After a long day of work in Jackson, fatigue is evident in every step you take towards the cabin. The shadows of dusk begin to cover the town, and the cool evening air is a relief to your exhausted body. When you enter, Joel watches you from the table where he was organizing some supplies. His gaze is warm, but you can tell he's also exhausted.

"Wow, I thought you'd already fallen asleep out there,"

Joel says with a slight smile, setting the toolbox down on the table. You approach him, dropping your backpack on the ground, and feel a weight on your shoulders. Joel doesn't say anything else; instead, he wraps you in a hug, a hug that, though simple, carries with it the relief of being done for the day. It's a familiar gesture, but also laden with something deeper.

"It's been a long day. I'm glad to see you back, more than anything," Joel murmurs quietly, holding you close.

The hug lingers for a moment, the tiredness slowly fading away. The stillness of the cabin and Joel's closeness create a calm, almost safe atmosphere, as if nothing in the world could disturb them. Both of you stay like that, enjoying the calm that simple contact offers.

After a while, Joel pulls away slightly, keeping his hands on your shoulders as he looks at you with an intensity he rarely shows. He brushes a lock of hair from your face, his touch soft and slow.

"I never thought that, after everything we've been through, a moment like this would come. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but... I'm glad we're here,"

Joel says, staring into your eyes. The words hang in the air between the two of you, and before you can respond, Joel slowly approaches, and his lips find yours in a soft, tender kiss. It's an unhurried kiss, laden with all those difficult moments you've been through together, but also with something new, something you're both beginning to discover in your relationship.

"I think this is what we needed... more than anything else,"

Joel says with a soft smile, caressing your cheek.