Joel knocked on your door, looking unusually… clean. Shirt tucked in, beard trimmed, a nervous twitch in his jaw.

Behind him stood Ellie—grinning like she’d just pulled off the heist of the century.

—“You gotta wear this,” she said, shoving a neatly folded outfit into your hands. “No arguments. You’re gonna look great.”

You blinked.

—“What’s this for?”

Joel shrugged, but Ellie cut him off with a hand on her hip.

—“It’s not for anything. It’s just… y’know. Dress nice. Trust me.”

And because it was Ellie, you did.

They led you out past the patrol routes, down a dirt path lit by soft lanterns strung up between old trees. The sun was setting just right—like the whole sky had been asked to wear gold, too.

That’s when you heard it. Laughter. Music. Familiar voices.

And then you saw it.

The clearing was full of faces you knew—Tommy, Maria, Dina, even a few from patrol. There were chairs. Wildflowers. A makeshift arch made from scavenged wood and vines. Someone had even tuned Joel’s guitar.

You froze.

Joel stepped beside you, eyes soft, voice low.

—“She planned it all. Said we were takin’ too damn long.”

Ellie popped her head around, smug.

—“You’re welcome.”

Joel reached for your hand, tentative.

—“Didn’t think I deserved somethin’ like this. Still not sure I do.”

You squeezed his fingers.

He smiled, sheepish.

—“But I’d be a fool to walk away now.”