This Isn't The End [Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader]

•Chapter 3•

Your P.O.V
Ellie didn't let you out of her sights at all that first night. After you talked with Maria and Tommy for a while on that snowy Main Street of Jackson they said you could stay with them for a while. It looked like the weather wasn't going to light up any time soon and they said you could ride out the storm with them and if you wanted to stay there were some empty homes you could stay in. The thought jarred you. That you could have a home, a real one. Not an empty manor in the middle of nowhere. No more waking up from nightmares wishing you had anyone to vent to or to hold you.
     You watched as Ellie lead you to a bar, the Tipsy Bison. The two of you entered the crowded bad, people called out to her waving and greeting. People watched you wearily, not a very welcoming place to someone foreign. A tight knit community and Maria and Tommy just offered you a place in it. Ellie tugged you into a booth sitting across from you.
     "I've never had a real home before. Even before the outbreak really took out Boston and the city I had grown up in. My mom was always moving me further and further from wherever the infected were coming from." You rambled hoping it explained your recent silence. Ellie observed you, the soft light of the bar had turned her auburn hair into a shade of copper so beautiful you knew you'd never see anything like it.  You swallowed searching her green eyes for any signs of pity or regret of bringing you here and came up empty. "Can you say something please?"
     "It's never to late to belong somewhere (YN). Come on patrol with me and a few others tomorrow. It'll give you an idea of who all lives in Jackson and how we operate. I know it's different from what your used to but don't make your mind up yet." She blurted. You couldn't hold back the chuckle that had escaped your throat.
     "I'll go on patrol with you and your friends I suppose. But I make no promises." You warned her. You weren't sure what to think. Jackson seemed nice enough, it had a bar so how bad could it truly be. A yawn broke free of your lips. Ellie smiled at you.
     "You can stay in my house with me, or you can stay in one of the empty houses if you prefer. I'm sure I can convince Tommy to give up the keys." Ellie offered nervously. You wanted to challenge yourself here. Really make an effort with these people. But if it was too different you'd go back to Idaho.
     "Can I stay with you?" You asked shyly. Ellie lit up brighter than any star in the night sky. After some good food and some mild introductions to anyone curious enough to approach the table, Ellie walked you to her house.
     You looked up at the sky smiling, snow was still coming down in giant fluffy flakes coating the city in a blanket of white. Ellie walked close to you, your shoulders brushing against one another. Together you wandered through Jackson, by the time you arrived at Ellies doorstep snowflakes had settled in her deep auburn hair. It was a quiet walk. Peaceful. A feeling you haven't had in a very long time. Living alone made for always looking over your shoulder, never truly feeling safe. No matter how many times you checked the house for infected knowing you had it barricaded against anything, living or undead.  Someone, assuming Maria, had dropped your pack off on Ellie's porch. Ellie held the door for you, you smiled at her walking inside.
     "Wow. Nice place." You said breathlessly looking around the small cabin. It was beautiful and cozy. A home that had been lived in, loved in. Papers littered the coffee table, sketches. You smiled sitting on the couch looking at them, the couch dipping as Ellie sat next to you.
     "Thanks, I decorated with things I've found over the years. But I did all these." Ellie was proud of her work. You yawned again but kept filtering through the papers. Each one you held up Ellie told you stories on what she had been looking at that captivated that part of her soul so much she couldn't wait to get home to draw it. Eventually you had begun to fall asleep, eyelids heavy.
     "Are you going to bed?" You asked her. Trying to focus on her amused expression as she watched you. 
     "Yeah (YN) I am. I can take the couch if you'd prefer my bed?" She offered. You shook your head not wanting to be too much of an inconvenience. Ellie laughed lightly before yawning and standing up. Your body immediately cried out at the lack of heat the girl produced. She walked up to a closet and took out a heavy knit blanket and a pillow. "You better get changed and get to sleep, I don't want you sleeping in wet clothes on my nice couch." She joked. Laughter bubbled out of your lips as she directed you to her bathroom. You got changed quickly into new pants and a sweater. Glancing in the mirror you paused. Your hair was damp from the snow and hanging around your face in (HC) clumps.  Your eyes looked lighter than usual, however the bags under your eyes made you frown.
     Maybe you'd skip on patrol tomorrow just to sleep for an extra few hours. As you exited the bathroom you found Ellie, laying on the couch after taking her shoes off it's like she just tipped over and didn't get up. You giggled quietly at the sight before covering her with the blanket she gave you.
     After scrounging some more pillows and blankets from that closet you made yourself a nest on the floor by the couch. Not wanting to wake the poor girl or take her bed in case she awoke in the next few hours before patrol and wanted her bed. Once you finally settled onto the hardwood floors sleep dragged you into it's spell.
(YN)!
(YN)!
Someone was screaming your name. You were in Boston all those years ago, as you ran to the voice you realized it was Ellie. You ran faster, the air felt like fire in your lungs but you pressed on. You couldn't tell where her screams were coming from.  As you sprinted down an alleyway you collided with a small figure. Ellie.
     "Thank god I found you." You cried out. She opened her mouth to speak when a bullet came flying at her. It was the same. The feel of blood splattered across your arms, across your face. Turning to see who had fired the shot it was none other than your mother.
     "I told you. Don't trust anyone." She cooed at you aiming the pistol at your head-
     "(YN)!" Someone was telling your name for real. You sat up fast almost knocking a concerned Ellie over, rushing for the bathroom you vomited. Ellie rubbed circles on your back as you clung to the cold porcelain.
     "I'm sorry." You croaked out. "I'm usually too tired for nightmares." Ellie paused her soothing motions to pull you away front the toilet so you were facing her.
     "Don't apologize. Shit happens, nightmares are the worst. And hey at least you made it to the toilet." Ellie made an attempt to get you to smile. Your face crumpled as you put your head into your hands and cried. "Okay it was a bad joke I'm sorry." Ellie apologized as you cried. She didn't know what to do.
     Ellie restarted soothing you. She talked to you in a hushed voice as you cried, telling you all about the things she and Joel have done in the years. You had always wanted this, some vital part of your soul had been so lonely over the years and you denied it.
     "It was my mom." You croaked finally taking your face out of your hands to face Ellie at last. Her forest green eyes softened as she examined your tear stained face.
     "I have those dreams too." Ellie murmured. And for the first time since your mom died, your heart didn't ache at the thought of her.