"So… can't wait to get the movies," Sarah said a little awkwardly as she sat in the back of the truck, "should be fun, huh?"

Melanie glanced at Joel as he smiled at Sarah in the rear-view mirror, "You bet 'hon."

"You excited 'Mel?" Sarah asked "It's got zombies, shooting and a topless guy in it."

Trying to force a smile, Melanie nodded "Definitely sounds up my street, chick."

Looking out of the window, Melanie could practically feel the tension in the front and wished she hadn't agreed to come to the movies. Ever since they had had dinner with her sister, things between her and Joel had been tense. They had both refused to talk about the elephant in the room and it was putting a strain on their relationship.

Jumping slightly, Melanie looked down to see that Joel had taken hold of her hand and he glanced at her as he squeezed it.

It used to make her heart jump, little romantic gestures like this but now it was a stab in the heart.

"Well, I am going to get a huge bucket of popcorn," Melanie said, in a cheerful tone using her hands to express just how big and felt her heart ache at the expression on Joel's face as his hand returned to the steering wheel.

Sarah laughed "Don't forget the soda!"

"Never."

"How rich do you both think I am?" Joel snorted, trying to be joking but there was a bitter undertone.

As they pulled into the parking lot, Sarah glanced out the window and waved suddenly, "Hey, dad it's Louise and Vicky from school. Can I go talk to them before we go inside?"

"Sure 'hon."

Melanie frowned a little when Joel didn't get out of the truck, "You do know that this isn't a drive in movie, right?" she said slightly joking "We have to actually go into the building to see the movie."

"I think we need to talk," Joel murmured looking at her.

Feeling her heart stop, Melanie looked to him and nodded slowly "I think we do…" she whispered.

"Joel! Melanie! Are you OK?" Ellie asked frantically, peering at them through the bars "What happened in there?"

Melanie walked out after Joel into the sunlight and shielded her eyes "More infected," Joel called back keeping his eyes forward and his body stiffened, "We're fine!"

"Here – come open the gate!" Ellie said, after quickly glancing between them and the younger girl seemed to guess something had happen, "Let's get this over with."

Taking a step back, Melanie watched silently as Joel pushed the generator towards the gate and hooked it up to the electrics. Ellie shot her a curious look as Joel started up the generator and Melanie simply smiled, trying to reassure her but it didn't work as Ellie shook her head in response.

'Great' Melanie thought: running her hand through her hair 'I'm in this situation….again'

"Alright," Joel muttered, "let's try that gate."

Ellie hit the button and grinned through the bars at Joel as the gate opened, "Alright! You did it!" she said joyously.

"Don't sound so surprised," Joel said with a hint of a smile "come on through."

Taking the reign off of Ellie, Melanie climbed on the back of Red and watched as Joel hopped up onto the horse. "Scootch," he said and Melanie seen the small affectionate smile on Ellie's face as she did as she was asked.

She could see that there was a connection between them and smiled slowly then felt a tug on her heart as she realized that she was getting attached to Ellie and suddenly wished she had remained distant – it was going to hurt saying goodbye to them both.

They started on their way towards the school and Melanie frowned a little as the campus remained silent, last time she was here, Firefly guards were everywhere and you could barely go two steps without one threatening to shoot you but she wasn't about to say that out loud.

"Hey, those clickers…" Ellie said slowly, her brow furrowed "… you think they were Fireflies?"

Joel paused before he shook his head, "No… no I don't think so…"

"They might have just retreated further into the campus," Melanie said casually, "they know that there's some bandits out there and they probably don't want to make it obvious that this place has supplies."

But Ellie still wasn't satisfied, "But why would they have infected so close to the lab?"

Joel shrugged, "Bill used them as a form of defense," he said quietly, his eyes constantly scanning for more infected "maybe the Fireflies are doing the same."

"Yeah… I could see that."

The campus was quiet and the worry filled Melanie more and more with each step when she didn't see any traces of the Fireflies. And it seemed to pass onto Ellie, "No guards… no nothing," she muttered, shaking her head "this doesn't look good."

"Yeah… I'd expect to see someone by now."

Melanie withheld a sigh, she really didn't need Joel losing hope as well right now.

"Let's just… let's just get inside," Melanie said, pointing to the doors "we'll find a way in."

"Is there a way inside?" Joel asked sarcastically, "everything seems to be boarded up."

Slowing down, Melanie seen what Joel said was true and let out that sigh she had withheld. It was getting darker and they shouldn't really be out when it was dark in a strange place.

"Hey!" Ellie said suddenly, pointing to a window that was broken "What about over there?"

Joel nodded and turned his head slightly to smile at Ellie, "Yeah that looks like a way in…" he said thoughtfully, looking up the window "good eye, Ellie."

"Just need to get up there," Melanie said, feeling slightly nervous as she seen how high it was, "which is just… peachy."

Joel got down and went to open the gate, "Don't worry… me and Ellie will watch out for you," he said, finally looking at her.

"Thanks…" she said, trying not to stare at him but after one look at Ellie, she knew she had been caught.

Joel rattled the gate and then smacked the bar angrily "Damnnit!" he snapped and then looked back to them, "It's rusted shut. We'll have to find another way."

"Well, we better hurry up and do that," Melanie said warily, looking around at all the dark buildings that could possibly be housing infected.

Ellie shrugged "Maybe… we can climb over it?"

"Don't think the horses will be able to do that," Melanie pointed out and climbed down, patting the horse's back to calm him, "let's just… think of another way."

Joel nodded, "You're right… we can't be dilly-dallying. I'll have a look around," he said, taking out his gun from his pack "you girls stay here and look for anything useful."

"It's what we do," Ellie said rolling her eyes at Melanie, "just hurry back."

"Stay safe… the both of you."

Melanie watched him go and then turned to Ellie, "How about you keep look out and I'll search those tents," she said, pointing to some refugee tents that brought back bad memories about when the world had gone to shit, "see if there's anything useful."

"Are you and Joel getting back together?"

The question surprised Melanie and she turned to Ellie with a stunned expression, "Where did that come from?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I've seen the way you two look at each other," Ellie said raising her own eyebrow "and it's obvious that you two still love each other. I may be a kid but I'm not stupid."

Melanie felt lost for words and looked behind her to make sure Joel wasn't anywhere near to hear this, "Ellie… there will always be a place for Joel in my heart but… things have changed," she said quietly, looking up at her "we're both different people now."

"Feelings don't go away 'Mel… when he talks about you, his eyes soften and his tone gets all mushy… hell, he even smiles goofily when he says your name," Ellie actually sounded irritated "either treat him like crap so he doesn't think he has a chance or give him a kiss…as long as I'm not around to witness it."

Eyes widening, Melanie shook her head "Joel doesn't…. I don't…"

A sudden loud crash that made the horses rear made Melanie and Ellie jump back as a large garbage bin broke through the rusted gate and burst it wide open. "Holy fuck!" Ellie said, trying to calm Callus down, "Where did that come from?"

"Sorry…" Melanie whipped her head around and seen Joel standing behind them with an unreadable expression on his face "probably should've warned you."

Melanie just wondered how much of their conversation he had heard.

"Lately… you just seem so tense," Joel said quietly staring straight ahead. Melanie looked ahead too and watched as Sarah chatted happily to her friends, "and I get the feeling that… things aren't the same anymore between us."

Melanie sighed "Joel…"

"I don't want things to change 'Mel…" he said turning to her, his eyes filled with so much desperation that Melanie felt her heart breaking, "my life is so fuckin' amazing right now… I can't lose you. We can work through this-"

Melanie just looked at him, "I don't think we can…" she whispered, feeling the tears in her eyes "I want kids… and a wedding with the beautiful white dress and the fancy cake… but you don't. You want a different kind of life…"

"Then let's do it, let's get married… have a baby," Joel said quickly "I don't wanna be without you."

"And I don't want you to end up resenting me," Melanie cried out and then let out a shaky breath as she covered her face "it physically hurts to think about not being with you and Sarah… it really does. But I won't stop wanting my own child and you shouldn't be doing this if your heart isn't in it… I think we… I think we need to end things…" her voice broke and she pressed her lips together tightly to stop a sob from escaping.

Joel didn't answer her but she seen him tighten his grip on the steering wheel, glancing at him, she seen his face remain emotionless… but his eyes told a different story. "Joel-"

"Hey!" Sarah appeared at the window grinning widely "We gonna see this movie or what?"

Melanie quickly wiped her eyes "Actually, Sarah-"

"Sarah… honey, Melanie's sister is in a jam and she has to go help out," Joel interrupted, looking at his daughter with a fake smile, "so it's just gonna be me and you."

The young girl looked worriedly between the two adults, "Is everything okay?"

"Course…" Melanie smiled, hoping her make-up wasn't horribly smeared all over her face, "I just… need to help my sister."

Joel turned to her slightly, "I think you should go… your sister needs you," he said softly, "we'll be just fine."

Getting out the truck, Melanie gave Sarah a hug and tried to hold back the tears "See you around chick," she said smiling, even though it was taking all of her willpower not to cry, "have fun with your dad."

"See you soon," Sarah smiled "I have a game next week. Remember."

Melanie nodded, "I'll check my diary," she said softly.

Joel handed his daughter his wallet, "Here, go pick some food for the movie, I'll be right in."

"Keep the goodbye PG," Sarah joked, taking the wallet and heading for the entrance, "there's people watching."

Joel waited until she was out of sight before he turned to Melanie, "I'll get Tommy to drop off your stuff at the bar," he said in a monotone voice, "be less awkward. Just give him mine."

"This isn't how I wanted things to turn out," Melanie whispered, feeling as if she was choking, "I really didn't-"

"Better we end things now before it gets too serious," Joel said quietly "I better go…I hope you find what you're looking for."

It was as if he was stabbing her in the heart with how little he cared about their relationship ending, "Joel…" she said but he had already started walking away, she watched hopelessly as the man she had begun to fall for walked out of her life. "I love you…" she whispered and finally let the tears fall.