Disclaimer: I do not own any character of (The Last of Us) TLOU is owned by Naughty Dog, but all the Oc character is from my invention.

Chapter 23: Epilogue

(Ellie)

Some time has passed since that day. It was funny how Maria and Tommy take the news. Tommy almost fainted as soon he hear that I was pregnant, but what I didn't expect was Maria reaction. She was so happy about it, that she jumped at me and hug me. That was so weird since the night before she and Tommy were mad at us. I think that maybe she was happy because she has been trying to have a baby with Tommy and she can't. Maria told me once that the doctor told her that she never going to have a baby because of some medical bullshit on her body. I still think that she should continue trying and not give up on that. Anyway, she was happy to become an aunt.

After that, Maria started to come to our house almost every day to check on me and make sure that all was okay. She also took me to the doctor, to make sure that the pregnancy is not going to affect me or the baby. Joel has his concerns about that too, but all of us get happy when the doctor said that everything was alright. But he also told me that because of my condition it was better not to do any risked job. So Joel makes me stay at home all the pregnancy process, while he does some work. That was a little boring, but at least I have some of my friends to come to our house and give me some company.

Also, I have to add that Bill and Frank, help a lot in the town during the wintertime. Besides the dam, they fixed a lot of things in Jackson and improve others. After the winter ends and my belly was like a balloon, Frank, and Bill organize their expedition to the military bunker. He takes a few of his best shooter with him, but Tommy provides him with some of Jackson's men and horses for the task. After a few weeks of preparation, they go out to Colorado state using the train. They come back a month later with the sad news that they don't find much in there. They said that after they clean out the bunker of infected, all the computer there where damage, so they can't find any information about the paradise place they were told.

But lucky for us, the trip wasn't all in vain. They found a lot of ammunition, equipment and food ration that will last for a few years. But brig all that to Jackson take several trips to get completed. But in one of those trips, Bill found a few files with information about other military places where they storage weapons and other things that we can use. Before they go out again to find those, Bill got serious with a partner (lover) that make him happy. He still acting weird and that bothers me sometimes, but not as much as before. I have to admit that he is really good at fixing things. After Frank and a few of his men go on their journey, Frank people stay on Jackson.

Six months later after we got back to Jackson, it was closed for the baby to come out of me. But he decided to come out early, so after hard and painful labor, our baby was born. As I told Joel before, we have a baby boy that we name Elliot.

But the doctors told us that as he was born a month early, he needs to stay on the clinic a few weeks so he can give an eye on him. That scares the shit out of me and Joel, but we're happy that he said that the baby was going to be okay. After dose weeks passed, Joel and I get happy when finally our baby was able to come home with us. And as soon we get there Maria and a few of my friends do a welcome party for us and the new baby.

Oh, yeah and talking about that. Telling the people of Jackson that Joel and I were married, was another hard thing to do. We have to do it before my belly starts to show, so Maria and Tommy call a meeting for that. Some people were surprised to hear the news. Some of them did not like the idea of Joel be married to a woman so young and get her pregnant. But the rest were happy for us or not even care, and that was good for both of us. After that, people get a costume to us, so we're lucky to not have any problems after that.

After a time of the baby be at home, Maria gets very close to him. She and Tommy become the best babysitter in town when I have to help in town with work. She helped me a lot, and even that she never has a child she has more experience than me. Joel worked hard on the restoration of some of the old houses, so Frank people could use them to live on them. After Bill, Frank and his group come back 8 months later. Frank talk to Maria and Tommy and decided that it was time to find another place to start over. Even that they love being there, Jackson was not prepared to sustain so many people. Frank told Tommy that they found a few places, that they get from the bunker files, but most of them were empty or destroyed. They did find a few of them with things that we can use, including some vehicles.

A few months later, they found a village called Teton, it was closer to the old Jackson airport in the north. As the whole area was old Jackson territory, Frank call their new town, New Jackson. The place was an old ski resort village, with a good ground to plant and good water resources. After a meeting, Frank inform his people about their new home and with the help of Jackson people and all the things they found, they can start to move people up there to work on the place and start to live on it. It takes two years to get finished with the basic things they are going to need. After that, the rest of his people start to move to their new home. A few of Frank people want to stay in Jackson for different reasons, and even that New Jackson was only a few hours in a car and a few days on a horse, they decided to stay.

One of the families that decided to stay was Paul, Jessica and their sons, including their new baby. Yeah, you hear that right, Paul and Jessica were married now and have a little girl named Hope. She was born a year later after we arrive at Jackson. Hope and Elliot got together well and play every time Jessica and Paul come to the house to visit. Even after Frank people move out, they continue to be in contact with Jackson and come to visit from time to time. Frank and Bill come some time to help with some improvement and Maria sent people up there too to help them with what they need. So the two Jackson town continue to work together as one.

The winter that follows the departed of the Eureka people it was hard for us. Joel got sick, and It was very bad. The doctor told us that he was not going to make it if he continues to get worse.

That scared me a lot. Losing Joel is the last thing I wanted to experience, even when Joel told me that it was okay. I know that Joel is not going to live forever, but I hope that that day will not come for a long time. I have to keep Elliot away from Joel since he wants to be in bed with his dad all the time. But the doctor said that even that Joel sickness was not contagious, it was better to keep our little baby away from him. He cries all the time and wanted to be with his dad and I don't blame him. Even that he was 2 and a half years, he always wants to be with his dad. As Maria and Tommy take care of Elliot. I stay at Joel side all the time, I take care of him until he got better. I am always thankful to God for keeping my Joel alive, even if we don't believe in that too much. We all celebrate when he got better, and I never admitted to him how scared I was, but I think he knew.

After Frank and his people finished checking all those places, they never found any information about a cure for the infection. After my condition started to get out, Maria, Tommy, and the doctors decided that it was better to tell everyone about it. Maria calls for a meeting at the main plaza, so they can gather as many people as they can. As soon as all people where there, the doctors start to explain my condition and that it wasn't contagious. They also told them that they tried to find a cure by studying my blood, but so far nothing has come out of it. After that, they ask my permission, to study Elliot immunity when he gets older. And maybe one day they can find a way to get a cure.

During all these years, attack from bandit, hunters or infected, has minimized. And lucky for us no fireflies soldiers are been seems after we left Eureka either. Joel was hoping that they all die that day and that never come back looking for us. Until today they're not hunting me down or get close to Jackson. So even if any of them are alive out there, they probably forget about us or not even care anymore. I just hope that it stays that way, so we can live in peace for the rest of our life. I also hope that people in this world learn after all this, and someday the world becomes a better place for our children.

A year later

It has been four years since we come back to Jackson. Elliot is now three and a half years old. I am in the kitchen on our house, while he is sleeping on Joel's chest on the living room couch. Joel comes back early from work, and after he plays a little with Elliot, he landed on the couch and falls asleep with our child on his chest. Maria comes to visit and help me with the kid, so she is with me in the kitchen. I Look at them and decided to let them sleep, while I prepare some to eat.

"Ohhh… Elliot looks so cute sleeping like that," said Maria while she was standing on the kitchen entrance looking at the living room. I was grateful that Maria came to the house to see if I need anything. That is nice of her, even that I know that she always tries to find an excuse to come to her and play with Elliot. I always tell her that she can come whatever she wants to see him, I always going to welcome her here.

"Yeah, Joel looked so tired when he comes home and even that it doesn't stop him to play a little with Elliot. I never thought he was going to be so attached to our little kid," Ellie put a smile on her face while finished to cut some vegetables and put them inside of a cooking pot.

"Why make you think he was not going to be like that? I know that Joel is not the best feeling shower, but what Tommy told me about him, he loves his daughter very much," Says Maria turn around and take a seat at the table.

Ellie finishes to put the food on the stove and walk toward the table. Ellie sat on a chair on the opposite side of Maria and look at her. "Yeah, I know. He talked to me about her and how much it hurt when she dies," Say Ellie a little sad while remember all those conversations. She knows that losing Sarah almost destroy Joel, and that is why he didn't want to have another kid. "Did I ever told you that Joel didn't want to have any more kids after what happened to Sarah?"

"Really!... not that I blame him. Losing a child is hard."

"Yeah I can imagine," said Ellie with a sad tone. "We talk about it a few times when we start to have sex. I told him that I want to have someone day, but he wasn't. I guess that after what happened to Sarah, he was scared to lose another one."

"Yeah, Tommy told me what happened that day, when all this shit started. And like I said, I don't blame him to be scared about that. But look at him now, and see how much he loves Elliot is hard to imagine the pain that he carried before."

"Yeah, I'm so happy that he was okay with me being pregnant after he I told him. And when Elliot was born I saw how he looks at him, just like life have some meaning again. Is not like he feels that when we get together, but with Elliot is more like a second chance to be a father again," Say Ellie looking at him. "Anyway, did you talk to Tommy about giving him the next week off?"

Maria smile while looking at her. "You don't need to worry about that I am sure that he can. The new barn is almost finished and after that is going to be slow for a while. So I don't see any problem with you and Joel go on your little vacation."

"Ahh, thank you, that is so great. Joel told me that he wanted to take out of Jackson for a week, just the two of us. I don't want to leave Elliot here that long, but Joel said that he is too young to go outside. So he said that it was better to left Elliot with you and Tommy."

"Yeah, I think that is the best decision too. Besides we love to have him for a whole week in our house," says Maria with a smile. "I know that you two can take care of yourself, but you think is wise to go out there alone for that long?"

"Oh, don't worry about that, is not been any incident with bandit or infected in this area for over a year now. Besides, I don't think that we are going to far from here."

"Well, as I said, we love to take care of Elliot, so you and Joel go ahead and plan your trip."

"Thanks, Maria, you and Tommy are the best."

"Ahhh, don't mention, after all, we're family."

( A week later )

Joel and Ellie, we're riding on a northwest route, toward the mountain. It was the end of October, so summer is over and fall started to hit Wyoming. The climate was starting to get cold, but nothing that can bother people much. Joel decided to take Ellie on a little vacation trip outside Jackson, so they can pass some time alone. And now, they were on the road again.

"Whoohoo!" screaming Ellie with her hand up and feeling the cold wind on her face. After a few minutes, she down her arms and grab Joel by the waist. "Wow Joel where you get this thing is so cool," she said while getting closer to Joel's back. "I never ride in a bike before, this is so awesome."

"Well, came on a horse is going to take too long, besides I don't think that Tommy is going to give us any after the last two…" he stops remember that Ellie loves her horse. "Anyway, the bike was a gift from Bill. He found it in New Jackson when they arrive at the place. He said that it was in good condition and only need a few things to get fixed. He also said that it was a late wedding gift for us," said Joel with a little smile on his face.

"Really!" said Ellie surprised. "I don't believe that you're talking about the same Bill I meet all those years ago. He was so paranoid and unrespectful back then. Now I don't even know him anymore."

Joel laughs at that. "Well, I think that love can make people change… it did it to me, so why not him too."

"Yeah… that guy he met in Eureka change him a lot… good for him. I don't want to admit but he helped us a lot the last few years."

"Yeah, he does, and I am glad that he is not an asshole anymore."

"Yeah, me too. Anyway, where are we going?"

"Oh, is a surprise, but don't worry we're almost there, so you will find out soon enough."

"Oh, that is great, I'm so excited," Ellie leans forward and put her head on Joel's shoulder. "I love the ride, but we've been on the road for two hours and my butt is starting to hurt."

Joel laughs a little on that. And after a few more miles, he makes a turn and drives out of the road He enters a more rusty path that it takes into the forest. He was riding a 1981 Harley-Davidson Sportster, it was one of the most famous bikes on that time. As Joel has to drive on uneven ground, he has to go slower. And after 20 minutes inside the forest Ellie start to recognize the place.

"Oh my God!" Ellie started to say as soon she saw a cabin in the distance. "Is this is our cabin?"

Joel continues driving until he gets closer. "Yes… well, not the same as before. Because we did a few modifications on it, but yes is our cabin."

"We? What you mean we?"

"Yes, we. A few Frank's men and I have been coming here for the last year to do some upgrades to the cabin. Frank help me with a few things... Well, a lot of things actually, but I did most of the job," Say Joel stopping the bike in front of the cabin.

Ellie gets off the bike and starts looking at her surrender. The cabin looks almost the same except for the damage that it has before and now being repaired. Ellie can see that the porch has new wood and the roof seems to be repaired in a few places. "Wow, it looks nice, I never thought to come here again," she says looking at the cabin for a few minutes then she turned her head to look at Joel. "Well, I remember saying that if something goes wrong… we can come back here and…"

Joel walks close to her and put his hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, I remember, but as things go well for us, I thought that it was better to keep it as a vacation place."

"Ohh, Joel… that was so nice of you," Ellie leaned forward and give him a soft kiss. After she moved away, Ellie looks at the cabin again. "Did you know that I have a dream about this once?"

Joel put his hand on her waist and pull her closer. "Really!... Did you have a dream about us coming back here?"

Ellie looked at him and smile, but don't say anything at first. She turned her head and look at the cabin and start to remember the dream. It was a happy one at first see their 2 children running around and playing in front of the cabin. She smiles at that, but then remember that Joel wasn't there with her in the dream. But she feels so happy now that she doesn't want to think about that sad memory. "Yeah, we're living here happy with our children," Ellie put one hand on the side of his face and smile.

"Well, that sounds like a good dream," he said smiling back at her. "Anyway I didn't know what to give you, so I thought that maybe was a good idea to celebrate our anniversary here."

Ellie opens her eyes wider. "Holy… shit! I so sorry Joel, I completely forget about that."

"Ahh, don't worry about it, I almost forgot that myself… But Happy anniversary ``Ellie."

"Joel, you didn't need to give me anything, you already give me all that I ever need in this life. You give friends, family, and at home. And more importantly, you give me you love and a child, that is all I need," Ellie put her arm around Joel's neck and pull him closer. "Happy anniversary my love," then they kiss.

After a few minutes, they move apart and start to walk toward the entrance of the cabin. "Do you want to see the rest of the upgrades?"

"Of course, I will love too!"

"You're going to love them. We have now a better water system and also a little electricity. Can you see the two windmills on the back, those now provide electricity to the house, not a lot of power, but enough to turn on a few things inside. We also have a short wade radio, just in case of an emergency."

"Wow… that sounds so cool," they continue walking and talking until they enter the cabin. "I hope that you put a new king sized bed upstairs. Because I will give you the best anniversary gift that you can't imagine."

"Ohh, no… I think that I created a monster," Ellie start giggle while she pulls Joel upstairs and starts to celebrate their anniversary.

ooOoo

Well, people, this is the end of the story,

but before I put the end here there are a few things

I want to say before this is really over.

When I start this story, it's supposed to be a one-shot

Just do some sex scenes with Ellie and Joel since I didn't much on my first story.

But when I start to write, the one-shot become two chapters

Then four chapters and end up having eight chapters, and become

The cabin in the woods.

After I start the second part for the swimming story

We get hit by a hurricane a few months later after I start to post

So that story was delayed because we lose power for more than three months.

So after we get some power back at work. I have the idea of making the cabin

a mini-series, well it's supposed to be a small one

but as always I write too much on it.

So after I started to write the second part of this story

I decide to make it a four-part series.

And now sadly for me, we reach at the end of it.

Anyway, I want to thank all the people that read this series.

I really appreciated that you take a little of your time to read this.

I know that my stories are not the best out there, but I'm glad that some

people like them, and I have so much fun writing them too.

Also, I want to thank the ones that take their time to put a review

or comments on all the parts includes all the guest too.

I know that some people don't care to leave reviews or not have the time to do it.

But believe me, that means a lot for us

And it makes us feel good to see how much people like our stories,

Or let us know if we can do better in the future.

So next time don't feel shy and give some review to a story you read

That means a lot for the author.

I also want to give a special thank to a person

That not only encourage me to continue writing stories

But also be there for me when I need it. I am not going to mention

the name of that person, but that person knows who it is.

My grammar and my English is not that good, but I hope that

the people that read some of my one-shot and part four

of this story. It has not too much problem in understanding it.

I also want to thank a new reader on the AO3 that after starting to read

my stories, love them very much and that wanted me

to continue writing more. So thank you for all the comment you put there.

Thank you (cakepop96) for all you support in my stories.

Okay, I think this is taking too long, but before I finish with this I want

to LYK that I am going to take a little vacation after this one.

I have a few things I want to do and I am not going to have much time to write

But don't worry I will be back if people really want me to.

Again, thank you for reading this and I hope to hear from you on the comment.

Thank you all... and now let's go with this little extra scene.

ooOoo

A few days later

It is still night when Ellie was laying on the bed looking at the ceiling thinking. The last three days in the cabin has been wonderful. Joel shows her everything they fixed and adds to the place and after that, they go hunting. They've been having a good time in the forest, even if it was a little cold. Inside the cabin, they have sex in every room and have some fun just the two of them. She misses her child badly, and even that she did not want this week to end, she also wants to go back home and be with her son.

Ellie looked to her side and saw Joel sleeping. The sun was going to be up soon, but he was sleeping so calm and peaceful, that she doesn't want to wake him up yet. She knew that she needs to talk to him in the morning. And tell him something that she finds out a week before they plan this trip. But she is wondering how his reaction is going to be as soon she told him the news. Ellie was lost in thought when she starts to hear an unfamiliar sound getting closer to the cabin.

Ellie quickly sits up on the bed when the sound starts to get closer and some wind started to hit the cabin. At first, she thought that it was a snowstorm, but when an intense light illuminates the cabin she knows that it wasn't. "Joel...Joel!" she started to call him while she shakes his body. "Joel wake up… I think someone is outside," she yelled while moving out of bed.

Joel wakes up and sits up on the bed when the sound gets louder. "Shit!... what the hell is that?"

"I don't know, but is coming from the sky," says Ellie while putting some pans on.

"Shit… it sounds like a helicopter?"

"A what?"

"A helicopter, but who can be using those? The only people that can still have some of those things functional are the military or-"

"Or the fireflies?" added Ellie while walking at the window to see outside. "I don't see shit!"

Joel finishes to dress up and grab his shogun from the night table. "I don't think any of them still alive, bet let not wait here to find out who this Fockers is."

Ellie moves away from the window and looks at Joel. "Yeah let get out of here, what is the plan?" Joel looks at her and gives her the riffle. After that, he starts walking toward the door.

"Is still dark outside, so let's grab the bike and head out. That thing can't chase us into the forest, so we can lose them there," Joel grab the rest of his weapons and open the bedroom door. Ellie starts to follow him down the stairs until they arrive in the living room.

"I think they're leaving?" say Ellie as soon the light outside goes away and the helicopter sounds can hear it at the distance.

"I don't think that that is going to be good for us, so let's get out of here before someone else show up," Joel walk to a table in the living room and grab the bike's key. "Let's go," he runs at the front door, regretting now that he left the bike in front of the cabin yesterday.

Joel opens the door and walks outside. The bike was a few feet at the front of the cabin. So Ellie pointing her gun at her surrenders. "I don't see anybody here."

"Oh, they will be here soon, so stay behind me okay," Joel starts to walk toward the bike with his gun out. They were closer to the bike when a bright light turns on in front of them. They try to cover their eyes and point their guns in the direction of the light. "Look I don't know who you are or what you want, but this is not going to end well for you if you try something," Say Joel pointing his shotgun at the people that get out of two-vehicle.

After a minute of silence, Joel saw one of them walking away from the vehicle and toward them. He quickly moves Ellie behind him and told her to be ready.

Then he hears the person laughing a little bit. "I can see that you don't change at all Joel," says a familiar voice, one that they don't hear in a long time.

"Bibi?" says Ellie moving from behind Joel.

Joel saw the woman getting closer to them with a gun in her hand. Four men walked behind her with their guns pointing at them. "What is the meaning of this? And who the hell are these people?" asked Joel without lower his gun.

"Well, as you can see is a complicated thing. But is going to be better if you lower your gun."

Joel points his gun at her. "I don't think so. I don't know what you game is, but-" he didn't finish.

When Ellie starts to speak. "Why are you doing this? We thought that you're our friend, after all, that happens." Ellie moves beside Joel with her gun pointing at her too. "How you find us anyway?" added Ellie looking at her face.

"Sorry things have to be this way," Say Bibi while she indicates to the men behind her to move forward and take them. "Believe or not, we found a cure, but I need you two to come with us… One way or another!"

Baam! Baam!

Nooooooo!

The End...