass each of beer and wine. Ellie hugs both of them with honest gratitude to see them okay.

"And who's your—" Jordan starts, but when he looks at Abby, he frowns. Then he cocks his head. "Wait a minute, you're…"

Abby's half turned, resting one muscular arm on the back of her chair. She smirks. "Abby."

"Oh my god, from the out guard! You were one of Isaac's in-group! I never expected to see you here!"

"Yeah, well, a lot's happened."

"Is it true that you fled because Isaac was killed?"

"What?" Abby asks, seeming almost offended. "No, not at all."

Sarah smacks Jordan's arm. "Can we go sixty seconds without you interrogating?" She shoots Ellie a look.

"Yeah," says Ellie, "I remember that, actually."

Jordan gestures with upraised hands. "Oh, come on! A guy's gotta know!"

"Well, let's at least sit down, first," says Ellie. As they're finding places around the table, Ellie follows Abby's eyes across the bar. Lev's still at the Lowdry table, but Mrs. Lowdry is chatting with Old Lem. Lev is presently engaged with her daughter, Wendy.

Ellie cocks an eyebrow at Abby, who looks uncertain. She frowns slightly, and turns back to the table.

Sarah leans over and whispers something into Jordan's ear. His face changes. "Oh, right…"

Everyone's settled at that point, Ellie looks on curiously.

"Well," says Jordan, scratching the back of his head, "first thing's first. We heard about Clint."

Ellie feels a chill. It dampens the atmosphere, but she's able to hold it together.

"Yeah," says Abby.

"You knew him, too?" Thomas asks her.

"I did."

"Maybe you guys should come by our place sometime," says Jordan, "we can swap stories. For now, though…" He picks up his glass of dark ale. "How about a toast."

Ellie finds herself picking up her own glass, and raising it in the air. "To the stubborn."

"To the handsome," says Sarah.

"To the brave," says Jordan.

"To the good," says Abby.

The toast hangs, and it feels like enough for the moment. They all take a sip.

"So," says Jordan to Abby, leaning onto the table with glint of charm in his eye, "come on, I gotta know. Why did you leave? How'd you wind up here?"

Abby returns his look. She considers, taking another sip of cider.

"Jordan," says Sarah, "I'm getting the feeling—"

"It's alright," says Abby. "Just thinking about which parts I want to tell you." She looks at Jordan. "You remember the chaos, from around that time, right?"

Jordan eye's slip to Ellie for a second. "I know a bit, yeah."

Abby eyes Ellie in disbelief. "Wait, what did you tell him?"

Ellie throws up her hands. "Almost nothing! He figured it out on his own!"

"What—"

"I told him I was in Seattle a while back, and he pegged me as one of the 'trespassers.'"

Jordan taps his right forearm. "The tattoo."

"Alright, Mr. Clever," says Abby. "Here's what I'll say."

She goes on to tell much of the story, including parts Ellie didn't know, about their trip to Santa Barbara. She leaves most of what happened in that city untold, including how they escaped, which is only fair. She does tell him about how Ellie and Clint just showed up at Catalina one day. And their trip to Sacramento, and even the cure.

"No god damn way," says Jordan. "So—"

"Do you mean that?" Sarah interrupts. Her voice is quiet, urgent, it's a little hard to hear her over the chatter around them. There's disbelief, but she wants to believe it. "You wouldn't deceive someone about that, would you?"

"Look," says Abby, "I'm not a scientist, but there were scientists there. They were convinced. They saved one kid's life. He got bit, and he didn't turn. Think about it," she says, gesturing to Ellie, "they let Ellie go. They waited decades to find an immune person, but they let her go because the boy their cure saved became immune, too."

Sarah's eyes are moist, her fingers are covering her mouth. She turns to Jordan. "Babe, do you realize what this means? This could change everything!"

Jordan's not really incredulous, he's kind of shocked. He stares back at her, dazed. "Yeah, I… I heard rumors, these last couple weeks, but damn…"

They look at Abby and Ellie then, kind of just staring in wonder. Ellie feels herself starting to blush. She glances at Abby, smirking in spite of herself. "Well, don't make it awkward or anything…"

There's some laughter. "Yeah, but still…" says Jordan.

He's not wrong. Ellie's just decided it's too much to think about, and she's just going to watch how everything plays out.

The table is quiet for a little bit, and Ellie decides to bring them out of it.

"So what are you guys good for around here?" she asks Jordan.

"Huh? Oh, kind of boring, actually. I'm pretty good with tools, so I'm in construction."

"That's not boring," says Ellie, "I love seeing new buildings pop up and get restored and stuff."

"Yeah, me too," says Jordan. "Never thought I'd see much more of that. Clemens says they're talking about pushing out the walls in the next few years."

Sarah smiles at him with a loving understanding. "Well, I'm not as good with tools, but I wanted to be near him so I'm in construction, too."

"Ooh," says Ellie, "tough work."

"Sometimes," she admits. "The other week Clemens had me hauling bricks up the hill."

"Yeah," says Jordan, shaking his head. "I was so mad when I found out. There were plenty of other things he could have had her doing, and he's loading my ma'am up with bricks."

Sarah rolls her eyes and shakes her head, mouthing my ma'am.

"What about you two?" Abby asks the others. "Last I saw you guys, you were kids."

"Nuh uh," says Thomas, thinking. "We'd have been fifteen!"

"Well," says Abby, smiling, "what are you up to now?"

"I help out the adjudicators. They call me a 'clerk.'"

"Whoa!" says Ellie. "That's an important job!"

"I keep telling him that," says Kate, she gives him a teasing, loving look, rubbing his arm. "I could be with an adjudicator someday." Thomas smiles reluctantly. "I help out Ms. Harwell with clothing repairs. She's pretty chatty, but I can't complain. I like it here better than Seattle."

"How was Seattle, last you were there?" Abby asks.

Jordan and Sarah gives them the same story Ellie got in Portland. Things were getting better. Abby seems relieved. Jordan's talking about a zipline they were setting up when Lev comes back.

"Abby," he starts excitedly, then he looks at the newcomers at the table. "Hi," he says brightly, then his smile fades.

Jordan seems transfixed by the scars on Lev's cheeks. He looks at Abby.

"We met in Seattle," says Abby. "And yes, it is a long story, for another time," she emphasizes to Jordan.

"Right, okay. Well, that's great. Tell you what, I'm going to get another round. Hey, you guys want one?"

Lev looks expectantly at Abby. "One's fine," she says.

As soon as Jordan leaves, Lev starts talking excitedly in low tones to Abby. Ellie leans in, and he includes her.

"I'm not sure how things work around here," says Lev, "but I think I have a date."

Abby is surprised, but Ellie cracks a grin. "Yeah, big man? Way to go!" She gives him a high five.

Lev smiles back, but it fades when he looks at Abby. "Is that alright?"

"Huh?" says Abby. "Alright? Yeah… I guess I just didn't expect… with Wendy?"

Lev nods.

"This Wendy girl," says Abby, shooting Ellie a look, "can she be trusted?"

"Dude, she's fine. Come on!"

Abby's smirking a little, too, now. "It's fine, Lev, I'm just… You know what I'm being—"

"Protective, yes."

"Yeah, well, tell you what." Abby leans in. "Just go slow, alright? Not a good idea to rush these things."

Lev nods eagerly. "I will, I promise."

"Good stuff for some good folk!" It's Cameron, carrying a big tray. He starts putting down dishes in front of them. The burgers immediately make Ellie's mouth water. Lucas does them just right.

Lev plunks down in his chair excitedly. "Wow! It's pretty big."

Ellie's is already in her hands. "Think you can handle that thing?"

He nods confidently. "Pretty sure." He lifts the bun. "Not so much in the way of vegetables."

"We had those earlier," says Ellie.

"This is just what the doctor ordered," says Abby, taking a huge bite. A highly satisfied expression comes over her face as she chews.

Jordan comes back with the drinks, and the atmosphere continues to climb. They swap stories about Jackson life and before. Eventually, Jordan starts asking about Lev's time with the Seraphites with fascination. Abby is defensive at first, but Lev says it's okay. The others listen with rapt attention while Lev tells them stories from the island, and Seattle.

"Hey," says Abby to Ellie as Lev is explaining who White Dove was. "That thing from earlier…"

Ellie pops the last of a criss-cut fry in her mouth, wiping her face with her sleeve. "Oh yeah, what's up?"

"I'm starting patrol tomorrow."

Ellie's eyes light up, then she starts thinking about that. "Is that a fact? Congratulations, dude. Nervous?"

"Not exactly," says Abby, chewing on a fry of her own. She stops. "Alright, a little. Look, I've been doing guard duty for two weeks."

"Light work."

"And boring as hell. Jones knows my history, so when he saw I could take orders, he talked to Edna and said he'd give me a chance out there. I take it you don't change jobs easily around here."

Ellie eyes her, starting to feel where she's coming from. "You'd be right about that."

"So it needs to go well. Probably gotta get out of here, soon. And this is definitely my last drink."

"No sweat. And don't worry about it, you'll do fine. Honestly, you'll be lucky if you encounter more than a runner. Better get some snow gear before Winter, though. Gets damn cold up here."

"Right," says Abby, skeptical. "And what about you?"

"Huh?" Ellie replies, taken aback.

"When are you gonna get back out there?"

Ellie glances away, considering. It's a question that's been hanging over her head, and if she's being honest, she doesn't know how to answer. She knows what she wants Abby to hear, though. "Soon, probably." She scratches the back of her head. "I've kinda been bumming it, huh?"

Abby considers her. "They wouldn't partner us up, would they?"

Ellie smirks. "Why not? It's lottery, dude, it's gonna happen."

"Oh boy."

"It'll be fun!"

"Fun?"

"I know you miss the excitement." There's a tremor in Ellie's voice at the word 'excitement.'

Abby's mouth is open, but instead of retorting, she studies Ellie, who suddenly feels small. Something she was hoping to avoid. And she goes on studying Ellie until Ellie's about to protest, and Abby leans in and speaks in a lower tone.

"Ellie, I get it. I know you feel like you need to be the strong girl."

Not expecting that at all, Ellie scowls. "What are you—"

"Ellie," Abby says, "I said I get it."

Taken aback, Ellie falls silent.

"I…" Abby struggles with it. "I can only see it from the outside, but I know the road was rough for you. Worse even than for me. You don't need to throw yourself back into it, I was just checking in on you. You don't ever have to do it again if you don't want."

Ellie feels exposed, and she doesn't like it, but Abby is not attacking her. "What else would I do?"

"I don't know, you're in with Maria, right? Probably whatever you want."

"I feel like I need to be out there."

"Why?"

"To keep Jackson safe."

That gives Abby pause. "Well… okay, but you know what's one advantage you have now that we haven't had in a while?"

Ellie narrows her eyes.

"You don't need to rush," says Abby. Ellie doesn't respond. "But if you do feel like it's time, you ought to talk to Maria. I got a feeling there's a reason that woman's in charge."

Ellie feels a stab of guilt at that. She still has not gone to see Maria in person. She knows she's avoiding it because she hasn't even called her in several days. She makes up her mind right there that she'll see her in the morning.

"Thanks," Ellie says simply. Abby looks like she's expecting more, but it's not forthcoming. She takes another fry and takes a bite out of it.

Then something catches Abby's eye across the bar. Ellie looks, and sees Clement Whistler, a scraggly bearded guy about their age, one of the patrollers. He's got a sizable circle of friends, but Ellie had never liked him that much.

At first Ellie thinks he's looking at her, then she realizes he's looking at Abby. It's not hostile, but it sure as hell isn't friendly. He doesn't say anything, he just stares for a few seconds while he takes a drink, then turns back to the others in his booth. Abby turns around and finishes her fry.

"Getting much of that around here?" Ellie's surprised how much that pissed her off.

"Not much," says Abby, taking a sip of ale. "That guy trouble?"

Ellie considers. "I never really liked him. He gets into fights, now and then, but he stays out of lockup, far as I know. Like to think he's smart enough not to pick one with you."

"That's not really the problem."

"What do you mean?"

"Ellie," says Abby, leaning over, "if that were to happen, it doesn't matter if I win or lose. I've never been the person to get in shitty scraps or anything like that. And I can't afford to be that person in Jackson."

Ellie frowns. She wants to argue but decides against it. She picks up a piece of pickle that fell out of her burger and pops it in her mouth. "Anyone gives you trouble, I'll have your back. Guess that's all I can do."

Abby looks at her for a few seconds. In the end, all she says is "thanks."

Maria presses her fingers into her eyes, leaning into her high-backed chair. Food supply is up, medicine is stocked, they're getting new, useful immigrants every month, and the horizon is—thank God—clear of visible, substantive threats, but these are not the things the mayor gets to spend her time concerned with. Instead, she has to figure out what to do with Lem's drinking problem, Tom Cowen's alleged thieving, and the raccoon issue growing in the Southeast quadrant.

She spins around in her chair and looks out the window. It's gonna be one of those cloudless, Summer-blue-sky days. She puts up a shadow of a smile. It always brings her some peace to look down on the town, see people milling about. Unafraid. Safe.

As mayor, one of the things she has never said out loud is that, in a way, it's an act. Maria talks and acts as if the walls of Jackson are impenetrable, and the hard times are behind forever, and the way that things are inside those walls, as it always should have been, is normal. It's a pretense that she has successfully suffused through the town. Fact is, though, she knows they're not invincible, and she has to be the worrier-in-chief for Jackson. And that can be hard. But looking down, and seeing people being happy? That goes a long way to helping.

Which, of course, makes her think of Ellie. She curses quietly.

Now, she wouldn't even have that much reason to worry about Ellie anymore, but the dang girl has stopped talking to her. She's tempted to think her ungrateful, but that's not it. All her life, Ellie's scarcely had anything like a mother. It's obvious to Maria, but sometimes she wonders how many other people see that. Maria knows she can offer Ellie a lot, and she's willing, but Ellie has to want it too. She decides she's gonna have to pay her a visit in the near future. In person. In fact—

At that, there's a knock at her door. She looks at her notebook, but she's nothing scheduled. The knock sounded somewhat familiar. Frowning, she calls for them to enter.

The door opens, and sure enough, it's Ellie. Maria scoffs quietly. Sometimes this world has a way of making you shake your head.

"Well, look who it is," says Maria, concealing her relief behind gentle censure. She rises to her feet and starts slowly around her desk.

After closing the door, Ellie stands in front of it, clasping her hands. She looks nervous, and sheepish. She's always been so easy to read. Maria's mother always told her that's a sure sign of a person you can trust. "I was—"

"I'm sorry I didn't come before," Ellie says all at once.

That stops Maria. She puts a hand on her hip and chuckles. "It's okay, Ellie. I'm just glad to see you."

Ellie fiddles with her fingers for a few seconds. She's thinking about something.

"Something on your mind?" Maria asks.

Ellie looks back up. After another second's hesitation, she walks forward all the way to Maria and falls into her, wrapping her in a close embrace. Her head tucks into Maria's neck, her hands clutched to her back. Ellie squeezes her.

Maria's taken aback. Stunned for a second, Maria's hands find their way around Ellie.

"Thank you for saying you love me." Ellie's voice is quiet, and laden with feeling.

Maria's heart aches. "Oh, Ellie, girl…"

"I didn't know it, but I needed it." Ellie sniffs, and Maria can tell she's starting to cry. "Out there."

Maria squeezes her back and kisses the top of her head. Her hair smells like dust and pine. Maria rests her cheek on Ellie's head, her heart swelling. She hadn't known how much she had longed for this.

They stay like that for a little while. Maria gently rocks them where they stand.

Eventually Ellie's hands release, and Maria lets her stand up.

"Sorry," says Ellie, wiping her eye, "that was a lot."

"No," says Maria, cupping Ellie's cheek like she had so many months before. She strokes her cheek with her thumb, blinking slowly, to show Ellie what it had meant to her. "Never."

Ellie's embarrassed now, but it's overshadowed by thankfulness. Obviously uncomfortable with all the emotions, she struggles for something to say. "Thank you for letting me go. For letting us go."

"Well, I couldn't have stopped you, in the end."

"Yeah, but you didn't make me sneak out." Ellie taps her foot nervously. "I've been doing a lot of thinking. It doesn't feel very good to sneak, I've decided."

Maria tilts her head. "I'm glad you're figuring things out for yourself, in your time." She thinks a little more. "And that's right. You're not on anyone else's time, not anymore."

"Plus if I had," Ellie says, her eyes lighting up like they do when she's gonna say something from the heart, "I wouldn't have had Clint."

Being honest, Maria had not expected that. She searches Ellie's face, hooking her thumbs into her pockets. "So you two really worked together, huh?"

Ellie starts nodding. She glances off. "I really put him through his paces, at first. But he was good for it." She rubs her nose. "At first I thought he was taking it too seriously, like, he was just acting, you know? But time came when I realize he got it. How dangerous it was. How it needed to be. He had my back. He really did. He—"

Pain shoots through Ellie's features and she turns away.

"Oh, Ellie…" Maria so wants Ellie to trust her, but she knows she can't force it. When Ellie doesn't continue, Maria gives her a window. "Why don't you just say it? You know I'm the only one who will ever hear it."

Ellie looks at her, brow pinched with hard feelings. "He didn't need to die like that. He saw the shooter first, behind me. He pushed me out of the way. That's how he was killed."

Maria suppresses the wince. She gets that a little more than she wants to admit, and Ellie seems able to tell.

"You know about his sister?" Ellie asks her.

That makes Maria's heart ache, too. So Ellie does understand. "I do, Ellie."

Maria has interviewed every person who has ever come to live in Jackson. And it's not just to find out how to put them to work. She wonders if anyone else appreciates that.

"It's okay to feel some anger," says Maria. "Just don't let it bury everything else."

"I know," says Ellie. "I learned that before."

She's different, Maria realizes. She's really changed. She's not back to the old Ellie, but… She's not just surviving. She's growing. An old and harrowed hope is rising in Maria's chest. She takes a deep breath. She's not to cry in front of Ellie.

Still, concern grows on the girl's features. Maria knows her eyes are glassy. She smiles. "Girl, I am so proud of you. Do you know that?"

For some reason, that really hits Ellie. Her features slacken. Maria can practically see the feeling pour through her body. Maria frowns, confused.

Ellie looks down, playing with her fingers for a second. She reaches up and takes her necklace into her hand. Maria hadn't noticed it before that. It's a locket, she realizes.

"Can I show you something?" Ellie asks quietly.

"Absolutely."

Ellie doesn't remove it, but steps forward. She opens the locket, holding it up so Maria can see.

For exactly one second, Maria doesn't understand. Then she sees the resemblance. She gasps.

"Ellie! Where did you get this?"

"The Fireflies, believe it or not. Their commander gave it to me. Marlene had it, when—" Ellie screws up her lips. "She had it when she died."

Maria takes Ellie's hands in hers and looks closer at the picture. "What's her name?"

"Anna," says Ellie.

Anna is a looker and it's no surprise. What Maria minds more is her expression. Maria wagers the picture is post-outbreak, given her age. But her eyes carry a confidence, and a warmth. She's unafraid. She's got a little smirk on her lips. Maria would give a lot to know her, especially for Ellie's sake.

She lets go of Ellie's hands. "I'm glad for you."

Ellie takes one last look at the picture and closes the locket. "Me too."

Ellie's eyes linger on Maria's, and Maria realizes there's double meaning there. Her chest swells again. She's about to say something when Ellie speaks again.

"And can I be glad for you?"

Maria tries to parse that out. "Come again?"

"Any new gentlemen in your life I should know about?"

"You should know—goddamn, Ellie!"

Ellie's wearing her characteristic smirk and it immediately reminds Maria of Anna. Maria relishes that Ellie has not lost those other parts of herself. Which does a lot to undercut the indignation.

"Ellie, a dignified woman such as myself cannot just go around," Maria grasps, "dallying."

Ellie laughs. She tilts her head, holding eye contact with Maria. "I'm serious, though," she says in quieter tones.

A familiar ache pulses through Maria, another thing she doesn't want Ellie to see. She shouldn't have to. She turns, but some of it comes to her face anyway. When she looks, Ellie is concerned, but there's courage in it. Blessed girl, she's trying to help.

"Ellie, I…" Maria's cheek pinches. She looks down. "Alright, Ellie. Alright. Truth is… it hasn't been long enough."

Ellie's brow wrinkles and her features slacken. "Oh…" She starts shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I was presuming."

"No, well… alright, a little. Your heart's in the right place, of course. But a woman's got to go through what she's got to go through."

Ellie adopts a look of understanding. "Yes, she does."

It's Maria's turn to be taken aback. That is not the reaction someone in her position should be getting from a girl Ellie's age. On her back foot, where she's not used to being, Maria looks for words.

"Maria," says Ellie, shaking her head, "it's okay. Don't worry so much about me. There's nothing you could say that would change anything that's happened. It sucks, sometimes," she admits, "but I'm not fragile."

Maria gives a little scoff. "Clearly not. But when the time comes," she takes Ellie's hands, "and it starts to be too much, you know to come back to the ones that love you, right?" Maria can see in Ellie's eyes that while there's still hesitation, there's no longer any doubt who that is. "Because for a time, you seemed determined to go it alone."

Ellie glances down, but meets Maria's eyes again. "I promise."

"Thank God almighty," says Maria in frank relief. She squeezes Ellie's hands and lets them go. "I'm glad to hear it."

Ellie offers a somewhat rueful smile. Her eyes search about for a second.

"Is there some other order of business you came to talk to me about?"

"Yeah, actually." Ellie scratches her nose. "I'm thinking of going back out on patrol."

"Oh. Well. Are you sure you're ready?"

"Given all that stuff we just said," says Ellie, characteristically evasive, "I think so."

"Cause you don't need to—"

"Honestly, I don't think it will help so much, anymore. Spending all that time to myself."

"Oh. Well that does make sense."

"I wanted to ask though…"

"Hmm?" says Maria.

"Can the first run be with Abby?"

To that, Maria's eyes widen in disbelief. "Seriously?"

"Yeah."

Still surprised, Maria decides to test her. "Ellie, you know patrols are all run by lottery. It's what makes the system work. We can't have people playing favorites."

"Maria, I know that, I just… the first time… We've worked together. Some of the things we've been through together… It will help. And not just that, I kind of want to break the ice. Plus I can show her the ropes, she's worried—" Ellie screws up her lips. "Damn it, Maria, do I have to get down and beg? Come on!"

"No," Maria concedes, laughing, "no, you do not. I'll talk to Jones. But as far as 'showing her the ropes,' you know she's on her first run today."

"Yeah, kind of makes me wish I'd thought of this earlier."

"What is it she's worried about?" Maria asks with a tinge of authority. Sounds like something she should know.

"Look, I get why you're asking, Maria, but Abby and I have developed a certain… trust, and I'm not going to jeopardize it, alright?"

"Okay. Okay, that's fair. When, then? Tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I'm gonna spend today getting my gear straight."

"Okay, then. I'll make the calls."

"Thanks."

Ellie lingers, and there's something there, but she's not giving voice to it. Before Maria decides she ought to just ask, Ellie moves and embraces her once again.

"Oh…" says Maria, hugging her back. Just slightly shorter, Ellie's head fits perfectly into her neck.

"I love you, too," Ellie whispers. "Just know that."

Maria makes a sound, exhaling, and holds Ellie tighter. And she lets her. Feeling a fulfillment she hadn't dared hope to feel, almost out of nowhere, Maria smiles.

"Now this, I could get used to."

"You know, it's a lot easier without the words, Maria."

"Yeah, but they make it so much more tender."

"Ugh."

Maria smiles, and holds on to her hard-won girl for just a little longer.