Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog, Sony, and their creators.

A/N: Yeah, this will be a small chapter since is just an epilogue and the main story ended in the last one. I like to thanks all the people that read this fic and give it the support I never imaging is going to have. I hope that you like the story and how it moves in the drama and the romance. I know that some people wanted them to have sex or things like that but I wanted to keep this story T rated. But as some people are asking me to continue or do another part I will add some extra chapters apart from this one, so that way any chapter can be rated differential and can be T or M depending on the chapter. Also is going to be like a request thing, so if anyone wants to read about something that I don't put there is welcome to send me a request and I will see if I can make a chapter out of that. There is no quarantine that I will do it because that will depend on what is it and if I can write something about it. I already have two requests and I will work on them and post them as soon as I can, but I don't have any specific time to post them, so you need to wait for them.

Again thanks for the support and for reading my fics and for the ones that comments on the story especially the one that does it in every chapter my most gratitude and I hope that you like it. I love how this story goes and thank you.


Chapter 26: Epilogue

'Ten Years Later'

( Boston Public Cemetery )

Ellie, Joel, and their kids were sitting in a roll of chairs beside a coffin with a bunch of people leasing to the Priest. Tiers were falling down Ellie's cheek while she looks at the bunch of flowers on top of the casket.

As the ceremony continues the father starts to talk again. "We're gathering here today to honor and remember this wonderful woman. She was an aunt, a friend, and a mother… also a grandmother for two beautiful children. She was a good person and had a wonderful family and friends that love her very much. And even whit the loss of her parents and sister, she lived a wonderful life before God called her to his side. She also dedicates some of her time to help a lot of people for the last 5 years. She opened a community center for people with cancer and help them to get through the process. So today is supposed to be a sad day, but it not. God may be called her to be by his side in heaven, but before she goes, she let a lot of people with the hope of a better future."

The Priest continues with the ceremony for one hour. After he finishes his speech, some of Marlene's friends and co-workers that attend the funeral go up from their seat and give her their respect and final goodbye. After the ceremony ended and they talk to the priest the rest of the people start to go away. Joel, Ellie, and their two children wait until the coffin goes down to the hole and get cover. After that, they stand in front of the two tombstones. One belonged to Ellie's mother and the other one to her aunt who was now resting in peace beside her sister. That was a wish that Marlene put on her will. She wanted to be buried beside her sister back in Boston. So Ellie makes the arrangement to granted Marlene's last wish.

After the ceremony ended and most of the people go, they asked for a moment along in front of the two graves. Joel and Ellie's children have a rose on their hands. Joel was grabbing the hand of the 4-year-old boy named Tomas and Ellie had the hand of her 6-year-old daughter named Sarah. After a few minutes standing there, they told their children to put the rose on the top of the two tombstones. But before Sarah puts hers on the top of one of the tombstones, she starts to cry. So Ellie kneels down in front of the girl and put her hands on her shoulder.

"It is okay sweetie… I know you love you, grandma. But she is in a better place with your other grandma." Ellie's children always called Marlene grandma, even if she was, not Ellie's real mother. Ellie starts calling her mom after Joel helps her to fix her relationship with her.

"I want her back… why does she have to go?" said Sarah while still crying.

Ellie looks at her with sad eyes. She knows how sad her daughter feels because she feels the same. "I know… baby, but God has other plans for her and we need to accept that." Ellie moves closer and hugs her daughter. "I know it hurt, but she will always be with us, even if you don't see her." Ellie moves apart from her daughter and puts her finger in her daughter's heart.

"She is always going to be here, so every time you feel happy, she will be too. Now let's put those roses on top of her tombstones and let her know how much you love her...okay?"

"Okay… mommy," Sarah whip her tiers, and with Ellie closer to the grave, and put their roses on top of it. Joel helps his son Tomas get closer, so he can put his roses too. Ellie and Sarah say a few words to say goodbye and then Ellie stands up grab her daughter's hand and move beside Joel and little Tomas.

"Did you think that she has a happy life at the end?" asked Ellie with some tiers fallen down her eyes.

Joel put one arm on her shoulder and pull her close. "I think she has a great one. I know this is sad and we all hope for the best, but she fought until the end. Even if we all know that this may come someday, she dedicates her life to be a better mother for you and fix her relationship with you. She also helps other people with cancer to live their life the best they could. She also has the opportunity to see you finish college and see her grandchildren and pass time with them. So yes, I think she has a happy life at the end."

Ellie put her head on Joel's shoulder and look at the greave. Yeah, Marlene was not a good mother at the beginning, but Joel change all that and she is always going to be thankful for that. Fall in love with a 40 years old man was the best thing that happens to her. Her aunt is gone now, but she still has a beautiful family to go on and she always going to have her in her heart. They stay there for 10 minutes remembering all the things they did with her aunt for the last ten years.

The day Marlene got out of the clinic, she knew that her time was limited, so she dedicated her life to get closer to Ellie and help her in all she can. In the following months, she became a better mother for Ellie. She was grateful to have the chance to Ellie graduate from high school and get into college.

Ellie chose to be a veterinarian after hitting a dog with her car, but also to be close to Joel after she graduates since Joel was working on the old man farm. At first, she was not happy to be apart from him for long periods. But she has to get a costume for that since Ellie has to go to another state and stay there until she finishes her university class for the next 2 years. That wasn't easy for her, but with time she made it work. Ellie came back home to visit her aunt and Joel once a month. And she calls him every night and talks for hours. Joel goes there a few times to visit her too and pass some weekends with her.

After the first year in college, Joel goes there one day and take Ellie away from campus for a whole weekend and they have sex for the first time. Joel takes her to a vacation lake where he rents a cabin and they have a great weekend there. The experience was the best thing she ever has in her life. After that, they get a few weekend vacations during the year, but they wait for a few mounts before they told. She gets a little concert about them having sex while she was still in college, but that was something she can't stop now.

After Ellie finishes her second year, and come back to Minnesota to finish the second part of her study. Joel takes her to a rustic little restaurant where they have live music and great food. After they finish their dinner, Joel told her that he needs to go to the restroom and goes backstage to grab a guitar, and sings to her. Ellie goes so exciting after he finishes, that she goes to him and kiss him right there in front of everyone there. After that Joel takes the opportunity to propose and ask her to marry him. Some people go surprised at the scene, some of them didn't like the event, because Ellie looks too young for him, but others didn't care and in the end, Joel and Ellie didn't care either.

They got married on her Christmas vacation after she starts her second part of her studies at a university closer to home. For their honeymoon, they go to Canada and stay in a Hotel close to Niagara Falls for two weeks. After they get back Ellie had to get back to college, but they worked out their new marriage from a distance until Ellie finished her degree. After a year of married, Joel takes the job at the ranch in Texas and Ellie asks for a transfer to her scholarship to a university there. So that way she can be closer to Joel.

After that Marlene resigned from her job and moved to Texas after Joel and Ellie invite her to come to live with them on the ranch. Since Joel was in charge of the place now, their house was so big for just the two of them. After Marlene move in, she helps Joel with the house while he gets the place in shape and hires more workers. After a few months Marlene rented a place and opened a small center to help people with cancer. She helps them to find new treatments and do some physiology therapy sections, that keep her really busy for a time.

Ellie continues with her studies and since the university in Texas was closer to the ranch Ellie spends more time there. During the next two years of her scholarship, Ellie helps Joel to fix things with his brother and sister in law, so that way they can be a family again. It takes some time but in the end, Tommy and Joel fix their problems and he lets Joel come to his house to see his nephew. Tommy called his son Philip and he was 4 1/2 years old at that time.

After Ellie finished college she found a job in a vet clinic as an assistant vet in the same town Joel's ranch was. She also does some jobs for the local ranchers there and helps them with their animals. But most of her work was in the ranch Joel was in charge of. After a few months of her being out of college, Ellie gives Marlene and Joel the news that she was pregnant. Joel and Marlene were happy on the news, especially Joel that he always wanted to be a father and he didn't have the chance after his daughter dies. So after long 9 months, Ellie gave birth to a baby girl that they named Sarah. After the baby girl born, Ellie stays more at home to take care of her and only takes a few jobs with some of the local ranchers that were close to them. Marlene and Joel helped her with the baby when she was out working and that made her aunt happy.

With time Tommy and Maria start to come to the ranch with their son to visit Joel and Ellie and to pass some time with their new baby Sarah. Things start to go well between the brothers and they become a big family again. After a few visits, Joel asks his brother to come to work with him at the ranch. He offers him a good position salary and to work with him to improve the ranch. He also offered to build a new house for him and his family inside the ranch.

Tommy told him that he needs to think about it, but after a few months, he accepts the offer. Of course, Tommy and Maria stay in their house until the one in the ranch is built and their old one was sale out. Before all that, Joel goes to the ranch in Minnesota to talk to asks permission from Mr. Morrison to make the new changes to the ranch and to build a house for his brother there.

The old man was happy that Joel and his brother were together again that he give him permission to do what he thought was good for the ranch without any question. After a few years of Joel working with him, he already considered him as his family as his own. So when he came to the ranch to visit them for Sarah's first birthday party, he talks to Joel and gave him the title of the ranch as a late wedding present. Joel didn't want to accept it at first because it was too much, but after the old man convincing him, Joel finally did.

Two years later Ellie gives birth to a boy they named Tomas and that makes Joel real happy. A year later Maria gives birth to her second son that they named Joy. Things go well for the new family for a few years, until Marlene's cancer comes back and she starts to get sick again. Soon Marlene starts to get delicate and need more attention, Ellie took a license from her job to take care of her. A year later the doctor she was seeing told them that the cancer was terminal this time and that she only has a little more of a year left. Ellie, Joel, and the children try to spend more time with her until the final day comes. Ellie and Joel make the arrangement for Marlene to be buried in the same cemetery where Ellie's mom was, so that way they can rest in peace together in the same place.

( And that brings us back to the cemetery )

.Ellie and her family stayed looking at the grave for a few minutes until it was time to go. So Joel grabs his son and takes him into his arms. "So we're ready to go?" asked Joel while looking at his wife and daughter.

Ellie grabs her daughter's hand and looks at him. "Yes… I think so," they say their final goodbye to Marlene and start walking away from the two graves. Soon they got close to their car, Tommy and his family were there waiting for them. The dog goes loose from Tommy's grab and ran toward Ellie and her daughter. Sarah let go of Ellie's hand and start to play with the dog.

"Sarah… don't play with him too much, we have to go soon and I don't want you to get dirty… okay honey?" she said to her daughter while looking at them playing.

Joel continues walking to his car and gets close to Tommy. "So we're going back to the ranch?" asked Tommy while Maria open the door of their car and start to help the kids into their minivan.

Soon Joel was closer to Tommy he answers him. "You two can go back to the ranch, we have a little trip to Minnesota. I have to go to the old man's ranch as he asked me to discuss something important. Also, I want to take the children to the old house there. So we're probably coming back in a few weeks." Soon Ellie get closer to them, Joel passes his son to her, so she can put him on the car seat inside of his new pick up truck. "We're leaving soon honey so call Sarah and the dog," He told Ellie, then turns around to face his brother. "So, do you think you can handle the ranch on your own until we get back?"

Tommy put one hand on his shoulder and looked at him. "Sure thing bro, you don't need to worry about any of that. Just take a good break with your family and will be waiting for you at the ranch."

Soon Ellie put her son inside the truck she calls Sarah and the dog. "Sarah!... Peaches!... come on we're going now," she watches her daughter running toward her with the dog beside her.

Joel and Tommy watch them as Ellie starts to get her daughter and the dog inside the truck too. After that Joel and Tommy look at each other. "Thanks, Tommy. I really appreciated that." Joel moves close to him and hugs him. After they say goodbye, they go into their cars and drive in different directions. After a few days of driving, Joel arrives in Minnesota and drove directly to his old house that was still there.

Before they get there, he looks at Ellie and smiles. "Come back here bring me good memories," he said while moving one hand and touch Ellie's face.

Ellie put her hand on top of his and smile at him. "Yes… it does." Ellie grabs his hand and kisses it. "That house changed my life in so many ways."

Joel smiled at her while continuing his driving. "Do you think that it will be in good condition? We Have not been here in more than 7 years," He asked Ellie.

"Well, it supposes to be or we need to fire the man that we pay every two months to keep it that way." Both of them laugh at that. Half an hour later they arrive at the old house. Both of their kids were sleeping in the back seat. So soon as Joel parks the truck in front of the house he gets out and looks at the place. Ellie goes out too and opens the back door to wake up the kids and helps them out. The dog jumps from the back and starts running around.

Soon they are all out, Ellie moves beside him with their two children. "Well, it looks good… so we don't need to fire him," Ellie said with a smile on her face. "I remember the first time I came here. You're on the roof working on it… remember?"

Joel looked at her and smiled. "Yeah… I do... I wasn't polite with you on that day."

"Yeah, you're really rude… but with time I make you change and I happy about that."

Joel grabs his son and takes him into his arm. "Yeah, me too. We have a bad start, but I like how things go at the end. A lot of things change for me when I met you. I was lost in my darkness, but you show me the light and bring me back… and I will always be thankful for that."

"You don't need to thank me for that… I think that at that time both of us need something to go on and I'm glad that I find it in you." Ellie moves closer and gives him a kiss. "You give me more than I can ask for," she put her hand on top of her son's head and give him a kiss too.

At that moment, Sarah pulls Ellie's hand to make her look at her. "Mom… what is this place?" she asked curiously.

Ellie smiles at her and gets down to face her. "Oh, baby… this is the place is where your daddy and I met for the first time," she said with a smile on her face.

"Is this the place where daddy lives before the ranch?" she asked her mom.

"Yes… this is where your daddy lived before we met. I came here all the time to talk to him and see him and with time we fall in love… I was young, but your daddy was good to me and he, makes me really happy... Do you want to see inside?"

"Yesss…" she yells and starts pulling Ellie's hand toward the old house.

Ellie stands up and starts walking toward the house. "Okay…" she turns her head and looks at Joel. Are you ready to tell our children the story of how their parents fall in love in the summer of 2018?" she asked with a big smile on her face.

"Sure… kiddo, this will be a hell of a story." At that moment Joel hears a voice in his head. I'm so happy for you daddy… I'm glad that you finally saw the light and choose the right path.

Joel turns his head and looks at the forest and saw a little girl standing there looking at him with a smile on her face. He smiles at her too and whispers. Thanks, baby girl for always be there for me. The girl smile at him again then disappears.

"Did you said something… honey? Is everything alright?"

Joel turns his head back to Ellie. "Yes, Everything is perfect," Joel grabs Ellie's hand and starts walking toward the old house with their dog jumping around them. "let's tell our children how this story began."

The End...


Extra Note: Again thank you for reading this story and I hope to do more of TLOU AU modern fic. I love these two characters and I wanted to keep them together forever. If you have any questions about the story, you are welcome to ask and I will try to answer them if I can. Thank you and have a very greats Christmas and a happy new year. And remember to stay safe and take care of yourselves.