Work Text:
Title: Home Again
Ellie sat on the shore, knees drawn to her chest, as she watched the boat carrying Abby and Lev drift into the distance. The waves lapped at her boots, the salt air heavy in her lungs, but she barely noticed. Her body ached, but it wasn’t the bruises or the cuts that hurt the most—it was the hollowness that came from everything she had sacrificed.
When the boat finally disappeared over the horizon, she let out a shaky breath and stood, her knees wobbling under her weight. Blood caked her hands, crusted under her nails, but she didn’t care. She turned away from the ocean and trudged back toward the small boat she’d come in, her chest a tight knot.
The ride back to the farmhouse felt longer than it should have, each mile stretching endlessly. The world around her was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind or the distant cry of a bird. She kept her head down, her thoughts swirling like a storm she couldn’t escape.
When she finally reached the farmhouse, Ellie paused at the door. Something felt…off. The air was too still, the place too quiet. She pushed the door open, the familiar creak echoing through the empty rooms, and froze.
The furniture was still there—the couch, the table, the chairs—but the soul of the house was gone. The little touches that had made it home were nowhere to be seen. The framed photos of JJ, the colorful throw blankets Dina loved, the toys that used to be scattered across the floor—all gone.
Ellie’s throat tightened as she wandered through the house, her boots scuffing against the floorboards. JJ’s room was the hardest. The crib was missing, as were the tiny clothes Dina used to fold with such care. The walls, once adorned with drawings and decorations, were bare.
She dropped to her knees in the empty room, her breath hitching as she pressed her palms to the floor. She stayed like that for what felt like hours, her mind replaying every moment she’d spent chasing revenge, every time she’d chosen violence over the family waiting for her.
The farmhouse didn’t feel like home anymore.
Ellie lasted a few days before the silence became unbearable. She spent her time wandering the property, trying to convince herself that this was what she deserved. But the emptiness of the house gnawed at her, each room a reminder of what she had lost.
One morning, without a plan, she saddled up her horse and rode away. She didn’t know where she was going until the gates of Jackson came into view. Her heart thudded in her chest as the guards waved her through, their expressions a mix of recognition and something more complicated.
The town looked the same as always—bustling with life, children running through the streets, people chatting as they worked. But Ellie felt like a stranger, an outsider who didn’t belong anymore.
She asked around, her voice low and uncertain, until someone pointed her toward Dina’s house. It was a small place near the edge of town, with flowerpots on the porch and a laundry line strung across the yard. Ellie dismounted, tying her horse to the post, and stared at the door.
Her hands shook as she raised her fist to knock, but before she could, the door swung open.
“Ma!”
The small voice hit her like a freight train, and suddenly JJ was barreling toward her, his little legs carrying him as fast as they could. Ellie froze, her heart in her throat, as the toddler threw himself into her arms.
“Ma!” he repeated, wrapping his chubby arms around her neck. His voice was filled with pure joy, his face pressed against her collarbone. Ellie’s arms came up automatically, holding him close as tears blurred her vision.
“Mama,” he whispered, and Ellie’s knees nearly buckled.
She didn’t notice Dina standing in the doorway until she heard the sharp intake of breath. When Ellie looked up, her chest tightened. Dina’s face was a mixture of shock, anger, and something softer—something guarded. She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe as she watched Ellie with JJ.
“What are you doing here?” Dina’s voice was cold, but Ellie could hear the crack in it, the tremble she was trying to hide.
“I…” Ellie hesitated, still clutching JJ like he was the only thing keeping her grounded. “I didn’t know where else to go.”
Dina’s jaw tightened, and she looked away, her fingers curling against the wood of the frame. “You promised, Ellie. You promised you wouldn’t leave us.”
Ellie’s throat felt like sandpaper. “I know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “And I broke that promise. I thought…I thought I had to finish it. But I was wrong. Dina, I was so wrong.”
JJ squirmed in her arms, and Ellie reluctantly set him down. He toddled back to Dina, clutching her leg as he looked up at her with wide eyes.
Dina sighed, brushing a hand over JJ’s curls. “You hurt me, Ellie. You hurt us.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and she looked away. “I don’t know if I can…”
“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” Ellie said quickly, stepping forward. “I just—I needed to see you. To see him. To tell you that I’m done with it all. The fighting, the revenge. It’s over.”
Dina’s eyes softened, just a fraction, but the pain was still there, etched into her features. She shifted JJ on her hip, her lips pressing into a thin line.
“You can’t just show up and expect everything to go back to the way it was,” she said quietly.
“I know,” Ellie said, swallowing hard. “I just…I had to try.”
For a long moment, Dina didn’t say anything. Then she stepped back, opening the door wider. “You can stay for dinner,” she said, her tone almost reluctant. “But don’t read into it, Ellie. I’m doing this for him.”
Ellie nodded, her chest tight as she stepped inside. JJ beamed at her, his little face lighting up as he reached for her hand.
“Mama stay?” he asked, his voice filled with hope.
Ellie managed a shaky smile, her eyes stinging. “Yeah, bud. I’m here.”
Dina didn’t say anything, but as she turned away, Ellie thought she saw a flicker of something in her expression—a hint of the love they once shared.
It wasn’t everything, but it was a start. And for now, it was enough.