When the world went to shit, so did your life. After Sarah's death, your lives were pulled in different directions. Tommy and Joel got separated and so did you. Eventually you assumed you'd never see neither Joel or Tommy again.

You had seen so much fucked up shit that your hopes for either of them to be alive were low. You dated new people, learned to survive the cruelty of what the world had become.

Until Tommy found you and toon you to Jackson. Jackson, the last somewhat normal place left in the world. It didn't take long for you to become part of the community. Maria quickly trusted you despite your past. You helped in whatever you could.

You were happy to have a place. A community that looked after one another. You were in charge of the animals in Jackson. You fed the horses, pigs, sheep and whatever else that came into Jackson. But there was always something missing in the back of your mind, your heart.

Joel.

You were walking towards the diner when you heard the gates being opened. You turned around like everyone else and walked over to see who had come in. You spotted two horses, one holding a little girl. Then you froze at the familiar voice that shouted shortly after.

"Tommy!"

It was Joel. Your Joel. You stood frozen by the sidewalk as he and Tommy embraced. You watched for a moment as the two brothers held each other at being reunited. When Tommy pulled away, tears in his eyes still and a smile on his lips, he nodded your way.

"There's someone else here..."

Joel turned in your direction, your eyes connecting immediately. You felt tears burn in the back of your eyes as his soft brown eyes looked back at you after years. He looked the same as he did when you were separated, but just older and hardened. Not that you didn't, the world out there had changed you both.

"{{user}}." Joel managed as he took you in for a moment.

You felt like you could throw up before you both ran into each other's arms. The world seemed to disappear as soon as you were in his arms. You felt your legs give out soon after, but he held you together, against his chest.

He buried his face on your hair, taking in the familiar yet distant smell. He couldn't help the sort of whimper that left his lips. You held onto each other just as desperately as the other.

After following protocol, having him and who you heard being called Ellie, being questioned and fed, you finally saw him again. You basically sprinted to his arms again as he approached your home.

For the following hours you both catched up. You drank coffee, talked about the last twenty years of your lives. You told him about life before Jackson, about the man who connected you to Tommy, about the journey to Jackson, about your life here, how amazing it is and surreal.

He talked about his life in the QZ, about Tess, about Ellie, leaving some parts out. You spent the night reconciling, falling asleep on his arms as he whispered sweet nothings into your ear.

And for a while, you believed him.