Chapter Text
The biting chill of the winter air gnawed at their faces, numbing their cheeks and noses. The frosty mist hung in the air, painting everything in a hazy white. The scent of pine and wood smoke wafted through the cold breeze, mingling with the distant echoes of laughter and bustling activity from within the walls. The sight of snow-covered trees reaching towards the grey sky added an ethereal beauty to the desolate landscape.
The endless, frozen wilderness surrounding them was interrupted by the gates of the commune. Joel pulled his horse to a sudden halt, his gloved hand tightening on the reins, as he squinted through the frosty mist at the distant sight of civilization. Beside him, Ellie adjusted her grip on the reins, her face turning up to mirror his gaze, her breath visible in the cold air.
Maria, riding ahead, glanced over her shoulder and noticed Joel easing his horse to a halt. Her voice carried back to them, tinged with anticipation, "Not long now." She tightened her grip on the reins of her own horse and gave it a firm kick, urging it forward.
Joel took in the expanse of the terrain around him. This wasn't the furthest west he'd ever been, but it was his first time seeing the vastness of Wyoming in person. A small part of him was sorry that these circumstances had brought him here. The snow-covered plains extended out, stretching towards the distant horizon as far as he could see. They passed by in a blur as his horse leapt forward, striving to catch up and keep pace with the group. The absence of human presence had allowed nature to reign supreme, weaving a tapestry of unspoiled beauty across the land.
From the corner of his eye, Joel caught a glimpse of a rider to his right. The person pulled a red bandana from their pocket and held it aloft, the wind whipping it back and forth. It was a silent coded beacon, a sign recognized by those standing watch at the gate towers, granting permission for entry into the commune.
The heavy gates swung open, revealing a town bustling with life despite the harsh winter. The sound of horses' hooves resonated through the air, accompanied by the bustle and chatter contained inside the walls. Joel hadn't been prepared for the scale of the town that lay within, nor the modern furnishings. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted from a nearby bakery, blending with the earthy aroma of farm animals and the faint tang of smoke from chimneys. The twinkle of holiday lights and the sight of the Christmas tree in the centre square added a touch of warmth and festivity to the cold winter scene.
The gates, despite their weight, closed swiftly behind them. Still atop their horses, they made their way through the town, the residents of Jackson unabashedly casting curious glances in Joel and Ellie's direction. He could sense Ellie's discomfort, her unease with being under scrutiny.
Before Joel could say anything to Ellie, the sting of the cold air gnawed at his face, numbing his cheeks and forcing him to turn away from the direction of the wind. Through the frosty mist, he spotted shapes moving in the distance, figures bustling about their daily tasks. His heart skipped a beat when he finally caught sight of a familiar figure.
Tommy.
Joel pulled his horse to a sudden halt, the animal neighing in protest. Squinting, he tried to convince himself that the person he saw was indeed his younger brother. Joel's bloodshot eyes widened as he glimpsed Tommy, standing amidst the swirling snowflakes. His heart skipped a beat, a mix of disbelief and relief flooding his senses. The weight of the years apart bore down on him, but in that moment, he couldn't contain the swell of joy rising within him. The distant echoes of laughter and conversations filled his ears, blending with the muffled sound of snow crunching beneath his boots.
His heart pounded in his chest. It had been years since he last saw Tommy, ever since they had gone their separate ways in Boston. Their paths had diverged as they struggled to survive in the harsh world they found themselves in. Tommy had joined the Fireflies in search of redemption, while Joel was determined to make the most of his time in the quarantine zone. And now, fate had brought them together.
"Tommy!" Joel yelled, his voice cutting through the cold air like a rusty echo. His fingers tightened on the reins as he dismounted the horse, his boots crunching on the frost-covered ground.
Tommy's face registered a moment of disbelief before a gasp escaped his lips. He ran across the square, arms outstretched.
"Joel!" Tommy echoed, his voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and joy. The brothers collided in a rough, tight hug, years of absence, longing, and relief compressed into that moment.
For an instant, everything else faded away. The biting wind, the bustling commune, the cold air – they ceased to exist. All that mattered was the warmth of Joel's embrace, the solidity of his brother in his arms. Eventually, they pulled away, their faces reflecting the disbelief and joy etched upon them.
"You son of a bitch," Tommy laughed, his voice trembling. "I thought I'd never see you again."
Joel grinned, his heart swelling with warmth. He clapped Tommy on the shoulder. "Ain't getting rid of me that easy," he retorted, the words carrying a sense of resilience that went beyond the temperature surrounding them.
Ellie watched as Joel and Tommy pulled away from their heartfelt embrace, a mixture of emotions stirring within her. She tried to offer a small smile, her lips trembling for a moment as conflicting feelings tugged at her heart. There was a hint of sadness in her eyes, a longing for the kind of connection and history that Joel and Tommy shared. At that moment, she yearned for a family bond, a sense of belonging that went beyond their shared survival.
But as quickly as the flicker of sadness appeared, determination took its place. Ellie straightened her shoulders, her gaze was unwavering as she looked at Tommy. She recognized the reflection of Joel in his eyes, the echoes of their shared experiences etched in his features. It was a silent acknowledgement of their connection through Joel, a wordless understanding that they both held a somewhat significant place in his life.
Tommy returned the smile warmly, his gaze shifting from Joel to the young girl. His mind was already racing with questions, but for now, he pushed them aside. It was enough to know that Joel was here, safe and alive. For the first time in a long while, Tommy felt a surge of hope.
Joel's reunion with Tommy was a whirlwind of raw relief and stark disbelief. They stood in silence, their eyes communicating the depths of their emotions more effectively than words ever could. As the initial shock of seeing Tommy dissipated, a flicker of worry creased Joel's brow.
But then, something caught Joel's attention beyond Tommy's shoulder. The doors of one of the main buildings swung open, and his gaze shifted. His bloodshot eyes widened as they landed on a distant figure. Despite the passing years, her silhouette remained unmistakable—a little leaner, but the determined set of her posture gave her away. A surge of emotions coursed through Joel, a mix of joy, disbelief, and a twinge of fear.
"Tommy," Joel's voice wavered with a tinge of apprehension. "Did she... Did she make it out to you? Here?" His words hung in the air, weighted with hope and trepidation. His heart leapt within his chest, pounding a frantic rhythm that threatened to escape its confines. His hands, usually steady and sure, trembled ever so slightly, betraying the storm of emotions that raged within him as he braced himself for the answer, steeling his resolve for whatever lay ahead
Tommy's sympathetic gaze met Joel's, understanding passing between them. They shared a moment of silent connection, the bond of brotherhood unbroken despite the years of separation. The silence enveloped them, the world reduced to a mere backdrop to their shared anticipation.
In that suspended moment, Joel's breath caught in his throat. Disbelief momentarily froze him in place, his eyes fixed on the distant figure. There she stood, against all odds—Charlotte.
She stood alive and frozen like him, her arms full, as a gust of wind swept across the square, lifting strands of her dark brown hair that escaped from her hat. Dressed in worn, practical attire, she was a far cry from the business attire she once wore before the outbreak.
Joel's mind struggled to comprehend the reality unfolding before him—it was all happening too fast.
First Tommy, and now Charlotte.
She had survived.
The woman who had once shared his home, his life, and his love was standing there. After years of silence, of not knowing, she was here.
It was the softest of sounds, barely a whisper on the wind, but it carried all the raw emotion that had built up within him over the years. And he spoke a name he hadn't uttered aloud in more years than he cared to remember, "Charlie."
—
A gust of wind whipped through Jackson's main square, piercing through Charlotte's worn green plaid shacket, sending shivers down her spine. The frigid air clawed at her, but it was nothing compared to the cold dread that gripped her heart. Stepping out of the dining hall, a stack of supplies she had promised Maria she’d drop off at the school cradled in her arms, she turned to investigate the commotion that had drawn everyone's attention in the main square.
Squinting against the wind, her brown eyes narrowed as she scanned the figures in the crowd. One of them seemed familiar, yet so distant. It couldn't possibly be...
Her breath hitched in her throat as she took in the worn jacket, the tired features, and the unmistakable posture of the man who had once been her entire world. She would recognize Joel's stoic figure anywhere. The wind whipped her hair around her face as she stood frozen in place, her heart pounding a desperate rhythm against her ribs.
"Joel..." She mouthed his name, a silent prayer carried away by the howling wind. The world seemed to shrink down to the solitary figure of the man who had shattered her heart, the man who had left her in silence for years.
Yet another part of Charlotte, a primal and deeply rooted part, recognized him. It remembered the sound of his laughter, the warmth of his touch, and the way he used to call her "Charlie" with such affection. That part grew louder, waving its flag of certainty, drowning out the cautionary whispers that echoed in her mind.
Every fibre of her was being urged to run into his embrace, to hold him tight and never let go. But doubt gnawed at the edges of her resolve, whispering cautionary tales of heartbreak and loss. The wounds from their past still stung, etching scars on her heart. Yet, as she caught sight of Joel's weary face, a flicker of vulnerability danced in his eyes, and her defences crumbled. The fear of potential heartbreak waged a fierce battle with the longing to feel his warmth again. Swallowing her doubts, she stepped forward, dropping the supplies in her arms to the ground, embracing the uncertainty that lay ahead.
Her heart thundered in her ears, drowning out the sounds of Jackson. All she could focus on was Joel, standing motionless. With each step she took, the years of separation dissolved, replaced by memories of shared laughter, tears, and a life they had once built together. The echo of Joel's voice whispering "Charlie" grew louder with every stride, a steady beat in harmony with her racing heartbeat.
As she drew closer, she launched herself into his waiting arms. The force of her movement threatened to unbalance him, but his arms instinctively reached out to catch her. They clung to each other, their bodies colliding with an impact that transcended the physical. Joel's arms wrapped tightly around Charlotte as if he feared she would vanish in an instant as if she might prove to be a figment of his imagination.
Her face buried in the familiar warmth of his chest, Charlotte listened to the rapid, erratic rhythm of Joel's heartbeat, mirroring her own. His woody and inherently Joel scent enveloped her, grounding her in the reality of the moment.
She was here, and so was Joel. And he was real.
The reality of their reunion hit Charlotte harder than the cold wind ever could. Joel's grip tightened, his hands clutching the back of her coat, as their hearts thundered in sync, a chaotic rhythm that spoke volumes. His gruff voice whispered her name into her hair, "Charlie," and that single word shattered any lingering doubt.
Joel's grip on Charlotte tightened for a moment, his fingers reluctant to release her. He studied her face intently, tracing the lines and weariness that time had etched upon it. A flood of memories and unspoken words surged through his mind, overwhelming him with a whirlwind of emotions.
There they stood, in the midst of the bustling town, oblivious to the curious onlookers. Holding onto each other as if they were the only solid things in a shifting world. As Joel and Charlotte lost themselves in each other, the world seemed to hush, the noise fading into the background, leaving only the two of them and their desperate, lingering embrace.
However, their intimate moment was abruptly interrupted by a distinctive sound—the unmistakable throat-clearing of Ellie. Startled, Charlotte turned to find the young woman standing a few steps away, her gaze a complex blend of curiosity, awkwardness, and subtle understanding.
The intrusion of reality into their reunion hit Charlotte like a bucket of ice water. Self-consciousness surged within her, the weight of her raw emotions becoming too much to bear under the watchful gazes of the crowd. In the presence of others, her personal feelings and reactions suddenly felt exposed, as if she had revealed more than she intended.
Reluctantly, Charlotte pulled away from Joel, the warmth of his embrace slipping away as quickly as the cold rushed in to fill its place. Her eyes, a reflection of her conflicted emotions, glanced briefly at him before she dropped her gaze.
"Joel," she acknowledged simply, her voice barely a whisper carried by the cold wind. It was an acknowledgement of him, of their shared past, and of the overwhelming rush of emotions that threatened to overflow. A sting at the corners of her eyes signalled the onset of tears, emotions she had suppressed for years. She quickly blinked them away, unwilling to expose her vulnerability to the prying eyes around them.
Overwhelmed by the weight of it all, Charlotte took a shaky step back. The crowd, the scrutiny, the flood of emotions—it became too much to bear. She needed solitude, a moment to gather herself.
"I...I can't do this," she murmured, her voice choked with the effort of holding back her tears. Without another word, she turned and hurriedly walked away, seeking solace in the refuge of her home.
As Charlotte retreated, the crowd watched her figure recede, their hushed whispers barely audible over the rustling wind.