''Hey Ellie,'' Maria smiled at Ellie as she opened the front door, ''How are you sweetheart?''

''I'm good, thanks.'' Maria motioned for Ellie to come in, ''Good to hear, still having those nightmares?''

Ellie gave Maria a nervous smile, ''Yeah, a little.''

''Hmm, feel like talking about it?''
Maria had somehow come to be the person who Ellie confided in a lot, it wasn't something she saw coming in the beginning when she first met Maria- a rifle pointed at you will do that.

But Ellie felt great respect for the blond woman. She was strong, strong in a way that she reminded her of Tess. Doing something incredible as making a safe haven for dozens of people was no small task. And Ellie admired her for that.

''No, not today…'' Maria nodded understandingly, ''Sure let me know whenever you want to talk about it, you're always welcome here. You know that.'' Maria walked towards her rifle she inspected it, pulling back the bolt just as Joel had taught her that one day, ''I was actually about to make my round. Care to join me, Ellie?''

Ellie smiled as she shook her head, ''I was actually looking for Tommy, is he home?''

Ellie had asked Tommy if he could help her with a present for Joel. It was something she had been wanting to give to him ever since he had mentioned it to her. But living in a world were resources and certain things were scarce she didn't know if she would ever find it. Knowing Tommy used to be a part of the scavenging group that would set out every week she figured he would be able to help her.

''Oh, he should be at Mason's.''

Mason's was a building a little farther away from the houses. Making it the perfect building for a community centre whenever it was needed. If there weren't any need for meetings it served as some sort of bar. Though Ellie had asked Joel about it once and apparently, it was nowhere near the real thing. But he said it was better than nothing.

''Oh, okay. Thanks. I'll go there right now.''

''Ellie!''

Stepping into Mason's she saw Tommy wave at her, smiling as noticed him she waved back, ''Tommy, hey. I've been looking for you.''

''Yeah, sorry kid. I had to help George here.'' Motioning towards the man in front of him Ellie gave him a nod, ''Hey, George.''

''Hey, Ellie.'' The man had a strong Australian accent, when she met George for the first time she nearly laughed at his accent. Ellie had come to learn then that the man had been good friends with Maria's father. He was one of the people that found the town near the hydroelectric dam, upon finding the small town that would eventually turn into the settlement, George was one of the few people left that would help Maria's father to do so.

''I actually got it.'' Tommy smiled, clearly proud with himself. ''You did?'' Ellie nearly jumped from excitement. ''Yeah, I asked Max to take a look at it, to fix a few things here and there. My brother may be getting' old but he ain't tone deaf.'' Ellie chuckled, ''I have no idea what that is..''

''Tone deaf? It basically means that you can't hear the pitch changes in an instrument.'' Tommy ducked behind the small bar George was really proud of since he build it himself, holding up the guitar for Ellie to see she smiled from ear to ear. ''Awesome!'' She gasped.

''Right?'' Tommy chuckled, ''My brother used to play his guitar every Thursday evening on his porch.'' Tommy sighed as he thought back of the old days, ''Yeah… good times.'' He finally said.

''Well…'' he said as he handed her the guitar. ''Here ya go, kid.''

''Thank you so much, Tommy.'' Tommy waved a hand at her, ''Don't worry 'bout it. I'm sure he'll like it. Best give it to him then.''

''Where did you find it anyway?''

''One of the boys found it in a farm house a while ago and brought it back with him, but that was before you came to live here. It was in a pretty bad shape back then. So when you came to me for help, I asked Max to help out. And… well, the ending of that story is in your hand.''

Ellie admired the instrument as she held it up, ''This'll be perfect, I'll be sure to thank Max later.''

Tommy nodded, ''Well, go on then. He's probably wondering where you are anyway.''

Thanking Tommy once more, she waved at George and left Mason's, but the closer she got to home, the more nervous she felt about her present. She knew Joel would like it no matter what because of the many times he had reminisced about playing the guitar. But even while knowing that, she couldn't help but to feel nervous.

Nervous and excited.

Joel heard the familiar click of the front door closing.

''Joel?''

''In here!'' He called out from the living room as he hit another nail with his hammer.

''What are you doing?'' Taking a step back to look at the closet he was fixing, he placed the hammer in his back pocket, ''Fixing one of our neighbours drawers.''

''Ah, okay…'' Joel scratched his beard as he turned to look at Ellie, ''Where you been'?''

The look in her eyes told him she was up to something- either that or she had already done something. She lifted herself up on her toes as she smirked at him. ''Oh, you know… Around and about.'' She said mischievously

Eying her curiously he tilted his head, ''Alright, on with it.''

Smiling she seemed to burst with excitement, ''I got something. And you'll definitely love it.''

'' s'That so?'' Motioning for him to wait she rushed back towards the hallway and when she came back Joel's eyes widened in surprise by what he saw in her hand. ''How in the world did you get that?'' Ellie smiled proudly at him holding up the guitar as if she were holding up a trophy,

''Whaddaya think, huh?''

Walking towards Ellie she offered him the guitar. Taking it he tilted in his hands, taking a good look at it he noticed someone had repaired it as best as possible, doing a pretty good job at it too.

When he finally looked up he saw the glee in Ellie's eyes, ''D'you like it?''

''Ellie… this is…'' Joel got speechless then, not really knowing what to say but feeling so much at the same time. He had felt this once before.

When Sarah bought him that watch.

To think that one day a guitar- a simple instrument that it was back in the day would render him speechless. He sighed in content, ''Thanks, kiddo.''

He turned around, letting the guitar lean against the closet he was fixing, ''You're suppose to start playing for me, you know.'' He heard Ellie say, but instead of saying anything back he just walked towards her and pulled her in for a hug. Feeling her hesitate at first, but then accepting his hug by giving it back he closed his eyes for a brief moment.

Thanks baby girl

Clearing her throat Ellie shifted in his arms, taking that as a que to let go he took a step back.

''So? Are you going to play or what?'' He smiled at her, ''All right, all right, let's go then.'' He grabbed the guitar and walked towards the front door, ''Come on then, we'll do this the right way.''

On the porch.
Like he used to play every Thursday evening.