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Dina -

"Ellie come on, it's okay" I took her hand and led her forward through the streets of Jackson. She was looking more and more anxious the further we walked.

"Can't we just go see JJ" She mumbled

"El believe me all I want to do right now is go hug my son but we kinda owe it to Maria to have this chat. We have been gone for months"

"Fine" She huffed back

We finally arrived at Maria's place. It's a small white wooden house just like most of the houses in Jackson. She was waiting on the porch for us. After she met us at the gate she told us to store the bike and gear then meet her at her house so we could talk about the past few months. She wanted to get it done with before any gossip started working its way through the town.

"Hello girls, come inside" She called holding the door open

We headed into the kitchen and I took a seat at the dining table. Ellie slumped into the chair next to me playing with her fingers uncomfortably.

"Do you girls want a drink?"

"No thank you" I replied

She walked over to the kitchen counter and propped herself up against it, folding her arms. "Let's get one thing straight before we start. I'm very happy you're both back and in one piece" She glanced over at Ellie who still looked very skinny with a raised eyebrow before continuing "But I don't want anymore stupid stunts okay? You come back here to stay and you must check in and out with me. No running off. No idiotic suicide missions, okay?" She shot a stern look at us.

"Yes of course" I replied

"Ellie?" Maria asked

Ellie nodded but stayed silent

"Okay great. I can't keep worrying about the both of you like this, you're making me age quicker than I care for" She half smiled at us and moved forward taking a seat at the dining table. "So let's hear it, what's happened over the past few months?"

We sat talking for around an hour with Maria filling her in on Santa Barbara and the trip home. I did most of the talking while Ellie stayed reasonably quiet, interjecting a few works here and there along with some head nods. Maria seemed pretty satisfied with what she heard and asked us if there would be any more trouble with Abby. Ellie finally spoke up and assured her that business was done and it will stay firmly in the past.

"Okay Maria if you don't mind we would like to go see JJ" I started to get up from the table and head towards the door. Ellie closely following me like a lost puppy.

"Ellie" Maria spoke as we were leaving the house "Just so you know, Tommy. He isn't the same as he was when you left. He's moved away from the main town and he's on his own quite a lot. He felt very guilty when you left and he blamed himself, then when Dina left he blamed himself even more. So just keep that in mind when he sees you. Okay?"

"Yeah sure" Ellie nodded

I reached out and touched her shoulder "come on El lets go see JJ"

Her face lit up as soon as the words left my mouth and it made me smile. She loved JJ so much.

I headed for the door and pushed it open Ellie behind me and Maria bringing up the rear.

"You girls let me know if you need anything. Take some time to get used to things and Ellie you get some food in you. We will talk about jobs in a week or so. And have a think about where you want to live. Joel's place is still free and it might be nice to keep it in the family" She walked forward and pulled me in for a hug and then the same with Ellie who seemed a little reluctant.

We both turned and headed for the steps of the patio when Ellie suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped. I turned to look at her, her face turned drip white.

"Welcome home Ellie!" Tommy shouted over. He limped forward toward the house. "I heard you were back and you know how quick news travels round this place. I had to come see you!"

He looked old, like he'd aged years in a matter of months. His brown hair now sported more silver streaks and it was a lot longer in a scruffy ponytail. He limped closer and stopped in the yard with his arms held out wide.

"Aren't you gunna come give me a hug kido?"

Ellie was reluctant but eventually took a breath and stepped forward making her way down the steps of the porch and gave him a hug. Maria stepped forward and took place next to me, her arms folded in her usual pose.

"So kiddo, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have acted the way I did before" he looked down and kicked his boot against the ground before looking up at me "And you Dina. I'm really sorry"

I nodded back to him, letting him know it was okay. When really it wasn't okay at all. In a way he's Ellies uncle and he should be taking care of her not the other way around. I didn't say anything as I didn't want to aggravate the situation for Ellies sake. She was already pretty anxious about seeing Tommy.

"Look Tommy" Ellie started to talk but was cut off

"Yeah, so tell me everything! You're back right, so that must mean you did it?" He started to get a little excited "You wouldn't be back here if you hadn't would you?"

"Well the thing is" Ellie looked down awkwardly "She's not dead"

"What?" His voice became louder and he frowned at her

I took a step forward then but Ellie raised her hand at me to signal to stay where I was. I had a bad feeling about this.

"She's not dead? What do you mean? Didn't you find her? Wasn't the intel good? Because I was so sure" he started to ramble

"No, I found her, your information was good. But I couldn't do it. We fought and eventually I let her go"

Tommys face dropped. He threw his hands in the air and turned away from Ellie. "I don't understand Ellie. Did Joel mean nothing to you?"

"Of course but Joel wouldn't have wanted this, he wouldn't want me to become this person" Ellie took a step forward towards Tommy reaching out to touch his arm. He turned around flailing his arms again and first hit her across the face sending her backwards to the ground.

"Your a fucking coward!" he shouted at her

"Ellie!" I shouted running down the stairs and putting myself in the middle of them. Maria was on my heels now standing next to Tommy, he was shaking and mumbling to himself. "Tommy! Back off!"

"Have you been drinking?" Maria hissed at him

"Joel would be ashamed of you!" He shouted at her while wrestling with Maria who was trying to calm him down "He did everything for you!"

"Ellie, are you okay?" I looked back at her still on the floor. She had blood running from her nose. She gave me a nod and wiped her face with her sleeve. I spun round and marched over to him "How dare you! How dare you say those things to her! Joel would be ashamed of you, he wouldn't even recognise the person you have become. You don't even know what she's been through for you and your fucking vendeta Tommy. Ellie is lucky to even be here. She nearly died! Stay away from her Tommy, stay away from my family!"

His face changed from anger to sadness and he stopped struggling with Maria.

I walked back over to Ellie and picked her up from the floor, checking her face. "I've got you, come on let's go see our boy" I took her hand and led her out of the yard.

"Ellie, I'm sorry!" Tommy cried in the distance.

"Fuck off Tommy!" I called back

I led Ellie down the street towards Jesse's parents house. We passed a few faces we recognised who looked a little shocked at seeing us but gave us a 'hello' and a wave nonetheless. Nobody tried to stop us or say anything more than a passing greeting as I probably looked like a woman on a mission as I marched Ellie along the paths to see our son. We were both quiet the entire walk and she still looked a little shaken up.

When we reached the house we stopped for a moment taking in the sight, it was the same as it was when I left JJ here months earlier. I was still firmly holding Ellie's hand in mine, at this point I think she was grounding me just as much as I was her.

"Do you think he will remember me?" Ellie finally speaks

"Do you think he will remember me?" I laugh

We both look at each other, her green eyes, soft looking back into mine.

"Let's find out?" I smile

Before we can even knock on the door It opens.

"Oh my!" Jesse's dad Robin shouts "JJ come here!"

Little footsteps slowly start to sound from inside the house followed by an infectious giggle. JJ appears in the doorway grabbing onto his grandad's trouser leg. He looks over to me slightly puzzled and I can feel it coming, the fear of him not remembering me. I can't breathe, it feels like water is filling my lounges and my heart starts to pound. I squeeze Ellies hand a little tighter as my worst fear is starting to become a reality, that maybe my son has forgotten about me.

I've been gone for too long.

Then seconds later his face lights up and he runs towards me laughing, his arms stretched out in front of him. "Mummy! Mummy!" he shouts

I run forward and meet him halfway picking him up and hugging him close. "I've missed you so much" a tear falls down my cheek as I let out a breath of relief.

Ellie was standing behind us looking a little nervous but letting me and JJ have our moment. I stopped and turned to her. "Hey, who's that?" I pointed towards her getting JJ to notice.

He stopped for a second and looked before letting out a huge laugh and throwing his arms out once again in Ellies direction shouting "Mamma Ellie!"

Her face lit up "Hey buddy!" she moved over and took him from my arms swinging him round in the air. He kept giggling and holding his arm out as if he was flying. "I'm so glad you remember me! I've missed you so much" after a few twirls she handed him back to me and I held him close, I didn't want to let this moment end.

"How about we go inside? I'm just making dinner and you both look like you could do with a good hot meal" Robin looked over at Ellie

"Yeah, I'm wasting away over here" Ellie rolled her eyes and looked at me, she knew this would be a comment she would be getting often.

"Come on" I took her hand and we both went into the house.

We sat at the dining table while Robin finished setting the table and Julie, JJ's grandmother, brought in a large pot that smelled delicious and placed it in the centre of the table. JJ was sitting at the end of the table in a newly crafted high chair looking round and taking everything in. I let Ellie sit next to him as she hadn't taken her eyes off him since we'd arrived and I thought it would help keep her relaxed.

"Ready for some potato dinner?" she reached out and took his hand, she still had a huge smile on her face. He giggled back at her and mumbled some words.

"Here we go girls" Julie came back in with some bowls and set them down in front of us. "Hope you like rabbit stu! Help yourself"

"Mmmm its smell great, it's been so long since we have had a hot meal" I smile back

Julie takes her seat at the table opposite me directing a look of worry towards Ellie "yeah It looks like it"

Ellie was too busy helping JJ guide food into his mouth like a plane to hear another comment directed at her weight.

"Well, I'm so glad you're both finally home" Robin spoke "Have either of you thought where you're going to live? Obviously you can stay here if you want"

"Maria said we could move into Joel's old house" Ellie interjects "But we haven't spoken about it yet"

"Well there is a spare room upstairs for you both if you want to take that while you get yourselves settled back into things. We brought some of your stuff back from the farm as we didn't think you'd be back out there for a while" Julie seemed hopeful we would move back to Jackson

"That would be great, thanks Julie" I said

"Ellie, we left some of your stuff back at the farm including Joel's guitar. We weren't sure when you'd be back and it didn't feel right to bring your things back here. The patrols have been checking in on the farm from time to time so when you're ready I can go over with you and collect your things."

"Thanks Robin" Ellie smiled over at him

"Well I'm stuffed, that was great, thanks" I rested my hand on Ellies leg under the table giving her a reassuring stoke.

"Your welcome" Julie collected the bowls and headed back into the kitchen to clean up

"I think we will head out to the Tipsy Barden for a couple of hours, give you girls some time alone with JJ" Robin reached out and touched JJ's face giving him a little smile

"You don't have to.."

"No no, I insist" Robin cut me off "We are so happy your both back." He got up and followed Julie into the kitchen.

I looked at Ellie "I'm so glad we are back too"

—

I laid JJ down in his crib and kissed his head "good night, I love you" before turning and heading for the bed "Crazy day huh?"

"Yeah definitely" Ellie was getting into the bed on the other side of the room

I walked over and got in next to her "I guess we should talk about where we want to live then? We can't stay here can we"

"Hmm yeah I was thinking that. We can't go back to the farm. Not yet anyway. I'd feel bad taking JJ away from his grandparents after everything they have done for him and maybe we were a little naive thinking the farm was safe"

"How about Joel's?" I look over at her, her face looked sad

"I don't know. It might be a nice thing to keep it in the family as Maria suggested I guess"

"And it's a nice place too" I nudged her shoulder with mine

"Yeah it is" she laughed

I rolled over and pulled her in to face me, placing my hand on her cheek "are you okay after what happened with Tommy earlier?"

"Yeah, he'll get over it" she shrugged "Thanks for having my back babe"

"Don't mention it, nobody treats my girl like that" I smiled and planted a kiss on the end of her nose

She let out a laugh and looked down "I'm just sick of people saying I need to fucking eat"

I placed my hand over her waist and ran it down her side, the scar healing nicely from my handy work, then over her stomach. She was still pretty much skin and bones. "Well El you are slim, I've got nothing to grab onto" I smirked

"Ha! Okay i'll make sure I fill out for your sake" she winked at me

I pulled her closer to me and placed a kiss on her lips "I'm so glad we are home"

"Me too"

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