I was thinking about doing random chapters of Ellie and Joel living in the Community in Jackson, I'm not sure how many chapters I will do but there will be random stories. There will be different events and holidays they may celebrate has a community, but be warned people who are sensitive... there maybe horror in some chapters.

I thought I'd begin where Ellie and Joel arrive at the Jackson Community, then we can venture through the years until the present day game. I finished the game now, it was a different. If anyone would like to discuss the game my dms are open.

I'm beginning the heartbreak parts now, I'm not going to cover everything in the game. I have ideas about flashbacks and Ellie's journey to find Abby, I'll even write about the farm. We'll see where these ideas go, maybe I'll try to give Ellie some kind of an happy ending.

-The Last Of Us is owned by Naughty Dog/ Sony Computer Entertainment

-Some of the parts of this fanfiction are in the game, other parts aren't in the game.

-I wrote the song Ellie sings in this chapter for Joel.

- Sorry for the late update, I've been busy - My laptop charger is broken, so I've got to type my fanfictions on my phone from now on until I replace it.

Snowflake Warning

-Ellie grew up in a world of monsters, TLOU isn't about butterflies and rainbows... it's horror.

-If you're playing the game I know, I know the story has thrown heartbreak at us. I'll give us some happy times.

-Sensitive material, Ellie likes girls... get over it!

Thank you for all the Faves, Alerts and Reviews.

Keep safe and enjoy!


Chapter 20!

Three Days Later

Ellie closed her garage apartment's door behind her, she breathed in the cold night air before she began walking across the backyard. She had been resting for the last three days, but now she needed to get out and visit Joel's house. She had been staring at his house for days now from her apartment's window, she was always hoping to see the kitchen's light on and Joel sitting at the table near the window.

Ellie use to see Joel every morning sitting at the kitchen table, he use to drink his coffee and eat his breakfast while he read a random book. She always use to wave to him every morning when they were on speaking terms, how she missed those days. She stopped at the porches steps and looked up at the porches light, it wasn't switched on anymore.

Slowly walking up the steps Ellie remembered the times when she use to listen to Joel playing his guitar on his favourite chair, they had spent many summer evenings singing and playing their guitars together. She stopped at the side door and turned it's handle, the door was unlocked. She entered the house and closed the door behind her, the whole house was dark.

" Joel, I'm home..." Ellie said.

Ellie was half expecting Joel to answer her back, but there was nothing but a ticking sound coming from the wall clock in the kitchen. She wrapped her arms around herself while she walked forward, the scent of wood oil and pine lingered in the air. It was strange seeing Joel's house so quiet, he was always playing records or carving wooden animals in his study upstairs.

Stopping outside of the living room Ellie's gaze wandered around the hallway, there was an umbrella in a stand and one of Joel's old coats hanging on a peg. Nothing had been torched in his house for days, this was the first time Ellie had been inside of his house since Christmas last year.

" Hey kiddio."

Ellie could still hear Joel's voice if she listened carefully, she could still feel his presences in the house. She sniffled and walked into the living room, the room was dark since all of the curtains were drawn in the room. It felt weird not seeing Joel in his favourite armchair, she could still see him if she closed her eyes.

" Hey old man." Ellie said.

Sighing to herself Ellie sat down on the edge of the couch, she wrapped an old thick blanket around herself and ran her fingers down it's soft hem. She remembered this blanket very well, it had been her comforter when she was sick and it had always been around when she was watching movies with Joel. The scent of soap lingered on it still, she breathed in the scent and closed her eyes.

So many memories came flooding back to Ellie, there was popcorn and hot milk. A bowl of Maria's stew and some freshly made bread, there was a movie playing on the old television set. She could hear laughter and screams of people running away from dinosaurs, the scene where the Tyrannosaurus Rex was chasing the car had tickled Ellie badly.

" Holy shit! There's an Ellie in Jurassic Park!"

" I guess I'm gonna have to start calling you Doctor Ellie."

" Fuck yeah!"

Ellie smiled to herself while a single tear rolled down her cheek, she had so many memories about watching movies with Joel. She wiped her cheek with the blanket and pulled her knees to her chest, she would do anything to just spend one more day with Joel.

" This one is for you, it's from me. I hope you like it."

" Thank you, Ellie."

Ellie's gaze wandered to the fireplace, the portrait she had drawn for Joel was still sitting on the fireplace's shelf. It only seemed like yesterday when she drew it for him, she remembered struggling with the shadowing and getting shading pointers from Cat. This room was full of memories, she never knew it until now.

" Did you draw this?"

" Yeah, I'm sorry if it's crappy."

" No, it's real good. It's gonna be the pride and place of the living room."

" Ellie?"

Ellie's attention was drawn to the doorway of the living room, she saw Dina standing in the hallway. She smiled at Ellie and entered the room, she sat down next to her on the couch. She told Ellie that she had been looking for her, she wanted to make sure she was doing okay. Ellie told Dina she was fine before she rested her head on Dina's shoulder, she just wanted some comfort right now.

" I miss him so much, Dina..." Ellie said.

" I know, sweetie." Dina said while she wrapped her arms around her. " I miss Joel too, he was grumpy sometimes but he was good man."

" He was no angel, but he didn't deserve this..." Ellie said, she looked at Dina. " I want to find this Abby, she needs to pay for what she's done."

" You're beginning to sound like Tommy." Dina said with a sigh. " Look Ellie, we'll find this Abby at some point. But for now you need to get some sleep. It's Joel's funeral tomorrow, it's going to be a long day."

" I know, but I can't sleep..." Ellie said.

" I know sweetie, it's okay." Dina said.

Dina told Ellie that she would stay with her all night if she wanted, but Ellie wanted to spend some time alone in Joel's house. She needed to write Joel's eulogy yet, she hadn't even started it. Dina kissed Ellie's forehead and told her she would see her at the funeral, she soon left Ellie alone in the house.

Ellie left the living room and headed upstairs, she entered Joel's study with his blanket still drapped around her shoulders. She switched the rooms light on and walked over to his desk, she then sat down on Joel's chair. There were an unfinished carving on the desk still, she often wondered how he found the time to carve little wooden statues between his carpetner work and his patrols.

Ellie ran her finger tips down the cowboy riding a horse carving, she felt sad that it would never get finished. She sighed to herself while she looked through the window and thought about her eulogy for Joel, but she soon thought of something when she saw some guiltar strings on Joel's desk.


Joel's Funeral

Ellie had woken up at Joel's desk, she must have fallen asleep at some point through the night. She grabbed some papers from his desk and hurried out of the study, she needed to get ready for Joel's funeral. She closed the side door behind her and hurried across the backyard, but when she entered her garage apartment she was surprised to see Tommy sitting on the couch.

Maria was standing in the kitchen, she had brought some breakfast for Ellie. Tommy immediately got up from the couch when he saw Ellie and hurried to met her, he hug her tightly before he let her go. He told her they had been worried about her since she wasn't here when they called on her this morning, they had thought the worse for a moment.

" I spent the night at Joel's house." Ellie said, she showed Tommy her eulogy she had written about Joel. " I wanted to write my eulogy for Joel there, it holds a lot of memories in his house for me. I thought it would help me remember all the good times I spent with him..."

" It's fine, you can visit Joel's house whenever you want." Tommy said.

" Thanks." Ellie said.

" I made you some breakfast." Maria said while she took a plate of toast and oven baked tomatoes from the grill. " Come and sit down, you'll need all the strength you can get today."

" I'm not hungry..." Ellie said.

" Now Ellie, you need to start looking after yourself." Tommy said, he then guided her towards the couch. " Sit down and eat up, you'll thank us later."

" Okay." Ellie sighed.

Ellie sat down on the couch and placed the eulogy next to her, she then took the plate of food from Maria. She took a bite of the toast and forced herself to eat some of the tomatoes, she soon had an empty plate on her lap. After that she went to wash up and get changed into some clean clothes, she wasn't sure what she should wear though.

Maria had helped Ellie with her clothes, she told her to wear something comfortable. She was soon dressed and ready to go, but she had one more thing that she needed to take with her. She took her guiltar from it's case and carried it out of her garage apartment, she folded up her eulogy before she put it in her coat pocket.

The snow had stopped falling days ago, it was even melting away in some parts of the community. The sky was blue and there was no sounds to be heard in the street outside of Joel's house, it was peaceful. Tommy and Maria were waiting for Ellie inside Joel's house, they wanted to spend a moment together before Joel was brought to the cemetery near his house.

Ellie entered the house by the side door, she closed the door behind her and wiped her feet on the doormat. She saw Tommy standing in the open doorway of the front door, she approached him and rested her hand on his arm. He looked at Ellie and smiled at her, he told her Joel would be here soon. He told Ellie that Maria had made a few sandwiches for afterwards for the wake at his house, he said it was for close family only.

" I'm dreading this, Ellie..." Tommy said while he turned his gaze away from her. " I never thought I'd have to bury my big Brother, not after what happened to Sarah. I thought he'd out live me, he's always been the strong one."

" Tell me about it, he was one tough cookie." Ellie said.

Ellie and Tommy stood together at the front door, they spoke to each other until Joel's coffin arrived on the back of a horse drawn cart. People were already lining the street, the whole community was here to say goodbye to Joel. Maria joined Ellie and Tommy at the doorway, she told them it was time. Ellie told Tommy that she was nervous, he told her he wouldn't leave her side throughout the service.

Tommy took the lead, he was followed by Ellie and Maria down the pathway. They were greeted by people and a child placing flowers near the white pitchet fence, they all soon began to follow the cart towards the cemetery. Maria comforted Tommy while they walked, Ellie walked behind them with her guitar in her hands.

Ellie saw Cat with her Mother standing on the sidewalk, she gave them a small smile before the cart stopped outside of the cemetery's gates. Jesse helped three other men with Joel's coffin, they then began to walk towards the open gate of the cemetery. Tommy felt awful that he couldn't help them with the coffin, he was still sore and bruised.

They followed behind Joel's coffin with the rest of the community, the cemetery wasn't too big. The cemetery had always been here before they began building The Jackson Community, it had been part of a old town once. It was beautifully kept and looked after by the community, it was peaceful. Ellie had visited the cemetery once or twice since she moved to Jackson, she hadn't been to many funerals neither.

A hole had already been dug for Joel's coffin, there were flowers and headstone already set by his grave. Ellie stood with Tommy and Maria by his graveside, it didn't seem real to Ellie. She had woken each day hoping that it was just a bad dream, but then after awhile she realised it was real. Tommy spoke loud and clear about his Brother, he had a few tales to share with everyone about Joel.

" Joel was more than a Brother, he was my Mom and Dad rolled all into one." Tommy said, he looked at Ellie for a brief second before he began to speak again. " He was a Father to Sarah and a guarden to Ellie, he was one of the kindest people I ever knew..."

Ellie closed her eyes and bowed her head, she felt awful. She had been so horrible to Joel for months, she hadn't been the best adoptive Daughter to him. She listen to Tommy talking, she felt Maria touch her arm halfway through Tommy's eulogy. She opened her eyes and smiled at Maria, it wasn't long until it was Ellie's turn to read out her eulogy. She was hesitated at first, but Tommy soon encouraged her to speak.

" I wrote this last night, but I've working on this melody for sometime now." Ellie said before she licked her lips. " It could be crappy, but I wrote it for Joel. It hasn't got name yet, it's not that important. But it's about him, this is for Joel."

Ellie cleared her throat and readied herself to play the melody on her guiltar, she checked the cords first before she began to play. She moved her finger tips to the different cords and strummed her thumb against the guitar strings, her voice soon broke the silence around her.

When I was young I never understood

Why you took me in

We met in the most strangest way

But you still took me in

Ellie stared at the coffin in front of her, she could see may flowers lying on its wooden surface. She sniffled when she had finished her first verse of her song, she played more of her song's melody until she began singing again.

Some would call you a grizzle bear

You could be grumpy it's true

But to me you'll always be

The one who saved me

Ellie's gaze wandered around the crowd of people, she soon noticed Dina in the crowd. Dina smiled at Ellie and mouthed you're doing great to her, she then turned her attention towards Tommy while she continued to play her song for Joel.

Joel, will you be home soon?

I need you more than ever

I'm sorry how I broke your heart

Forgive me Father dear

Tommy had smiled at parts of Ellie's song, but she noticed a tear rolling down his cheek when she sang the third verse of her song. Calling Joel Father was something Ellie always wanted to do, but she never dared to say it to him in case he didn't like it. She never wanted him to think she was trying to replace Sarah, she just wanted to be his Ellie.

I half expect to see you sitting on your porch

A cup of coffee in your hand and smile just for me

You taught me about life and how to aim a gun

How I miss you Joel dear

I'll love you forever until the world is gone

Ellie sang the last part of her song, she then told everyone that she had finished. She was surprised how many people clapped after she had finished her song, but the part she wasn't expecting was Tommy pulling her into a hug. He thanked Ellie for the song she had written for Joel, he told her that it meant a lot to him.

Tommy kept his arm around Ellie while Jesse and the other three men lowered the coffin into the ground, Maria then gave Ellie a red rose. She told her to throw it into the hole when she was ready, she thanked Maria before she gave her a hug. Maria rested her hand on Ellie's back, she felt comfort from her adopted Aunt and Uncle.

The crowds of people began to leave after the coffin was placed in the ground, Tommy thanked Jesse and the other men for their help. Jesse told Tommy he'd be around if he needed his help again, he then gave Ellie a hug before he left with Dina. Jesse had been really supportive, he was doing everything he could to try and help to find this Abby.

" Goodbye Joel, I'm gonna miss you." Maria said.

Maria threw her red rose onto the coffin, she then told Tommy and Ellie that she would meet them back at her house. Tommy told her okay before he threw his red rose into the hole, he told Joel that he would visit him tomorrow. Ellie threw her rose into the hole next, she looked at Tommy and told him that she had already said her goodbyes to him last night at his house.

" I spoke to him..." Ellie said before she tucked some of her hair behind her ear. " I swore I could hear his voice, he called me kiddio and I called him old man. We laughed and I cried, I could sense him around me... I could smell his scent on his favourite blanket."

" Joel will always be with you, don't you forget that." Tommy said.

Ellie nodded her head at Tommy, he was right. She had so many memories about Joel, he had protected her and treated her like a daughter. He had made her soup when she had been sick, he taught her how to play the guitar and how to shoot a riffle. They had shared so many experiences together, she would always have Joel by her side even if she couldn't see him.