Joel looks out over the nyazuka metro. He was patching himself up sitting on the edge of what was the big sushi shop overlooking the entire metro. Ellie was wondering below with hat kid as the metro cats patrol the metro. "You took quite the beating back there,you're lucky me and my boys were passing through when you got ambushed by those raiders. I thought i wouldn't be able to see you again joel" he turned around to see the empress with a big bag,she sat down beside joel and he sighed"yeah...been to long since we last met….and it's good we ran into each other...i have a favor to ask you" empress's ear twitched slightly out of curiosity as she opens her bag and took out some healing pons and used them on joel. "A favor?mm depends on what you need."she says as her tail sways calmly as joel rest his hand on her paw,as he did so they look into each other's eyes."Emma, we need a place to stay, me n ellie...just until winter is over...once spring is here we'll be outta ya fur,you owe me" empress blushed slightly nobody has ever used her real name since the outbreak. She then sighed "well...i don't have much room but im sure i can find someplace for you two,it's the least i can do for everything…."The room fell silent as they stared longingly into each other's eyes. They could feel something within them as the empress scooted closer, her tail sways calmly as she rests her head on his shoulder purring "prrr….jojo,I have a confession. I….i think i love you" she says softly, Joel blushed softly and gently put his arm around her "emma...i...feel the same" he said with a sigh. He loved her,but was scared to let her into his heart. They look at each other yet again before they begin to kiss passionately holding each other close as they kiss. After some time the empress helped him up and quickly took him into a back room where a mattress was on the ground Joel locked the door behind them as they spent the night in each other's warm and passionate embrace.
Meanwhile
Ellie wandered around with hat kid as they talked about their wacky adventures. Ellie tells hat kid about the things she saw and the people she met along with the things she killed like clickers and bloaters. And hat kid told Ellie about her adventures through lands unknown and planet's and telling her about her run-ins with snatcher and Vanessa along with how she met empress and joel. Ellie smiles "wow kid,you can get around pretty quick" hat kid nods happily as she says this "mmhmm earth is so bizarre and beautiful even after the outbreak it's still gorgeous. I just wish my friend could see it, but she's on the moon with dj grooves'' says hat kid as Ellie nods having no idea who dj grooves was "uh huh riiiiiight….so you're a real alien?" Ellie asked in disbelief and hat kid nodded "eyup! Born n raised on aroarith. It's pretty this time of year" says hat kid with a kind smile. Ellie was a bit skeptical. I mean she looked like a normal kid,aliens don't exist...right? Ellie decided not to dwell on it and yawns "man I'm exhausted I wonder where Joel is" says Ellie tired as hat kid looks up at her "oh he's with empress, probably already out cold,you guys did get your butts kicked...well mainly Joel. You should let him rest" says hat kid, Ellie nods agreeing "you have a point kid,so where should i sleep?" Hat kid smiles happily "oh you should sleep in my ship tonight! it'll be like sleeping over!"hat kid said with excitement. Ellie thought she was weird but shrugs "eh sure what's the worst thing to happen?"she said with a smile as hat kid happily led her to a clear spot so they could warp into hat kid's ship for the night.