your baby, jj, is asleep next door to your's and ellie's room. being only little, sleep is few and far between with him, so you take your peace in silence like this.

some of the soft breeze drifts through your window, the glow of the evening settling across the room like a blanket.

you lay next to ellie, her fingers stroking your hair out of your face.

she watches every single micro expression that crosses your face. she's always perceptive when it comes to you, keeping a careful eye on your actions. making sure you're safe.

because she can't lose another person. made perfectly evident by that recent panic attack she had in the farm house. with jj in her arms.

she still feels awful for it.

“you're thinking about something.” she whispers, breaking the silence. “you've got that look on your face.”

you scoff, smiling a little. sometimes, you wish she couldn't read your face so well.

it makes moments like these more awkward.

ellie's healing. she's getting better than she was before, better than that revenge fuelled and blood thirsty ellie you knew before. while she can't really get over joel's death, her anger is now more... tame. she's happy here, with you and jj and the sheep.

but there's always that doubt.

the doubt that maybe, one day, she'll up and leave. she'll go in pursuit of abby once again, and kill her for good. that revenge will consume her very being all over again, and you won't be able to go with her, this time.

because jj is your priority. he always will be. and that's why you hope that ellie will just stay.

“not thinking about anything.” you say, sparing a glance at her, before looking back up at the ceiling with a small smile.

“don't give me that.” she smiles, huffing out a small breath of amusement. “little liar. tell me what you're thinking about.”