As the end of her shift approached, Melanie couldn't help but rush through her orders and confuse Chuck in the process, "Fuck, Mel. You're going too fast!" he said, shaking his head as he poured shots, "I'm getting my tequila and vodka shooters mixed up."

"They're drunk anyway," Melanie said impatiently as he loaded up the tray with shots, "does it really matter?"

"What's got you all impatient anyway? You're not usually like this."

Before she could say anything, Daisy snorted as she cut up the limes, "Ain't it obvious, Chuck? She's got a date lined up with Joel and she's anxious to get goin'."

"Do you blame her?" Charlene smirked, fixing her bra even with men watching her "That's one hell of a man she gets to cuddle up to at night."

Chuck cringed and shook his head, "You know what… I'll take the shots over," he muttered, picking up the tray, "can't stand all this girly talk."

"Thanks for making the boss uncomfortable," Melanie sighed, rubbing her head and also glancing at the clock.

Charlene rolled her eyes and looked at Daisy, "Tonight must be the first time."

"I think you're right."

"I would've done it all ways with him by now, if it were me."

"Same here."

Knowing there was a blush on her cheeks, Melanie narrowed her eyes at the two women "I am right here, y'know," she hissed.

"And why are you?" Charlene replied incredulously, "just get home, put on something easy to take off, run back here and then get that man of yours on a bed for Christ's sake."

Daisy nodded, "For the first time in like forever, you have a boyfriend 'Mel. We never thought this day would come."

"Gee, you girls are just so nice to me," Melanie said but gave them both a thankful smile: they weren't as bad as she thought, "I'll just finish up here. Joel's picking me up at 9pm."

Before she knew it, it was 9pm and Melanie grabbed her stuff when she seen Joel's truck pull up outside, "Okay, I'll see you tomorrow night," she said, shooting them a smile.

"Enjoy yourself, you lucky bitch!" Daisy said with only a little bit of jealousy in her voice.

Charlene gave her a cheeky wink, "I want details tomorrow. Detailed details."

"You'll be lucky!"

Outside, Joel grinned widely when she got in the truck and kissed him on the cheek, "How was work?" he asked, starting up the engine and pulling out of the parking lot.

"Embarrassing," Melanie said and unpinned her hair, "Is Sarah back from her friends?"

His grin suddenly turned smug, "Well, it's actually only you and me tonight. Sarah's gonna sleepover at Becky's tonight," Joel glanced in her direction, "got the place to ourselves."

"Hmm… interesting," Melanie smiled, "I hope you'll behave yourself."

"I hope you don't."

Melanie held her breath for what felt like several minutes but there was still silence in the courtyard, biting her lip, she willed Joel to appear and for them to be on their way. She hated being out in the cities, ever since the world had gone to shit and her life had been ruined.

"You always see the glass as half empty, 'Mel… suppose that's the waitress in you."

Lucy's words echoed in her mind and Melanie shook her head: she had to stay focussed here. Ellie was depending on them.

"You stay here," she said suddenly, after making up her mind to find out what was keeping Joel, "I'm gonna go see where he's went."

Ellie's eyes widened and she shook her head, "You're not leaving me here are you?"

"I have to Ellie, don't worry, I won't be long," Melanie tried to sound reassuring as she got out her gun, "I promise-"

The sound of a generator could be heard and Melanie stopped and turned to look through the gate wondering what was going on and caught sight of Joel heading back towards them, "Oh hey!" Ellie said happily, running past Melanie to open the gate, "You're back!"

"You sound surprised," he said, but squeezed Ellie's shoulder before he glanced at Melanie, "Were you worried?"

Melanie forced herself not to be so relieved at his return, she wasn't going to get attached to him again. "More like wondering when we should push on," she replied coolly, "after all you did tell us to leave you behind."

"Hey, y'know what?" Ellie said quickly, trying to diffuse the tension leading Callus and Red through the gates "I really would have liked to be an astronaut."

Joel gave Melanie a look before he shook his head and lead them to the now unlocked gate, "That a fact?"

"Why an astronaut?" Melanie asked, averting her eyes as she pulled herself up onto Red's back. If Joel was going to ignore their brewing tension than so was she. Two could play at this game.

Ellie seemed satisfied with them being quiet rather than tearing each other's hair out, "Can you imagine being up there all by yourself?" she asked, and then gave a casual shrug "Would've been cool. I'm just sayin'."

Pressing a button, Joel opened the door and it gave a loud creak as it raised up. "What about you two?" Ellie asked glancing at Melanie and Joel over her shoulder, "What'd you both wanna be?"

"Oh… well, when I was a kid," Joel answered her as he climbed up to sit in front of Ellie, "I used to want to be a… a singer."

Melanie couldn't help but look at him in surprise, in all the years they were together, not once had he told her that. Laughing, Ellie shook her head, "Shut up. You? Really?"

"I'm serious."

"I didn't know that," Melanie said quietly and then smiled a little, "why don't you sing something then?"

Joel looked at her and snorted, "Ah… I'm thinkin' no."

"Oh come on, we won't laugh," Ellie teased him, "don't be scared Joel."

Melanie's smile grew, "We won't be too critical on your performance."

"I don't think so."

Ellie huffed but looked over to Melanie as Red kept up with Callus, "How 'bout you Mel? You didn't wanna be a singer too, did you?"

"No, funnily enough," Melanie answered and tilted her head thoughtfully as she looked around the university campus, "I really wanted to be a teacher… was even going to take night classes but… I had money issues. My dad got sick, I had to stay at home and look after him and became a waitress at his friends bar. Just never got round to doing it after he died."

"I'm sorry about your dad," Ellie sighed, "that really sucks."

Shrugging, Melanie forced a smile, "Hey, sometimes life isn't perfect but I was happy at the bar. Met some nice people."

"That you did…" Joel said suddenly, his eyes meeting hers again and this time she didn't look away.

"Well, you're doing a great job teaching me cool stuff," Ellie said kindly, giving her a small smile not taking notice of their moment "Joel not so much, he's gonna need extra tutoring."

Joel chuckled at Ellie's comment, "I've taught you stuff too."

"Some new swear words in particular," Melanie murmured.

The horse's hooves echoed louder than Melanie would have liked through the courtyard but it was the strange screeching that captured her interest. Looking ahead, she suddenly seen monkeys running from the approaching horses and she couldn't help but smile as they climbed doorways and perched on top to watch them. "Aw look at them!" Ellie exclaimed, her eyes lighting up as she watched the monkeys with fascination, "They are so awesome!"

"Don't get too close, their bite fucking hurts," Melanie told her, remembering the time at the zoo with her sister and nephews.

Joel glanced over his shoulder and gave Ellie a smile, "First time seeing a monkey?"

"How'd you guess?" Ellie asked laughing and went back to watching them, "Yes, it was my first time seeing a monkey."

The daylight slowly faded as the afternoon grew late and as they went further into the university, Ellie suddenly pointed "Hey, guys look!" she said excitedly, "Fireflies! The bug kind!"

"I'll take that as a good sign," Joel said, his eyes narrowing as he looked ahead.

However, Ellie had spotted another sign and patted his back to get his attention, "Joel, look!"

"I see it," Joel answered still looking ahead and Melanie frowned a little as she tried to see what was making him so on edge.

Ellie kept her eyes on the Firefly sign until they were completely past it, "It is a good sign," she whispered out loud, "I know it is."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Melanie joked but deep inside, she prayed with everything in her that it was a good sign.

If only she knew that they were both so very wrong.

As Joel awoke the next morning, or at least he thought it was morning, he opened his eyes and felt something tickling his chin and looked down to see Melanie's hair. He grinned as he pulled her closer and heard her murmur something sleepily.

"Morning," he whispered kissing her on the forehead and breathing in her soothing scent.

Melanie frowned a little and burrowed her head into his chest, "No, not morning," she grumbled in an annoyed sleepy tone "that means we need to get up."

"And I take it you don't want to?"

"Oh God no. Your bed is so much more comfortable than mine."

He chuckled and traced shapes on her back "I'm finding it hard to wake up," he said enjoying the feel of her naked body against his, "but it has nothing to do with the bed."

Smiling, Melanie looked up at him and ran her finger over his jaw "I could get used to this y'know," she said softly "waking up next to you."

"So could I."

Kissing her softly, he pushed her gently onto her back and ran his hands down her sides to her hips. Melanie groaned a little as he pressed against her and looped her hands around his neck, running her hands through his hair as he began to kiss that area of her neck that made her tingle all over but before anything could go any further, the door banged open and Tommy walked in.

"Hey, Joel need your help on-" he stopped as Joel rolled off of Melanie and pulled the covers up over them both, "Damn, sorry brother. Didn't realize you had… company."

Feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment, Melanie smiled politely at Tommy, "Morning… fancy seeing you here," she said sarcastically.

"I could say the same," Tommy grinned.

Joel groaned and rubbed his face, "Tommy, you mind… leaving. Before this gets any weirder."

"Don't worry, I'm going," Tommy laughed loudly, turning around and walking out, "You kids have fun!"

As the door shut, Melanie covered her face and shook her head, "Your brother has amazing timing, doesn't he?"

"At least he didn't come in last night," Joel grinned, "it really would have spoiled the moment."

"Thank the Lord for small mercies."

A/N

So sorry for the long break but I'm focusing on this story completely as I finished Girl Who Cried Wolf and this is the one story everyone's favouriting and reviewing.

Hope you liked this chapter even though it's just a filler for the next one. Some Melanie/Joel private time as they fight runners and clickers! Ooh I can't wait!

~ BSI