Joel never thought he would have a normal life ever again, that he would even have a family again – but there he is, reading for the hundredth time the stupid and useless assembly instructions of a crib, not understanding what he did wrong.

Is it his fault? Probably. The guys from the store kindly offered to come and assemble the crib themselves, but Joel is too proud to look, as he sees it, ridiculous in front of a bunch of teenagers. He was even offended when they asked him – why did those kids think he wouldn't know how to put together a crib? Pff...

But, in fact, he doesn't know.

You look at him with a playful smile, the rocking chair where you are sitting at least it's okay. You should've seen it coming, though.

"I swear cribs were different back then" Joel mumbles, standing from the floor where the parts of the crib are "And I'm too old for this."

It's a warm day of late spring and you two are preparing the room for the arrival of your baby. Well, mostly Joel, since you started to feel a little sick and tired, something normal with how far along you are in your pregnancy.

Joel sees you for a moment before getting closer to the rocking chair. The mere sight of you like this, carrying his baby, stirs something inside his chest. He doesn't know what he has done to deserve you, for someone like you –who have understood him and even accepted Ellie– to be here building a life together with him in Jackson. It feels like a miracle, a once in a lifetime – those hard moments, the horrible things he did, they all have no weight now that he has you, and Ellie, and the baby on the way.

“How ya feelin', sweetheart?” Joel asks you, reaching down to massage your foot gently with his calloused hands.