Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog and their creators.

A/N: Hi, again hope all of you are right. Again thanks for reading this fic and for all the support. Sorry for the grammar error, and I hope that that is not holding you back to continue reading this story. Now, lest continuing with it.

Chapter 10: A Christmas Tales

After Joel prepared the hot chocolate, he walked out of the kitchen and went back to the living room. He passed one of the cups to Ellie that was sitting in the chair close to the fireplace. After that, he turned around and sat on the couch that was on the other side facing Ellie.

Ellie takes a sip of the hot chocolate then looks at Joel. "So… how do you get lost in the forest?" she asked with some desperation tone.

Joel takes a sip of his drink and looks at her. "I don't know how to make this interesting, so I will do my best. As I said before, I was 12 when that happened. Our dad likes to take my brother and me with him when he goes hunting sometimes. My brother was 8 at that time, but he didn't like to go with us much, because he hated it when my dad killed those poor animals, he said. So one day, he decided to take us to the mountain during the winter to teach me how to hunt. We use the same spot that we used every time we go there.

We never go during wintertime, but he thought that it could be a good Christmas present for us to go there and camp for a few days. So he took us there and tried to teach me how to hunt, but that day he drank a lot and took us deep into the forest.

( Flashback )

"C'mon son… it's time for you to do this on your own. I already teach you how to shoot and track you pray… the only thing you need to do now is going out there and tracking one you own."

"But dad is so cold here and I don't like to do this alone," said Joel with a scary voice.

Joel's father put one hand on his shoulder and looked at him. "Well, you have to do this alone because your little brother doesn't feel good and I have to stay here with him. Now be a man and go, just do what I teach you and you will be fine. Remember to use the trail and the trees to guide you."

Joel watches his dad walk away and goes back to the camp they made in the forest. His dad was planning to stay there for a few days to show his sons how it likes to be living in nature. But soon they get there, Joel's little brother goes a little sick, so he decides to let Joel do his first hunt alone.

Hey, your brother got a little sick, so you need to do this on your own... yeah right. I know that you've been drinking a lot, and that is why I do not want to come here. Joel was talking to himself while continuing to walk deeper into the forest.

After 20 minutes, he found a few marks in the snow and bent down to check it. "Okay… it looks like deer… maybe a small one. Joel stands up and checks his rifle, then continues walking and follows the track in the snow. He doesn't remember how long it took to finally found the deer drinking from a little creek nearby. It was a small one, but old enough to get hunted. So Joel moves slowly and takes his position behind some bushes.

He aimed his gun at the deer and after a few minutes, he took the shot. The rebound of the rifle made him fall back to the ground and his shoulder was hurting a lot. After a few minutes of pain, Joel stands up and looks toward the creek, but the deer is gone. He walked toward the place where the deer was before and saw a little blood mark in the snow. "Yeah… I hit it… now I just need to find it. Dad is going to be so proud of me when I get back… wait where I'm?" Joel starts to look around and doesn't recognize the place.

He looks at his watch and notices that he's been out there for two hours. Okay… let find the deer and get back quick... Joel followed the trail of blood until he saw the deer in the distance. So he started running toward the animal, but before he got to it, he didn't notice the little hill in front of him and fell down.

He rolls down the hill until he gets to the bottom of it and hits his head with a tree and loses his conscience. Joel didn't know how long he was out but when he woke up it was starting to get dark. So he stands up and feels his head hurt, so when he touches his forehead notice some blood on it. Shit… I need to go back before it gets dark. He looked for his rifle for a few minutes but didn't find it. Fuck.. dad is going to kill me if I lose the rifle. Then he hears the sound of a wolf in the distance. Shit… I need to get out of here.

Joel started running in the other direction, but soon he was up the hill, he didn't remember where he was or what direction their camp was. So he started walking in a different direction not knowing where he was going.

( End of the flashback )

"Wow… that sounds a little scary. So how long do you stay lost?" Ellie asked with interest.

"All night… I almost freeze to death. My father got drunk and forgot that I was out there. Tommy slept almost all day because he didn't feel well. Lucky for me I found some fallen trees and went under them to try to stay warm but in the end, I just fell asleep there. My dad found me the next day, he was still a little drunk from the day before, but he found me… I think he was too good at that. Later I learn that I was close to the camp and that is how he found me so fast. I was close to getting back, but I lost the way back."

Ellie looks at him and takes another sip of her drink. "What happened to the deer or the wolf?"

"Well, my dad gets all pissy, because we ruined his hunter trip. Tommy was sick and I got hit on the head, so he needed to take us back to town and to a hospital. So we don't have time to go back for the deer or my rifle. And for the wolf I guess I get lucky… that they never found me… or I will be dead by now." Joel up his cup and take another sip.

"Wow… that was an interesting story. I know some tourists come here to hunt… but they come more in the summertime."

"Yeah, I bet. So… what about you? Do you have any Christmas story to tell?"

Ellie takes another sip of the chocolate and looks at the fire. "I don't think you like to hear any of my sad Christmas stories… As you know, my aunt and I never were too close."

"C'mon… you don't need to tell me any sad ones… I mean you have to have some happy ones to tell."

Ellie turns her head and looks at him. "Well, your Christmas story wasn't too happy if you ask me."

"Yeah, it wasn't too happy, but in the end, it was a happy one,"

"How? You get lost because your father got drunk and forgot about you. Also, your brother got sick, so I don't see the happy ending you speak for."

"Well, in the end, my dad got so scared about me getting lost and my brother got sick that he stopped drinking after that day." Joel turned his head toward the fire now. "Believe me, things get better at home after that."

Ellie doesn't know what to say. She knows that Joel had a hard life too when he was young, he already told her a few things about it. But what she really wanted to know is about his pain, and where that came from because she knows that is not from his distant past. But that is something she wants to ask at another time. So she started to think about something that can be close to a happy memory.

"Okay… I have one… I guess." Ellie starts, but lowers her head and looks at the floor. "I think I was 10. It was the first Christmas we have here in this town. It was a party in the town center and my aunt took me there. She bought me new shoes, a dress, the whole package. I think she noticed that I don't have any friends yet, so she was trying to find some for me.

( Flashback )

"C'mon Ellie is going to be fun, you see," said Marlene while moving out of the car. "Everyone is here… your classmates, teachers, and a lot of people from the town."

"But, I don't know them… I'm new in school so no one is talking to me," said Ellie, a little shy.

"Well, you need to be more open… Ellie. If you want to make friends you need to talk to them and this is a good place to start." Marlene grabs Ellie's hand and both of them walk into the center. When they got inside they saw a lot of people there, not only from Ellie school but from town too. After a few minutes there, Marlene starts to introduce Ellie with a few people, including some of the people that work with her. "Hey… Amanda," Marlene says while she gets close to a woman. "This is my nice Ellie... Ellie, this Amanda, she works with me.

"Nice to meet you, Ellie. She said while extending her hand toward Ellie. Ellie only moves behind her aunt and away from the woman.

"I'm sorry she is a little shy."

The woman moves her hand away and looks at Marlene. "Ahhh, is okay my daughter is the same. It's getting difficult for her to find new friends. I think she is missing her dad."

"Well, maybe Ellie can change that…" Marlene looks back at Ellie and smiles.

"Yeah, maybe you can give her some company. She has been sitting all night at our table…" Amanda lowers herself and points to a table on the other side. "Do you see that little girl over there with the blue dress? She is my daughter Riley, she is 10 like you and I think that she can use a friend right now.".

Marlene down herself in front of Ellie and put her hand on her shoulder. "Ellie can you go over there and talk to her… she needs a friend just like you do."

"But… I don't know what to say…"

"Just go over there and introduce yourself… then you can talk about school or things you like to do. It is going to be nice to have someone to talk to."

"Okay…" Ellie walks toward the table and introduces herself to the girl. "Hi… my name is Ellie. My aunt and your mom work together and I think they want us to be friends."

The girl looks at her, but after a few minutes, she extends her hand to Ellie. "Well, Ellie nice to meet you, my name is Riley."

( End of the Flashback )

"So after that night, we became best friends."

"Ahh, that sounds like a great story… but you told me that you don't have any friends, so what happened to her?" asked Joel curios.

"Yeah, she was my first friend here. We were best friends for two years, but her mom and her dad finally got the divorce and she had to go to live with her dad who lives in NY. we talked on the phone for a while, but in the end, she never called me again or answered my call or test. I think that she found new friends there and forgot about me." Ellie turned her head and looked at the fire, tears already forming in her eyes.

Joel looks at her and understands now why his departure affects her that much. It was like another person she loved abandoned her. What an ass… Joel knows this is not going to help much, so he decides to change the subject. "Okay.. you're right… it is better to do other things than hear sad stories." Joel stood up and put the cup on the top of the fireplace. "I think it is time to finish with the Christmas tree." Joel takes the cup from Ellie and put it beside his cup and pulls Ellie up from the chair. "Where do you put the box with the lights and ornaments?"

After that, Joel and Ellie spend two hours putting the lights and the other things on the Christmas tree. While they do that, Joel prepares some snacks and more hot chocolate. Joel was happy to see Ellie laughing again. He told her some new happy moments in his life. Happy moments that he has with his brother… and all the gifts they received for Christmas.

After they finish, both of them go to the couch and watch a movie on the new tv Joel buys before he gets back here. He also bought a few movies on the way back. He thought that if Ellie started to come to his house again, it was good to have something to entertain her. They were watching a Christmas movie, but before it ended Joel noticed that Ellie fell asleep. So he decides to call her aunt and let her know that Ellie will spend the night at his house. So he moves Ellie's head with care, away from his lap and moves off the couch without waking her. Then he goes to the kitchen and grabs his phone and dials Marlene's number.

"Hello," answered Marlene after a few rings.

"Is Joel… I just want to tell you that Ellie fell asleep on my couch and I don't want to wake her up, so it is better if she stays here tonight."

Marlene stayed silent for a moment. "Joel, I don't think that is a good idea. I know that she did it before… but now that I know, I don't feel comfortable with that."

"I am not going to do anything to her, I'm not like that. But we put the Christmas tree together and talk a lot. Ellie was using my house as a symbol of pain, so if we want to help her, we need to change that."

"And you think that staying there will help?"

"I need Ellie to trust me again if I'm going to help her… I need her to believe that I'm not going to leave again. So yeah, I think it's good for her if she spends the night here."

Another moment of silence. "Okay, I am going to trust you… just make sure that she takes the pill in the morning and doesn't bring her too late… okay?"

"Okay, thanks. See you tomorrow."

"Good night... Joel," Marlene said, a little rude then hang on.

"That didn't sound too good to me, but it started." So after he hung up, he walked out of the kitchen and went to the couch. He looks at Ellie for a few moments before he picks her up and takes her to his room. Soon he put her on his bed, he took off her boots and adjusted her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. She always sleeps on the couch the other times she stayed in his house, so tonight he will let her sleep in his bed.

So after he was sure that she was comfortable, he bent down and gave her a kiss in her forehead. "Don't leave me…" he hears her say, but when he looked at her face her eyes were still closed. Maybe she was dreaming, but he can feel her sadness.

So he went in to the bed and lay down behind her. "Don't worry… kiddo. I'm not going anywhere."

Joel put his arm around her waist and his head behind her head. He promises Marlene that he will do anything to her and he will keep that promise. But he has to admit that it feels good to give her some comfort. After a few minutes, Joel felt Ellie hand grabbing him and pulled it close to her heart. He felt her calm pulse, so he knows that she will have a good sleep tonight. So after a few minutes, he moved his other hand and turned the lamp off.

"Good… night, Ellie…" he whispered behind her ear but never received any response.

The next morning. Ellie opened her eyes and noticed that she was on Joel's bed. What? Did I sleep here all night... again? She said in a lower voice. Then she rubbed her eyes and sat on the bed. She started to look around looking for Joel but he was not in the room. After a minute, she looked at the stand where the lamp is and saw a glass of water and a note. The panic starts to get into her mind, as she starts thinking about the note Joel left her when he left last time.

She was scared to pick up the note, but then she hears some noises coming from outside the room. So she quickly got off the bed and walked to the window. Ellie looked outside and saw Joel pulling some wood planks out of his truck. It looks like he has some work to do, but she was glad to see him out there. So after a few minutes, she walked to the other side of the bed and picked up the note.

Good morning.

I know that you will ask yourself what you are doing in my room, but don't worry about that. I already told you, aunt, that you fell asleep last night and that I don't want to wake you up and take you back home. So I ask her permission to let you sleep here. I have to go out early in the morning to buy a few things, but I will be back soon. So I'll let you a glass of water and the pills you need to take and see you when I get back.

With love Joel.

Ellie smiles at the last part, then put the note back to the nightstand. She doesn't like to take those pills, because sometimes they make her feel worse. But she promised her aunt that she would take them, so she had to do it. After she took her pills, Ellie sat back on the bed and put her boots on. Then she walks out of Joel's room and goes to the bathroom. She doesn't bring any of her stuff, so she only cleans her face and uses her finger to brush her teeth.

After that, she put her hat and coat on and walked to the back door, and got out of the house. She saw Joel enter the little shed, so she walked toward there. "Hey…" she said soon she got to the entrance of the shed.

Joel turns around and looks at her. "Hey… good morning, did you sleep well?" he answered while he finished putting the wood plank on the ground.

"Yeah… I guess I did… I can't believe that my aunt let me stay the night." she said while hugging herself.

"Yeah, I told her that you fell asleep when we were watching a movie and as it was late I prefer to let you sleep here."

"Oh… okay. Thanks for letting me sleep in your bed… did you sleep on the couch?" she asked, hoping for him to say no. Because she has a dream about Joel being with her in the bed and she wants to think that it was real.

Joel walked toward Ellie and stopped in front of her. "Don't worry about that, I sleep well too. Now let's eat some breakfast and take you back home before your aunt starts to think that I want to keep you here." Joel put his arm around her shoulder and started walking toward the house.

I don't mind that. Ellie said to herself while walking beside him. "I see that you buy more wood… are you working again?"

"Well, I need to pay the bills… there just take a few fixing jobs, nothing big for now."

"Can I help?" say Ellie looking at him.

"Sure… but you need to study first… now c'mon and let's prepare something to eat."