Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog and its creators.

A/N: Again thank you for continue reading this story. Yeah, I know this is been a long and slow romance story. It does not support t be this long but as I continue writing the story goes on and on and it takes too long for Ellie and Joel to get together closer. I just hope that you like the story so far and continue reading. again thank you for your support and happy 10th anniversary of this wonderful game and fandom. For the people that are fathers or going to be celebrating with them, I wish you a wonderful Father's Day.

Chapter 17: Things that Need to Change

After getting out of the house, Joel walks toward the beach. It took him a few minutes to get there and since the moon was not full yet the beach was too dark to see all around. But the light from his house helped him to guide himself down the beach. Soon he was down there, Joel stopped close to the shore and looked at the dark water. The horizon was so dark that the division between the sky and water couldn't be seen. After a few minutes, Joel looks up at the sky and all the stars there. Are you up there my little brother? The old man asked me to move on and stop thinking about the past. Joel moved a little back and sat down on the sand. Everyone is still telling me that it wasn't my fault… that I did not blame myself for what happened, but in a way it was. I Should do something to stop you… but I didn't and now you're gone. Maybe I should not push people away after that, but I couldn't face anyone back then… no my friends… Tess, or even myself. Tess… I am always going to regret how all that happened, but I think I did the right thing for her. She needs someone that can take care of her and make her happy, and I was not that person. That was why I had to make her get away from me.

Joel stayed in silence for a few minutes looking at the ocean and the soft waves hitting the shore. My surfer life ended when I got in that accident… and it is supposed to continue with my life away from that. But when you come here looking for help somehow you bring me back to the water that I love so much. But after you're gone… it was like I was back to that ancient again… yeah that sounds selfish and maybe that is why I can't get over this and I get stuck again. You're like a younger brother to me and it was like losing a family all over again. Joel lay back in the sand and looked at the stars. I know that I never talk to you like this… but I didn't have the courage or the expectation that you could hear me… But I really miss you kid… and I don't think that I will ever get over this.

"That is really nice Joel… I never thought that you're this sentimental." said the boy sitting beside him.

Joel jumped up as soon he heard a voice beside him. Joel quickly sat up and looked to his side and could not believe what he saw. "Tommy! Are you real? Or am I finally going crazy? he said, looking at the young man sitting beside him.

"What do you think I am?"

"I don't know… I never believed in ghosts before."

"Is that what you think I am?" he said with a smile.

"Well… considering that you're dead… and I can see through you right now… is it that or I'm going crazy."

"Well, maybe it is both… But I can see that something has changed… Am I right?

"I don't know what you mean?" said Joel, a little confused.

"I think you know… but I can see that you cannot see it yet." The young man looks toward the water and smiles as soon he sees the waves in the distance. "They're beautiful are they?"

Joel turns his head and looks toward the sea. "Yes… they are… but I can't see them now the same way I used to…" he added.

"Why?" asked the boy.

"I don't know… maybe because they have too many painful memories about them… I guess." Joel doesn't know if all this is real or if he fell asleep and he is dreaming all this. But somehow it feels right. "I guess… losing everyone that I share with makes me sad… and it makes them feel different."

"You looked very happy a few days ago… when you ride one…"

Joel turned his head toward the young man. "How… you know that?"

Tommy looks at him and smiles. "Do you think this is my first time here?" asked the young man with a smile. "But I can't say that this was the first time you did something so stupid… that wave was too wild even for you and trying to ride one while being drunk was worse… So why did you do it?"

Joel turns his head and looks toward the water again. "I don't know… maybe I just wanted to-"

"Feel alive? Or kill yourself?"

Joel stayed quiet for a moment, not knowing the real answer to that. He knows that he does not want to kill himself, but he doesn't know why he does it. "I didn't… want to die if that was what you were thinking."

Tommy looked at the water. "This is not about what I think or not… this is about what you think… Joel."

Joel looked at him. "What do you mean… that this is about me? I don't understand… Are you a spirit? Or is it my conscience trying to tell me something?"

Tommy turns his head and looks at him. "I think we let that clear already."

"No… you didn't… you never answer that question."

"Well, if you want an answer, you have to look inside of you. Besides, you're the one that was talking to me before while looking at the sky… so what I am… is after you." said the boy but he only saw the confusion in Joel's eyes. "Try not to think too much… I can be a lot of things. You could be talking to a spirit right now, you could fall asleep on the beach and be imagining or dreaming all this or you're starting to get crazy and be talking to yourself. That last one is less probable since if that was true you would have gone crazy a long time ago."

Joel looked at the dark water again. "I am not sure what all this is about… but since I'm talking to you… maybe this is the best moment to-"

"Joel… you don't need to apologize or be sorry for what happened. I know how you take all that and I'm the one that is sorry for it."

"But all that was… my fault… If I-" he said Looking back at the boy.

Tommy looked at him too. "I don't know why you are doing all this to yourself… but if you're looking for forgiveness? You don't need any from me… neither needs my permission to go back to your normal life or to the water… I know how much you love it."

Joel looked at him again. "I don't know who told you that I want to go back to the water. And even if I want to… you know that can't. You already saw what happened a few days ago… I almost kill myself… so why do I want to do that again?"

The young man smiled at him. "Because I know you… You said that you don't want to do surfing because of your injury… but nothing can stop you from teaching again. I know that you blame yourself for what happened to me and try to punish yourself by staying away from surfing… but that needs to change and now that you have a second chance, you should try again."

"Second chance? What do you mean?"

"You will know what I mean if you look into your heart… now take care of yourself Joel and try not to do anything stupid next time. I can't always be there to help you… neither is she," the young man smiled at him before starting to vanish as quickly as he appeared before.

Joel looks at the spot he was sitting and doesn't see any sign of anyone being there. Great… now I'm losing my mind. Joel lay back on the sand again and looked at the stars. Joel saw a big shining star over him in the sky for one second. It was there for a few seconds before it got to his normal side. Thanks… Tommy… It was a good talk.

xXx

Ellie opens her eyes when a sun ray hits her face and starts to burn it. She quickly covers her face with the blanket and turns to her side. Fuck!... It's morning… already?… What the hell happened last night? She starts questioning herself before her head starts to hurt and she inside feels like a volcano was about to erupt. Ohhhh… fuuuck! Ellie quickly removed the blanket and was going to get out of bed and toward the bathroom, when she saw a bucket with water beside it. She doesn't remember where she was exactly or why she felt this way, but she knew that she didn't have time to find a bathroom, so she went to the floor, grabbed the bucket with her two hands, and threw whatever was inside of her out. After a few minutes, she moves her head away from the bucket and leans her back on the bed frame. Fuck! She said before closing her eyes to not watch the room spinning around.

After a few minutes, Joel walks into the room with a glass of water. "How did you feel… girl?"

Ellie makes some grooming sounds before slowly opening her eyes. "Joel!... what you're doing… shit!" She closed her eyes and put one hand on her head. "Shit!... when the room… are going to stop… spinning?" she said in a lower voice.

Joel was thankful that she couldn't see him smile. And even after what happened last night she looks cute as hell. "You should go back to bed… is not the way you will be ready today to get out of it," Joel walked closer and crouched in front of her. "You better take this and drink some water… It will help you to get better… well, with the pain at least."

Ellie moves her hand from her face and opens her eyes again. "What… time is it? And what is that for?" she said looking at the pills in his hand.

"Well… it is a little after noon," he answered before moving his hand and putting the pills on hers. "And this… is to help you with your dizziness and head pain."

Ellie grabs the two pills and looks at them before moving her hand to her mouth and slowing the pills. Joel passes the glass with water to her. Ellie gran the glass and was going to take just a sip of it, but ended up drinking all the water. "Fuck! I feel so dry… and my head and stomach feel… like it is going to blow up." She passes the glass back to Joel. "What… happened last night? And why was I in your bed?"

"You should try to get more rest… and leave the question for later… okay?" Joel put the glass on the floor and started to help her up back to bed.

Ellie was going to protest but she felt so bad that it was better not to get into a discussion with Joel and do what he says and lay down on the bed. She can ask questions later when she feels better. "Okay." Ellie let Joel help her back to the bed and lay there. She put her hand on her face again to block the sunlight coming through the windows. "I don't remember… what happened last night, but… I'm never going to do that… again."

"I hope you don't…" Joel grabs the blanket and covers her body with it. As they are close to the beach the wind keeps the house fresh and not so hot. "Get some sleep that will help you…" Joel moves away from the bed and grabs the bucket. "I will take this out before the smell makes you sick again." Joel starts to move out of the room when he hears Ellie again.

"Thanks… Joel… I don't remember what happened, but I hope I didn't do something too embarrassing."

"Don't worry about it… and you're welcome…" he turns around and starts walking out of the room. "Well… I hope you no considering too embarrassed dancing naked in a living room while Rodrigo and I were watching," he said from the living room

Ellie turns her head toward the door. "WHAT!" she can hear Joel laughing in the distance, so she knew that he was lying… well at least she was hoping or she will have to go to the beach and bury herself in the sand forever.

As Ellie falls back to sleep, Joel goes back to the shack behind his house and gets back to work. He barely slept last night after his encounter on the beach. He lay there for a few hours before getting up and coming back to the house. He has to help Ellie a few times to the bathroom to throw up before she finally falls asleep. He put the bucket beside the bed just in case she woke up and needed to throw up again. After that, he goes to the shack and starts working on his board. Joel not only repaired the one that got damaged during his little accident but also another one he has there. Joel feels a little strange working on them, he has not been working in this shack in years, but now he feels something different about all this, and maybe it was time for some changes.

After a few hours, Joel was sitting on the top of the dune that goes down to the beach that is behind his house. He was looking at the ocean with a beer in his hand when he hear someone walking behind him. "You should not be up yet…" he said without looking back and taking a big sip of his beer before it could be taken away.

"And you… should not be drinking beer," replay Ellie while walking closer to him wrapped in a blanket.

Joel lowers the bottle but continues looking at the ocean. "I'm not taking any pills today… so I guess I can," he said hoping for the girl to be okay with that.

Ellie adjusted the blanket she was using to cover part of her body before slowly sitting beside him. "How do you know it was me behind you?" She asked while covering her body with the blanket. The wing there was a little cold and she still felt bad about whatever happened last night that she still does not remember most of it.

He turned his head and looked at her. "Who else could be?" he said while moving the beer toward his mouth and drinking it.

"It could be… a neighbor or a friend… I don't know." Ellie said, looking at him with a little redness forming on her face. "About… the… naked thing… you made that up… right?" Ellie looks at his face trying to see if he was lying about that. "You're messing with me… right?" Joel just stays looking at her with a big smile on his face. And after a few minutes, Ellie just made a fist and then hit him in the arm. "You're an asshole… I almost believe you, you jerk."

Joel takes another sip… before laughing a little. "You should not be drinking that stuff Rodrigo gave you… it could happen for real." He looked at her embarrassed expression. "Anyway…How are you feeling now? Better I hope…"

Ellie tightened the blanket around her shoulder. "My head doesn't hurt so much now, and the dizziness is almost gone. But my stomach is still upset… I can't even smell any food without feeling sick," she said while touching it. "What the hell did I drink last night?"

"Is called Pitorro… is a Puertorrican drink… and is very strong if you don't know how to get a costume to it.'' He put the empty bottle beside him before continuing. "I think you're fortunate… the first time I tasted that shit… I haven't gotten out of bed in two days. "I can't believe Rodrigo gives you that shit… to drink. I know he loves it, but I think it was too much for you."

Ellie looks at the sand and starts to move her feet back and forward playing with the sand. "Don't blame him… if he gives it to me I probably ask for it… shit, I barely remember what happened." She played with the sand a little more trying to distract herself. "Anyway… I wanted to thank you for… helping me out and… taking care of me. I never got like this before."

Joel turned his head and looked at her. "This is the first time you get drunk?"

Ellie turns her head and looks at him. "No… I did get drunk a few times before, but I guess not as bad as this one… well, not that I can remember anyway."

"Well… you're still young, so I bet that this is not going to be your last one… just try to stay away from the Pitorro or tequila… those are going to give you the worst hangover ever."

"Thanks for the tip…" Ellie looked toward the ocean again. "Is beautiful here… I think you're lucky to live in a place like this," said Ellie while looking around. They stay silent for a few minutes just looking at the ocean and feeling the winds on their faces. "I guess I should try to find a place to stay… since you're better now, I bet you don't need a babysitter anymore."

"Well… I guess you can do that… but you still owe me one week of cooking and cleaning… so it will be a little difficult for you to do that if you move out," said Joel with a grin.

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Are you still going to hold me on that?"

"Well, you're the one that said a bet is a bet… so I think I will." He doesn't want to do that to her, but if that keeps her close he doesn't mind. Joel doesn't want to admit it, but having her close makes him feel better.

"That competition wasn't fair… because you cheated… you know that do you?" she said remembering the swimming bet they made yesterday. Ellie said that he cheated, because when she was close to the boat and was about to win, Joel came from under her, grabbed her legs, and pulled her down. Soon she was under enough Joel swam away from her fast and got to the boat first.

"Really!... you're going to wail about that… Because if I remember well you're the one that cheated first."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say… anyway I don't feel good enough to eat anything or cook… so you are on your own… at least for today."

"You need to eat something or you will feel bad later… but I think that a good chicken soup will help you with that." Joel picks up the empty bottle and stands up. "You don't need to do something today… but tomorrow will be another thing." he extended his hand toward her to help her up. Ellie grabbed his hand and let him push her up.

"Thank you… you don't need to do any of this… for me. I was the one that got drunk last night," she said while they walked down the dune and toward the house.

"You didn't need to stay with me in the hospital or risk your life to save me… but you did it anyway. So you can take this as me returning the favor."

"You don't need to repay me for that… anyone will do that for someone. But I take your favor… I feel bad." Said Ellie while walking behind him.

"Don't worry… I will make you a soup that will clean your stomach… So today, you just need to relax."

Both Joel and Ellie walked into the house. Joel moves to the kitchen and starts to prepare the soup for Ellie. While Joel does that, Ellie goes to Joel's room where she has her luggage and takes out a new set of clothing, and walks toward the bathroom. While she takes a shower, Joel prepares lunch for both of them.

A few hours later Joel and Ellie were eating at the small dining table that Joel has close to his kitchen.

"Joel… you don't need to do that… I don't want to take your room, I will try to find another place to stay since you no longer need my help here." Ellie said before taking a sip of her soup. Lucky for her, her stomach was better and she can eat the soup without getting sick.

"You don't need to worry about it. You can stay here and use my room for as long as you need… I can sleep on the couch no problem… I practically do that most of the time."

"I don't know… I don't want to cause you any inconvenience," she said before finishing what she had left on her plate. She put the spun inside the empty bowl. "I can tell you that you're a great cook… Mmmm… This soup was great. I have never eaten soup like this one before."

Joel took his last sip and put the spoon inside his bowl too. "Is an old local recipe… glad you like it. It will help you to set down your stomach."

Ellie stands up and moves to Joel's side and grabs his bowl. "Oh… I can tell you… I will never drink that stuff again." Ellie walked to the sink and put the bowls in it. She opens the water and starts to clean them.

"You don't need to do that… I can do it," he said while standing up and walking toward the sink, and stopping beside Ellie.

"I bet is a bet… remember?" said Ellie while pushing Joel's hand away when he tried to grab the dirty bowl from her. "Besides you did the cooking when I'm supposed to do it… so it's only fair that I clean the dishes."

"Okay…" Joel moves back before Ellie hits him in the arm as she is getting the costume to do. "I will be in the living room if you need anything… okay," Joel said while looking at her. Joel is getting a costume to her touch, but he is not going to admit that. Joel walks to the living room and starts to pick up a few things he left on the couch.

The day was getting closer to his end and the night was soon to start, but it was still clear outside. Lucky for him, Ellie sleeps most of the day and gives him time for the surprise he has for her for tomorrow. A few minutes later Joel goes outside to the back of his house and sits on one of the chairs he has on a small wooden platform he has there. He was drinking another beer when he hear the back door open.

"You should not be drinking… even if you're not taking any pills," said Ellie while walking out and moving to a second chair beside him and sitting on it.

"Is it just a beer…" he said before taking a sip.

"Two… if I count right…" she said with a grim. "Sooo… did you miss it?" Ellie asks while looking in his direction.

"What?"

"Texas? If I remember right… you told me that you come from there."

"Texas… hmm. I don't think about that place too much. Here is my home now. " he answers her.

"Yeah… I get it, but have you not missed being there?… I mean you don't have anyone in the US? I don't know, like friends or family."

"Nope!... I already told you that my parents died when I was young. And friends… I haven't seen any or been in contact with them for years."

"But you don't have any family? I don't know uncles, aunts, or cousins… Anyone?"

"No, that I know of. My parents never told me if they have other relatives and no one else showed up at the funeral except a few friends, so I don't think I have any relatives left."

"That is a little sad because now your family name will die with you hmm?" Ellie feels that is the same with her. She is an only daughter and with her dad gone, her father's name will end with her, even if she gets married one day. At least Joel can continue his family name if he gets married and has a son. On the other hand, her mother still has a few members of her family alive, so her brother will continue her mother's family name. Ellie was now all lost in her thoughts, talking about this made her think about her father.

Joel looks at her and takes another sip of his beer. "Why are you asking me all this? My family doesn't do much so when I die I don't think that it is important that my family name ends with me."

"Don't say that. All family names are important no matter what they did. We all have a purpose here no matter how small we think it is. You may think that your parents don't do much in this life, but they did more than you think… and you! You honor them by becoming a great man… You leave a mark in this world even if you think it is nothing… you make a name for yourself… that is something that not everyone can do… So even if you do not pass your family name, at least feel proud of what you make of yourself." Ellie looks toward the sand dune, trying to not look at Joel's face. Talking about all this makes her sad.

"That was a nice thing to say, but I don't think that I can have a family on my own?"

"Why not?" said Ellie while looking at him now. "You're a man and still young… it will be easy for you to pass your family name… you can find a wife, have kids… you don't want little Joel's running around?" Ellie smiles at that. She can even imagine a little version of Joel… he will look so cute.

Joel drinks the rest of his beer before answering her. "I'm 40 years old… I don't think that I have the time or the strength to take care of a kid… but thank you for the thought," he put the empty bottle on a small table beside him. "What about you? You are younger than I… Are you planning to get married after you get out of school?"

Ellie looks away from him as she doesn't know what to say. Yeah, her mother always wanted to think about this subject, but she didn't know what to tell her. Yeah, maybe she should think about having a family someday, but right now she needs to finish college.

"Sure… I would like to get married and have children one day… but not for now. I have a college to finish and start a career before I try to find someone too…" She stops there because talking about this with Joel starts to make her feel strange.

"So… that is a little hope for you there… Do you still want to do all those things you put on that list for you?"

"I… I don't know if I will be able to do it all, but I will give it a try. Besides, I promise my dad… that I will try to do all the things I promised to do together."

"I know how you feel about all that… but you don't need to do all that just to make your dad proud or to remember him… I think he will be really happy if you just live a happy life."

Ellie lowers her head and looks at the wooden floor. Talking about her dad always makes her sad, but since she opened that part to Joel, she feels a lot better. "I am not doing all that just for him… I want to do those things also for me too. I don't know if doing what we are supposed to do together makes me feel happy."

Joel and Ellie continue talking about other things until the sun starts to get lower and lower and the sky turns dark. Ellie started to feel tired, her stomach was better, but all that throwing out and head made her feel her body feel all tired. "I don't know you… but I need some sleep… So I will take a shower and go to bed if you don't mind," said Ellie while looking at the sunset.

"Sure… go ahead… I will stay here a little longer."

Ellie stands up and looks at him. "Joel… I really feel bad about taking your bed, so don't worry I will try to find a place tomorrow… I promise."

Joel turns his head and looks at her. "I don't mind about the bed thing or you staying here for a few days… but if you feel better finding another place to stay… is cool with me."

"I…" she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. "Good night Joel… and thank you."

"Good night Ellie."

xXx

Joel was sleeping on the couch with one hand and leg hanging to the side. The blanket he was using to sleep only covered half of his body. Joel stays outside for a few hours before coming back in and taking a shower. When he came out he was wearing a tank shirt that had a few small holes on the side and shorts. As soon as he gets out of the bathroom he goes to the couch and lays down. It only takes him half an hour to fall asleep. Ellie woke up early in the morning and got out of his room. She was now sitting on the chair in front of him with her elbow on her knees and her hand under her shin. She was looking at him while he was sleeping and snoring like it is so normal to be sleeping on a couch. He looks so peaceful that Ellie can't believe that he gives up his bed and goes to sleep here like nothing. Looking at him sleeping like that makes her feel bad about taking his bed. After a few minutes, Ellie notices Joel moving his head to the side and one arm toward his head. Joel felt his body was about to fall out of the couch, so he quickly adjusted his body on the couch and covered his face with his arm.

"Does the couch feel conformable?" she asks in a lower voice.

"Do you feel comfortable watching a man sleeping?" He said, before turning his body to the side and away from her.

"Sorry, but your snoring was so loud that it woke me up," said Ellie with a smile on her face.

"Really? You could go outside and sleep there if that bothers you," he said before grabbing the blanket and covering himself completely.

"I think that will not help much… I think you even scare the seagulls that get close to the house this morning."

"Very funny…" he waited for a few minutes before answering her. "You know what you've been doing besides watching me sleep? Preparing-" he stops when he smells coffee close to his head.

"I'm way ahead of you today… Here is your coffee." Ellie said with a mug in her hand and a smile on her face.

Joel slowly turns around and looks at the mug in her hand. Joel took off the blanket that was over him and sat up on the couch. Soon he was sitting in a good position, Joel moved one arm and grabbed the mug from her. He moves it to his face and smells the coffee. "This smells good…" he took a sip before speaking again. "And it tastes good too… How do you learn to make coffee this good?" he said before drinking some more.

"My dad taught me… it was an old recipe he learned on one of his trips… I think he loves coffee as much as you do and if you're wondering, I make breakfast too." Ellie stood up and walked toward the small kitchen table where the food was. "I didn't make much… because your fridge is practically empty and Rodrigo didn't bring much the other day. So you need to go to the market and buy more food."

Joel takes another sip of his coffee before standing up. He looked at himself and noticed what he was wearing. "I think it is better if I put something else on… I will be back," he said, heading toward his room.

"Okay… I will wait for you in the kitchen," she said before walking to the kitchen to get more coffee for her.

Joel came back a few minutes later wearing a shirt and jeans. "This smells good," he said before pulling a chair and sitting on it.

Ellie sat on the other side of the table and smiled. "Thank you… hope you like it." They start to eat their meal before starting to talk again. "Sorry about the couch… you look very uncountable sleeping there."

Joel raises his head and looks at her. "You don't need to worry about that, you need the bed more than me." he takes another bite of his food before talking again. "Anyway, how do you feel today?" Joel asked before drinking more coffee from his mug.

"Feel?" she asked clueless for a few seconds. "Ohhh… you mean about the drunk thing." she sipped from her mug before answering. "I feel better today… thanks to you… I think the soup and whatever other things you gave me yesterday work well. I didn't throw up all night and I feel good this morning,"

"That is great… because I was thinking of doing something today."

Ellie lowered her mug and smiled. "Really? She said excitedly. "Are you going to take me to another exotic place?"

"Well, not exactly… but I bet you will like what I have in mind," he said before drinking more coffee. "So if you're up to… we can start after breakfast."

"Ohhh… Joel, I will be more than ready for anything. After what happened yesterday, I'm dying to get out of here and do something. Are we going to a beach or a river?" she asked excitedly. "Some of my bikinis are still dirty since I did not have the chance to wash my clothes, but I think that I still have one clean from the ones I buy when I arrive."

"Well, you can use it if you want, but I prefer if you use the dive suit you buy… it will serve you better."

Ellie raised her eyebrow. "Ohhh… So we're going diving again? Are you going to take me to that cavern Rodrigo mentioned?" she continued asking curiously.

"The cavern? Oh yeah, that. Well, we can go there at another time. But no… we're not going there. But as I said before, you will love what I have for you today."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "C'mon Joel… just tell me where we are going… or I will die here out of curiosity."

Just finish your food and get ready. "I will take a shower and get ready." Joel drinks the rest of the coffee, before standing up and grabbing his plate. "Thanks for cooking breakfast. It was delicious," he said before walking toward the kitchen and putting the plate in the sink. After that, he walks away leaving Ellie to eat at the table with a smile on her face.

One hour later Joel was ready to go and was waiting for Ellie outside. He already takes what he needs from his little shack and takes it to the beach while Ellie takes a bath and gets ready. He put some water, sunblock, a snack, and two towels in a bag and was sitting on the back porch when he hear Ellie walking toward the back door and calling him. "Joel!... I'm ready, where are you?"

"I'm at the back of the house…" he said while standing up from the chair.

Ellie opens the screen door and goes out wearing her dive suit. Joel looked at her and can't deny how beautiful Ellie was, and how difficult it was for him to ignore it.

"I'm ready…" she said while putting her arm on her waist. She knows that Joel sees it already, but that does not change his expression when he sees her and that makes her feel something inside. Is not like she wants to seduce the man, but she likes the way he looks at her. "I don't know if I need to bring something else… but if we're going to the beach… maybe I should put a shirt on or something," she said while trying to hide her red face by moving her head to look around.

"No need, I have what we need here," he said while showing her the bag.

"Okay… so where are we going?" she asked before walking toward him. "Are we going to a closer place?"

"You can say that… Just follow me." Joel turns around and walks toward the dune behind his house.

Ellie doesn't know why he was walking toward the beach behind his house. If they are going diving, that beach is not good for that. The waves are so wild and he already had a little accident there. Well not so little since Joel almost died, so she doesn't know why Joel is taking her there. "Hey… Joel!" she yells as he starts walking down the dune and toward the beach. Where are we going? I thought that you said that this water is dangerous to go swimming in." she said while running toward him. Soon they arrive at the beach, and Ellie grabs Joel's arm to stop him. "You're not planning on getting us into that water… right?" she asked while letting go of his arm. "Remember what happened here the last time…" she stopped as she did not want to remember the event.

Joel looks at her eyes and how scared they seem. "Don't worry, I never said that we're going into the water… I only said that we will do something that you will love," he said before turning around and starting to walk again.

Ellie rolled her eyes at why Joel was so mysterious about this, but either way, she followed him. "If we are not going into the water why do you ask me to put this on?" Joel walks toward a big dune that blocks part of the beach. Ellie never has been on that side of the beach, but she bet that it does not make any difference from the part they are now. "I don't need this to walk down the beach… even if I am not against a little walk down here, but I could put something-" Ellie stopped talking when they passed the dune and saw what it was on the other side. "OMG!" she said before covering her mouth with her hands.