The weight of her hand in the small of your back felt like it carried an entire mountain. It was a loose gesture, her fingers didn't even really push into your spine. But the way she held you close to her chest felt persistent.

Your eyes were locked. Nothing could have made one of you look away and even if the world was at the edge of doom.

Slow, little breaths slipped through your mouth while her eyes traveled from the bridge of your nose down to the tip and caught a peak of the outline of your upper lip.

Ellie swallowed visibly. Then her gaze returned to yours again. This time the green seemed dimmed, darker of some sorts and almost a little less conscious.

The way she looked at you felt like her mind was clouded by a veil of thoughts.

All of a sudden her fingers curled, the tips pressed into the small of your back. Barely enough to notice. Enough to make you press yourself further against her chest in a desperate attempt to escape the burning sensation that she chased up and down your spine.

Your breath trembled. But your grip on her shoulders loosened.

Why couldn't you tear your eyes off her?

Take a step back?

Your legs felt like they had been turned to stone within seconds. A tingling sensation filled your toes, almost as if they started to fall asleep.

Ellie curled her lips. She had nice lips, plump, with a thin upper lip and a soft looking, larger bottom lip. As she moved her head to the side the tip of her tongue peaked out between them to moisten the cracks.

There was a small scar just at the edge of her upper lip. It wasn't large, no comparison to the others she carried on her skin, but big enough to notice. Considering that the flesh was still pretty rosy it couldn't have been older than a few weeks.

Your tongue twitched inside your mouth and hit the top of it. All of a sudden you felt the urge to have a taste of that scar.

Maybe even more.

"I...", her voice was low, more raspy than it usually seemed to be the case. "I've got... a son."

Torn from your state of delusion, you blinked a few times before realisation struck. Confused, you frowned, shook your head and then frowned again.

"Sorry?", you weren't able to ask anything else.

The statement had been so sudden, so out of place that your brain wasn't fast enough. You literally didn't know what to do.

Out of reflex, your eyes wandered down on her. She was so skinny it was hard to believe she was able to carry a baby. Not without risking her own health.

Ellie seemed to have similar thoughts. Amused, a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. She let out a soft huff. The warm air caressed the top of your head.

"I didn't birth him.", she said and her grip on you loosened.

But she did not pull away. That was for you to decide.

Unable to think straight you just stood there, eyebrows knitted together and stared. A mixture of confusion and frustration lingered in your (E/C) eyes.

"Where did that come from?", you asked.

She smiled a little embarrassed.

"Like... I've got somewhere to go. Or at least somewhere to return to. Just thought that might be worth noting.", Ellie's palm pressed into your back, slid to the side and came to a rest on your waist.

You tensed under the touch. She was so close. And that wasn't just about her standing right in front of you like a life long friend.

How had she been able to come so close in such short time?

But she was right. It was worth noting that she wouldn't be around for much longer. At last it sounded like it.

That was nothing out of the ordinary. People came and left all the time. Nothing was made for eternity no more.

And yet it kinda stung to know for sure now.

Your hands left her shoulders and almost immediately there was this feeling of regret and disappointment that washed over you.

Ellie was like a stray dog that you had become attached to way too quickly. And now you were jealous that there was someone she wanted to see again.

Her hand slid off your waist as you took a step back. Your eyes were still locked but this time her green shimmered softer. Almost apologetic.

"You don't have to feel bad about it.", you said with a sarcastic smirk, arms crossed in front of your chest.

"I...", her lips moved and for a brief moment she looked like a small child. "He's not... I mean I have a girlfriend. And she got pregnant by another friend. And I'm taking care of the baby with her. We live together."

Unable to take the sight she gave you serious you couldn't help but smile softly. One of your hands came to rest on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"You know there's no reason to justify yourself in front of a stranger, right?", you smiled to show her that there were no hard feelings.

A deep breath escaped her nose. Her shoulders relaxed.

"Look... I...", she stopped again. "This is weird, isn't it?"

You tilted your head.

"What?"

"This.", she gestured between you and her. "I like you. Way too much for someone who helped me against my will."

"Yeah but if I wouldn't have done that you wouldn't be able to see your boy again.", you shrugged.

"True. But... I dunno. I guess I could use a friend. For my way back... home.", the way she said home was very hesitant, unsure, almost as if she needed to think if that was the right word.

Swallowing heavily, you had to tear your eyes from her face to give yourself a moment to think.

"I... can't leave Pa on his own.", you said and almost immediately something inside your chest tightened. "He'd be doomed."

"He can come along."

You shook your head. A sigh rolled off your lips.

"He's stubborn. Not in a good kinda way. I don't think he'd... go anywhere."