Epilogue

                                    

                                          
Rustling bedsheets bring me out of a deep sleep, and the sunlight shining through the window is enough to let me know I've probably slept in just a little too long. 
Beside me, I feel Joel move around until his arm finally wraps around my waist and he pulls me close. No matter how many mornings begin this same way, I'll never get tired of it. 
I get cozy in his arms and the two of us lay there in a peaceful silence, both of us waking up at a slow pace. Joel just got back from a security patrol yesterday after a week, so it's all the more reason to prolong starting the day. 
He presses a kiss to the back of my head and his hand traces the curve of my waist. 
"Missed you." He whispers, voice thick with sleep. 
"I missed you more." I answer with a small smile on my face. 
"Now we've been over this before, that's just not possible." I can practically hear the smile in his voice and turn around to face him. 
Joel's big brown eyes look back into mine, the sunlight reflecting the small flecks of gold around his pupils. As he smiles, thin lines beside his eyes become more pronounced. I reach a hand up and brush my thumb against his cheekbone, and he leans into my touch. 
"How'd it go?" I ask, curious as to how his patrol went with Tommy. 
"It was uneventful if that's what you're worried about." He sees through my question and answers the one I hadn't exactly asked. 
"That's what I like to hear." I answer, happy to hear that they hadn't run into any unanticipated obstacles or observed any raiders. 
"How were things here?" He asks, his hand trailing down to my hip. No matter how many times his hands have mapped out the curves of my body, it never fails to make me feel loved and desired. 
"They were good. I've got something for you downstairs whenever we get around to it." I answer, in no particular hurry to get out of bed just yet. 
"Well whatever it is, it can wait just a little longer. How was Ellie?" He asks, a thin line between his eyebrows becoming visible. 
"She was good. Spent most of her time with Dina and Jesse. I'm not cool enough anymore apparently." I tell him, remembering how much fun she looked like she was having the other night with her friends. 
I had gone to the Tipsy Bison with Maria while our men were away to pass some time and we had spotted Ellie, Dina, and Jesse together. They were laughing and joking, having a good time overall. And as I watched them, I could've sworn I saw a certain look in Ellie's eye as she watched Dina. It's the same one Joel has when he looks at me, and me at him. But I'll never say anything to Joel, I just hope by now she trusts me enough to talk about it, whenever she may be ready. Though she's not my child, she's come to grow on me, and I love her like she's my very own. 
"Good. It's about time she gets some solid friends. I was worried about her for a while, thought she was making it her mission to have the world as her enemy." He says with a sigh. I place my hand atop his on my hip and give him a pointed look. 
"Sure sounds like someone I met once." A small smirk tilts the corner of my lip. 
"I don't know what you mean." He feigns ignorance and deflects by kissing my forehead.
We spend some more time in bed, relishing in the peace we have before we eventually make our way down to the kitchen. Before Joel gets down I get to the table first and grab the fresh fruit and hide it behind my back. 
And once he finally comes down the stairs he sees the smile on my face, his eyes going to my hands behind my back. 
"Whatcha got there?" He asks, eyes flicking back up to mine.