''Hey Ellie?''

''Yeah?'' Ellie shouted back as she was carving away at her small wood statue, ever since Stuart from next door taught her a few things she'd been carving away at small pieces of wood whenever she got the chance. It was a good way of staying busy when she didn't have any chores to do.

But Joel had this annoying habit of not saying anything once he called out for her from downstairs. So Ellie jumped off her chair as she mumbled, ''Really, Joel?''

''What is it?'' She called out again as she opened the door of her bedroom, tilting her head so that her right ear was perked slightly outside the door, as if that would make her hearing sharpen.

''Could you come down here, please? Max dropped something off for ya.'' Intrigued Ellie rushed down the stairs, Max had probably found something during his hunt for anything useful. If he did find anything useful for the kids-whether they were books or new DVD's or teaching material he would bring it back with him to the settlement, Ellie figured since Max and his group had been gone for a week now he might have found something good.

As she walked in the living room she immediately noticed several books on the table. Not seeing Joel but hearing him in the kitchen she picked up each book, analysing it with great interest. After all she loved books, she had to admit that comics were her favourite because of the awesome drawings that could take a hold of her and make her run wild, but she could not deny attention to a good book.

She was so distracted that she didn't even hear Joel's feet against the wooden floor.
''Distracted already, eh?'' Joel smiled. He loved seeing her like that- like a kid should be. Carefree. The settlement made it possible to be carefree.

And that was all he wanted for Ellie.

''Any good?''

Ellie looked up at him only noticing him now.

''Oh, sorry.'' Shaking his head at her while motioning with his hands that it was alright he sat down on the chair besides the table. ''Max reckoned you could use some new books to devour. As long as you bring them to the community centre once you're done with them.''

''Of course I will.'' Smiling at Joel she piled the books in her arms to carry them upstairs. She knew a good spot for them, right next to her bed so that she could dwell on each of their stories after reading in her dreams.

''Hey kiddo, don't forget to be ready in ten, all right?''

She sighed and loud enough for Joel to hear too. Joel had made a promise to her one day by something she had offered as a plan herself- to teach her how to swim. But ever since she got thrown of the bus while she tried to help him from drowning months ago she had nearly drowned herself. Going back in the water- or even near water would result in nearly have a heart attack. And yes, she knew she was probably exaggerating.

But she was that scared of water. But if there was one thing Ellie wasn't.

It would be being a pansy.

''Oh, right!'' She said, trying to sound excited and acting like she had forgotten all about it.

''You'll be fine.'' But of course, Joel saw right through her as he briefly chuckled.

Grunting she made her footsteps sound extra heavy with each step as she walked back to her room. Sooner or later, she had to accept her own plan. But she had come to realise she'd actually wanted do that later, rather than sooner.

''Please don't let me drown.''

Joel smiled at her, ''Would you stop worryin'? I am right here, I won't let anything happen to you, Ellie. Now common.''

They had taken the path from the hydroelectric dam back to the snail nature trail. Most of the part of the path was completely ruined since mother nature was now taking back what was rightfully hers, but there were still certain parts were you could easily walk passed the water stream. Eventually they had reached a clear lining where the small river would end up to a clear pond, it was about fifteen minutes away from the dam. But it was secure and you could overlook the entire area around you, thus making it less dangerous for them to be sneaked up upon.

Ellie stood at the side of the pond, the grass was tickling between her toes and she had taken Joel's advice to wear light clothing, in her favourite t-shirt and favourite denim shorts she figured she couldn't go wrong. She wasn't going to drown in those, right?

Who the hell am I kidding? She thought as she fumbled with her hands.

Joel had already dropped into the water, steadying himself on the ground under his feet and where the water reached just underneath his chest. He was standing in the shallow part of the pond, but still Ellie had done the math in her head. And she didn't like the outcome.

Joel had seen the hesitation in her eyes, slowly making his way to her as he reached out with his hand. He tried to ease her mind a little bit. Completely understanding why she was feeling scared but knowing her well enough to not admit it entirely.

''You'll be fine, Ellie. Ain't nothin' gonna happen, I promise.'' She took a deep breath and took his hand, feeling utterly stupid they were so clammy.

''Just look at me, alright? You'll be fine.'' She nodded at him as he slowly took a few steps back, she followed him into the water.

The water was cold and she felt the cold rush through her body, her breathing quickened as it seemed to grip at her heart. ''Oh, it's fucking cold.'' Joel laughed at that, ''But you're breathing. Even though they are panic puffs of breath, you're breathing kiddo.''

''Yeah, I totally got this.'' Her voice didn't sound as confident as she would have like it to sound. But even so, Joel nodded in agreement and stopped when the water reached her torso.

''You ready for this?'' He slowly released her hand looking into her eyes all the while for any signs of complete panic. But they had become calm.

That's my girl. He thought.

''Okay, I'm gonna count to three and then I'll flip you on your stomach alright? Now it's important to keep your head up, we'll let you get used to keeping yourself afloat before we get to the rest.''

Ellie was listened intently and nodded with understanding as Joel placed his hand on her stomach while Ellie had grabbed hold of his other hand. If she had to be completely honest, she felt like she was going to die. But knowing that Joel was there was more than enough to keep her from having a panic attack.

''One… Two…'' Ellie took a deep breath, ''Three.''

Joel used the fact that she was holding onto his hand by lifting her out the water and easily bending her so that she was still as a plank, floating without any problem. She had done as he had told her- keeping her head up.

He smiled proudly at her, ''Well done, Ellie. See, ain't nothing to it.''

''You can't see that I'm keeping my eyes shut.'' Joel chuckled, ''Well, go on and open them then, because you haven't drowned. And you won't after I teach you how to swim.''

After a moment she cheered,''Well whaddaya know? I can fucking swim! Well… technically I can't just yet, but I will!''

Joel snapped her back to focus, ''Okay, now keep your arms sideways. Yup, like that, there ya go. Now let's pretend that you're a clock.'' When Ellie turned her head to look quizzically at Joel he sighed, ''Alright then, let's pretend you're a frog, better?''

''Frogs are cool, I can live with that. A clock can't swim, ya know? It just knows time.''

''That's not the p-… you know what? Frog. Be a frog then.'' Ellie laughed and Joel couldn't help but smile, ''Focus. Now close your hands like this,'' He switched his hand on her stomach keeping her steady all the while and showed how he kept his fingers together closely. ''Now don't spread your fingers, you don't eat soup with a fork. You eat it with a spoon so keep that idea in mind.'' Doing as she was being told she wouldn't be Ellie if she didn't react to his weird explanation,

''You know Joel, first I'm suppose to be a clock, then you tell me I'm a frog. And now I'm a fork turning into a spoon? Or am I a frog swimming in soup?''

Joel sighed, he should have known that she would try to play smart with him. ''Would you just listen and try to follow what I'm tellin' you here? And for the record, there actually was a delicacy called 'frog legs', so you better watch your legs.''

''You're totally shitting me.'' Ellie scoffed in disbelief.

''Nope, now pay attention.''

By the way he felt her body letting loose of all the tension he could tell that the banter was helping her relax. And if anything, she wasn't suppose to fear the water anymore for she was making progress fast.

''No, like this.'' Joel's attention went to her fingers, ''Spoons, Ellie.''

''Right..'' she mumbled adjusting her movements. Joel turned to look at her legs then, ''Now, I don't know if you've ever seen a frog, but they keep their legs bend and straightened as they swim.''

''Like this?'' And to Joel's surprise she did exactly mimic a frog's movements in water.

''Very good, you're a natural. Now keep at it, time your arms and legs.''
He kept his hand on her stomach to let her get used to the movements. Ellie was a fast learner despite her fears. He had come to realise that many times during their travels. And this time wasn't any different from others.

After a few minutes had passed he slowly- without Ellie's notion, removed his hand underneath her. But she had noticed it as soon as he took a step back, before she could ask him in a panic what he was doing he said, ''Don't pay attention to me, keep going. You're doing great.'' He encouraged despite the look in her eyes.

''Joel..'' The uncertainty was there in her voice. As soon as he'd left her side she felt scared again.

''Kiddo, you're doing great. Ain't nothing gonna happen.''

Careful to keep the ground steady under his feet. The shallow side of the pond was Ellie's safe harbour and he didn't want to test her for the 'big kid's side of the pool' just yet. It'd be like throwing her to a pack of clickers. But instead he thought of something else.

''Swim towards me.'' He said while moving away from her. And she did as she was told. All the while keeping her focus on her hands and legs and easily keeping her head up. Joel's chest was filled with pride. Minutes had gone by but she kept swimming, seeing the exhaustion gripping at her he asked, ''Wanna stop? We can continue another time.''

She looked thankful for the suggestion and easily admitted that she did wanted to stop. ''Yeah. What do I do?''

''I got you.'' Joel grabbed hold of her hands, ''You should be able to stand here.''

They made their way out of the water, sitting down on the grass Ellie slowed down her breathing. ''This is gonna hurt in the morning, isn't it?'' Joel sat down beside him, resting his elbows on his knees. ''I reckon it will, yeah.'' He laughed, Ellie grunted as she laid down on her back looking up at the clear blue sky.

''It was totally worth it.''

It's been a while since I uploaded a chapter, sorry for making you guys wait! And thanks for the new fav! Hopefully you'll enjoy the story as much as I like writing it. I actually went back to playing the game after I finally was able download it for the PS4. I purchased the game on the release date for the PS3 so it had been a while since I last played the game. But it brought me on quite a few ideas for the next coming chapters, so I'm curious to see what you guys think of it. I hope I'll be able to upload another chapter by the end of this coming week, but that kind of depends on what happens in real life- work is such a drag at the moment. Funny thing though... I already wrote the chapters for the ending of this story. :)

Oh and btw, No. I did not throw a clock in the water to see if it would float, lol. I actually thought of some ideas on how Joel could easily explain to Ellie how to use her arms and while looking at the clock on my wall I thought of pointing her arms to twelve and then to nine and three, which was totally a weird way to explain, lol. Thus it became a ''jest'' (as they would say in the old days).

Hope you guys had a good weekend!