Before we begin might I say: YES I KNOW ELLIE IS OFFICIALLY GAY. But in my wonderland (aka my brain) she is a lover not a judger. Meaning it doesn't matter.

Also, OMG IM NOT DEAD! I've been taking acting classes and VBS so I've been booked. Andreallylazy.

Paternalistic:

"Ellie!"

She jerked upright, hand edging towards her pistol. Joel gave her a tired look.

"I was talkin' to you," he said, and stowed a bottle in his pack. They were on an two day run for supplies. Tommy shoved the responsibility on them this month, but Joel had taken it immediately. There weren't many enemies in the area so it was like a mini-vacation.

But lately Ellie was horribly distracted. It was the third time today she'd been caught daydreaming.

"You think Tommy and them'll be alright without us?" Ellie asked. He nodded.

"They were doin' fine before we got there."

She just hummed thoughtfully and went back to checking for bullets. Reflecting on the question, Joel stood up.

"Is that all you're worrying bout?"

Ellie didn't respond so he tapped her shoulder. She still didn't react.

Time to be fatherly, he thought to himself with a small sigh. Joel sat down and whistled. This time her head shot up.

"Huh?" She said blankly. He motioned to the seat opposite of him. She sat down.

"Talk," he ordered.

"It's a guy."

Shit, he thought. It was only a matter of time before she got interested in boys. It didn't help that the teenagers in Jackson weren't exactly bad looking. Joel rubbed his temple.

"Is he being mean or courtin' with you?" He tried to play dumb.

She frowned, plopping her chin in her hand. "Neither."

Joel wasn't making the connection. "What's the problem?"

Ellie stared at him. He stared back. She made some kind of motion with her head. He blinked.

"Ya know," Ellie said as if it explained everything.

"No, I don't," Joel answered. She blushed tomato red and hid her face.

"Mhhnaheo jaue." He struggled to make since of her mumbles. She gave an exhausted sigh.

"I have a stupid fucking crush and he won't notice me and...damn it, Joel! Stop fucking laughing!"

He was just chuckling lightly but she was humiliated.

"Sorry, baby girl. It's just funny how not two years ago you were thinking how crazy them girls were Before and now you're actin' like one of 'em," Joel explained, smiling softly. Ellie looked terribly offended.

"I am not!"

He just rolled his eyes. She gave him a look and continued.

"Be glad I'm ignoring your asshole-ery. Anyway, you might know him. Nick?"

Joel scratched his beard in thought. Yea, he knew of Nick. The kid was maybe three years older than her. He had short brown hair, was lanky, and while he was good with a rifle, he got awfully clumsy around her. Ellie didn't seem to notice, he thought with a smirk. Ah, young love.

Joel would have to crush that kid's hopes of getting anywhere close to first base as soon as they got back. Hell, he'd put the kid in the outfield if he could.

"I know him. My advice 'd be just to give it time, kiddo. The pyramids of Egypt weren't built in a day," Joel told her. Ellie squinted.

"Pyra-What?"

"Nothing."

xxxxxxxxxxx

Joel was on a mission. A mission of the utmost importance, a mission that could not delay any longer. He searched valiantly through the town, until, that afternoon, he found his target.

Nick. The boy Ellie was interested in. Joel had specifically asked Tommy to keep his gun for the day. Just in case.

While he remained calm when Ellie mentioned Nick, he often began to think what would happen if she finally caught him. Joel's conclusion was disaster. He had a hard enough time watching his second baby girl grow up and kill people, but boys were a whole other topic. He wasn't prepared.

Joel spotted the young man in the town square. It seemed he was just coming home from the day shift at the wall.

He almost didn't call him out. The poor guy must've been dog tired.

Then again, this was Ellie's crush.

"Hey, son!" Joel yelled to get the boy's attention. Nick turned and went pale.

"Oh shit."

This would be fun.