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

A/N: Greeting my greatest readers, here another chapter of this fantastic story. LOL sorry, I have to put that there, but I really glad that this story has touched a few people very much. I'm really happy that a lot of people like it and it becomes one of my best stories yet. I want to thank you all for all the comments and love that you give to this story. Even if this story does not have anything to be with the game storyline it gets a lot of attention and I'm happy about that. Anyway thanks for reading and lest continue with the story. Thank you all.

Chapter 19: The life we Choose

It feels weird for a man to cry in the arms of a 16 years old girl, but at that moment Joel doesn't even care. They stay sitting in the bed for a few hours, while Joel tells Ellie everything about what happens after his daughter dies. He told her about how he started drinking and came back home late drunk. He told her how after a few months later he lost his job and how he found out that his wife didn't want to have a child and was taking contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and how they have some arguments about that. After that, he knew that finally his marriage was over and his wife asked him for a divorce.

He confessed to her, that after that his whole life became a disaster, that even his brother had to bail him out of jail a few times. He finishes telling Ellie all about his life, both of them just lay on the bed in each other's arms until they fall asleep. It wasn't a good end for their little vacation, but at least Joel felt a little better for letting Ellie know all about his past. He left a few things out of his story, but he was glad that Ellie knew more about it. He also doesn't tell her about the voice he is been hearing in his head or those weird dreams and nightmares he has been having for the last year. He was hoping that all that stopped now that he made his choice to be with Ellie.

The next morning, they pack their things after having some breakfast and talk a little more. After that, they check out of the resort and start driving back home. Even with the night, they have before, they have a good weekend there. They have fun and enjoy themselves, and Ellie was happy about that. She will like to do more there, but she knows that Joel makes a promise to her aunt and he would keep it. Even that Joel's past was so sad, Ellie was happy that Joel was finally open to her and told her all about it. Now she knows why he was the way he was and how much the loss of his daughter affected him.

( A few hours later )

Joel was driving back home, but they had to stop a few times or change the route because of the snow. So after a few hours later, they were getting close to the town.

"Joel…" Ellie says, looking at him from the passenger seat.

Joel looked at her for a moment while continuing driving. "Yes…"

"I just wanted to thank you for the wonderful weekend you give me. I really have a good time there," she said with a smile on her face.

"I glad you like it… it was a pleasure for me to be there with you, and enjoyed the time we have together." Joel then put on a sad expression. "Too bad that the end… became too… sad, but I'm glad that you know now all about that. I never talk with someone like that and that helps me a lot… thanks."

Ellie moves closer to him and grabs one of his arms and put her head on his shoulder. "I'm happy to be there for you… So thank you for trusting me and telling me all that. I know that that was a painful experience for you. But you once told me that it was good to talk about our pain and let that all out. Besides, it is the job of a good girlfriend to help out." Ellie giggled at that. She waited for Joel to tell her not to call herself that, but he didn't say anything and that makes her happy. "Can I ask you for something?" she said in a lower voice.

"Sure… you can ask me anything," he said while squeezing her shoulder and pull her closer to him.

"Can we stop in the town before we go home? I want to buy something for my aunt for Christmas."

"I thought you already bought something for her in the resort?"

"Yeah, but that was just a souvenir… I want to buy something else and as I can't go when she is at home… I wanted to do it now since she won't be here until tomorrow."

"Okay… do you have any store in particular?"

"Yeah… there is one close to the bank… we can go to that one. It has a lot of things to choose from."

"Okay… if it doesn't snow again, we will be there in half an hour."

"Great… thanks, Joel." Ellie moves her head up and gives him a kiss on his cheek. Then cuddle with him while he continues driving.

( Two hours later )

After they stop in town for Ellie to do some shopping. Joel and Ellie finally arrive at Joel's house. Joel parks the pick-up truck in front and turns it off. It was snowing again, but not much.

"Well, we're back…" said Joel looking at his house. Do you need anything from your house? I can take you there if you want?"

"Nah… I'm good with what I pack for the trip, but thank you."

"Okay…" after that Joel opened the door and got out of the truck. He went to the back of the truck and picked up his bags and Ellie's suitcase. Then Ellie got out and started walking toward the front door and used her key to open it. Joel already gave Ellie a copy of his house key after he came back. So that way, she can enter the house when he is out or working. It Has only been a couple of weeks since that, but he wanted Ellie to have her own key.

After Ellie opens the door, she waits for Joel to get to the porch and help him with the bags. Soon they go inside, Joel puts the bags in the living room and starts to get off his coat and all the other things for the cold off. "Okay… I will take your suitcase to the room, you will be sleeping in there and I will take the couch."

After Ellie takes off her coat she moves close to him and stops him. "Joel… you don't need to sleep on the couch," she said grabbing his arm. "We can share the bed."

Joel looked at her surprised. They already shared a little time in bed before but it is never a good idea to do it. "Ellie I don't think-"

"Yeah… yeah, I know. We promised my aunt not to do that, but it is not like we didn't do it before. Besides, we're just going to sleep there and nothing more," she said in the last part in a mocking way, but she really wants to do something more besides just sleep there.

Joel knew that Ellie wanted to get more close to him, and that was dangerous for both of them. "I will think about it... okay? But for now, it's just you in there." Joel starts to walk again and goes to the bedroom and put Ellie things there. "Is it still early, so what do you want to do?" asked Joel from the bedroom.

"Well, since it is snowing, going out is out of the question. And since we can't have sex either or do anything like that, we can just sit on the couch and watch a movie," Said Ellie while moving closer to the fireplace and work on it.

Joel came out of the room and entered the living room. "That sounds like a plan… the movie part I mean... are you hungry?" Joel asked, walking toward the kitchen.

"Yeah, but I want to help you with the cooking," After Ellie started the fire, she starts to walk toward the kitchen, but stops when her phone starts to ring. Ellie takes her phone out of her pocket and looks at it. "Is my aunt," said Ellie looking at Joel.

"Okay… you better answer her. I will start to get things out. Do you want to make pasta?"

"Yeah… sure. But don't start without me." Ellie turns around and picks up the call. "Hi, aunt Marlene… how are things going up there?"

"Hello, baby… things are fine. It finally stops snowing so all is good for tomorrow. Did you two are back to the house?"

"Yes, we just arrived. We got a little traffic and it was snowing on the way here too, so it took some time to get back here."

"Well, I'm glad that you're back home safely. Did you enjoy your weekend there?"

"Oh… aunt, it was fantastic… I love it there, we have a wonderful time… I want to thank you for letting me go with Joel. we do a lot of things there."

"I'm glad that you enjoy your time there… I want you to tell me everything when I get back."

Ellie talks with her aunt for 15 minutes and after they say goodbye, Ellie hangs on the phone and walks toward the kitchen.

"Is everything alright? I mean no more delay on her flight or something?" asked Joel soon Ellie entered the kitchen.

"Yeah, things look okay," said Ellie putting her phone back in her pocket. "She said that the flight is on-time for tomorrow and that we need to pick her up at 1:20 pm."

"Oh… that is good then," said Joel looking at her. "Now what do you want to work with? The sauce or the salad?"

"I work with the salad first, then I help you with the other things," said Ellie grasping an apron and starting to put on. She walks to the fridge and takes out the things she needs for the salad.

Joel grabs the meat and starts cutting it. "We have Linguini or Penne, what do you prefer?"

Ellie looks at him and starts laughing. "Do you… really… want me… to answer that?" she said between laughs.

Joel looks at her with clueless eyes. "Yes, I do. I need to know what we're going to make..." he looked at her and saw her laughing a little. "What is this so funny?"

Ellie continues laughing. "You said… Pene…" she continued laughing "That is the Spanish world for… you know…"

After a minute, Joel realizes what she was talking about. "Damn girl… I don't mean that. I was talking about the pasta." his face starts to turn red as the reference she just tries to put in there.

"I know… but it still sounds funny…" she said, trying to calm herself.

Joel punched her softly on the shoulder and continued working with meat. They cooked and talked until the food was done. Then they get to the table and eat their food. After dinner, Ellie looks for a movie to see on the tv, then both of them sit on the couch and watch the movie in each other's arms.

Joel doesn't know what the future awaits for them, but he was glad that he chose her. He knows that he needs to wait for her to be older, but he will like the company and the talk. He has been in the road of pain for so long, that he lost himself in it. So maybe this new life he chose, will bring something new for the future.

( A few days later )

Joel and Ellie pick Marlene up from the airport the next day after they get back from the resort. They explain to her about what happened to the room after they arrive there and even though she doesn't like the idea of Joel and Ellie sleeping in the same room, there was nothing she can do about it now. They told her that they didn't do anything there of course they let out the kissing and touching part. After that Joel let them alone, so Ellie can tell Marlene about the trip, So after he said goodbye he went back home.

Joel was working in the shad when he saw Marlene arrive in her car. So he stops what he was doing and waits for her to come out of the car. After he notices that she didn't come with Ellie, he knows that she wants to tell him something that she does not want Ellie to know about it. He doesn't like that she still keeps secrets from her because he knows that in the end, that will be bad for both of them.

Joel gets out of the shad and walks toward her. "Good morning, you don't bring Ellie with you?" he said with a curious tone.

Marlene gets closer and stops in front of him. "No, she is back home and I don't tell her that I was coming here before going to work. I need to talk to you alone, can we get inside?"

Joel didn't like the sound of that. He knows that she was a little mad about him and Ellie staying in the same room during the weekend, but he was hoping that she doesn't change her mind to let them be together. "Sure… no problem." Joel walks toward the house while Marlene follows him in. Soon, they were inside, Joel walked toward the kitchen. "Do you want some coffee?"

"Sure…" she said while walking toward the counter and sat in one of the chairs.

Joel moved to the coffee maker and started preparing the things he needs to make fresh coffee. "So… is it something in your mind that you want to discuss with me without Ellie knowing about it?" asked Joel while he continued preparing the coffee.

Marlene lowers her head and looks down. "Yes... there is something that I wanted to tell you... something I don't want her to know, at least not yet."

"Does this have to be with the weekend? Or is it about your trip to Chicago? Because you didn't tell me what happened on the appointment you have there…"

Marlene up her head and looked at him. "Yeah, it has to be with the trip to Chicago. That is why I didn't want Ellie to know that I have come here."

"So… you manage to see the doctor there?" Joel put the coffee and the water in the machine and turned around to see Marlene. "Did he tell you anything that can help you with your condition?"

"Well, he told me that it was an experimental treatment that he would like to try. He said that is not a guarantee that is going to cure me, but if it works, it can extend my time a few more years… He said that is the best chance I have to fight cancer but is not guaranteed that it will come back again." she said sadly.

"How... long?" asked Joel while moving closer to the counter.

"He wasn't sure… but he said 5 maybe more years."

Joel moves his hands and put them on top of hers and looks at her. "Well, it's sad that is not a cure, but if it can make you live longer that is good news. It can be five or more years that you can spend with Ellie and fix things with her."

"Yeah," Marlene lowered her head again. "The only problem with that is the cost. They said that the treatment is going to cost a lot of money… Money that I don't have."

Joel moves his hand away from her and moves back. "What about your medical insurance? I thought that you work selling them?"

"Yeah, I do... but as I work for a small company the medical insurance that they give me doesn't cover that kind of treatment."

Joel looks at her sadly. He can't believe that hospitals and doctors are all for the money. They do the same with his daughter and even that he gives them all they asked for, in the end, she dies anyway. "Wow… those fuckers… I hate to see how sick people just become another way to make some people rich. They don't have hearts anymore, all is now about the money."

"Yeah… if you don't have money they just let you die. But it was a long shot anyway… they can't give me any guarantee that it was going to work... so I think it is okay."

The coffee maker starts to make some sound, so Joel turns around and takes the glass jar from the machine. "Look… I think that you deserve all the chances you can get to get better, or at least give you more time. I have some money in my bank account. Maybe I can help you a little."

Marlene looks at him with a surprised expression. "That is a good gesture… Joel. But I don't think that you have 200k. And even if you do, I can't accept that amount of money."

Joel put the coffee in two cups and passed one to Marlene. "Wow… that is a lot of money."

"Yeah, they said that is something experimental… and cost a lot. So I just have to stay on my original plan. That takes me to the other reason I want to talk to you alone. I just want to make sure that you will take care of Ellie when… things go bad. You're the only one she will have to help her when my sickness starts to get worse."

"You don't have to say anything. I will gladly take care of her. And if you need anything… just let me know." Joel knows how hard this is going to be, no only for Ellie but for her too and that makes him feel sad.

Joel was mad at her at first for neglecting Ellie, but After all that happened between Ellie and her, they were getting closer now. But destiny is going to separate them again and that will be bad for Ellie. Joel starts to think about how to help them and after a few minutes, maybe there is something he can do to help her or at least something he can try.

Marlene takes a sip of her coffee and looks at Joel. "Well, let's talk about more pleasant things and less depressing. I want to thank you for giving Ellie a good time up there. I didn't like that you two have to share the room, but I trust that you two, that didn't do anything there."

Joel gets out of the kitchen and walks toward the fireplace. "I love Ellie and never going to do anything to hurt her again. This must sound sick for a man my age to fall in love with a 16 years old girl. But I'm never going to touch her like that until she is an adult. I know that all this is wrong… but I need her in my life… as much she needs me in hers. But I can assure you that I will do anything to make her happy." Joel takes a sip of his coffee and continues. "I know things were bad in the past, but Ellie deserves a better future, and if I can give her that until my time comes, I will be glad to do it."

Marlene stands up and walks toward the living room until she gets behind Joel. She put one hand on his shoulder and smiled. "I know you will. That is why I trust you with her future. I know I wasn't a good mother for Ellie in the past, but I want to change that in the time I have left."

Joel turns his head and looks at her. "I still don't know why you don't want to tell her. She will find out sooner or later and when that time comes is going to be harder for her to understand."

"I know, that is why I need you to be there for her." Marlene walks away from him. I'm going to tell her, but I need more time... besides I want her to enjoy Christmastime without worrying about me..."

Joel looks at her sadly. This was something he did not expect when he came here, but things are changing now and in the end, he is hoping this part of his story has a better end. After that, they talk a little more about other things. Even Marlene invited Joel to the Christmas dinner they will have at her house. After the conversation, Marlene told him that she needs to go to work, so after saying goodbye, she leaves the house. Joel goes back to the shad to continue working on the wood cabinets that he needs to finish. He really wants to give Marlene more time to fix things with Ellie, but how can he get that kind of money?

Joel texted Ellie and told her not to come today to his house since he will be working all day and do a few things out of the house. Of course, Ellie wasn't happy with that but didn't argue much. Besides after the weekend, they have together, she can let Joel have a little time by himself.

Ellie was in her room looking at all the pictures they took in the resort. She can't believe that she skis up there. They look happy together there and she wishes that her dream came true someday. She wanted to marry Joel so they can help each other with their problems and pains. She was feeling sad about Joel's daughter and how all that happens. But also feel glad that he opens himself to her like that. And now that she knows more about him, she loves him even more.

So after looking at all the pictures for a while, she decides to grab her diary and write on it. Ellie gets out of the bed and looks for the little notebook that was in her closet. She has not written anything there since Joel came back. So after she got it, Ellie went back to lay on the bed and opened. She checks out a few of the pages that she writes when she meets Joel back in the summer. She smiles at some of the words she uses to describe Joel the first day they meet. Joel was a real asshole back then. But maybe she understands now why he was like that. He lives with the pain of his dead daughter for 10 years. He pushes everyone away, his family, friends, and even her at first. But all that changes with time and she is happy that they help each other with all that. Ellie moves to the last page she writes. It was a few days after he left. She can even see the tear stains on the paper. She remembers that sad day, but now she feels happy that all that changed.

Dear Diary… today is December 21, just 3 more days for Christmas. And I think that this one is going to be the best one ever since I asked my aunt to invite Joel for dinner. It is going to be the first time that we have a guest in the house for Christmas, well one that I like anyway because My aunt invited a few of her co-work friends two years ago, but they only talk about adult things or about the job.

I know that my last entry was too sad. But now that Joel is back, I can write happy thoughts again. He has been helping me a lot with my studies and now that he is back I know I can do better when I get back to school. I can write something about that later too. But today I want to write about the fantastic weekend we have on the mountain.

Ellie continues writing in her Diary for a few hours until she feels tired and falls asleep. But now that Joel was back in her life the nightmare and pain stopped. Now she can fall asleep with happy thoughts and dreams. Because she was happy with the life they're going to choose to live in the future.