CHAPTER THIRTY TWO

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          IT HAD BEEN A VERY LONG TIME SINCE LUCIA HAD BEEN ON HORSEBACK AND SHE WASN'T PARTICULARLY ENJOYING IT. The woman clenched her jaw with each gallop it took as she tried to steady herself while Ellie clung to her from the back of the animal. 

The woman was unable to take in the beautiful scenery around her as she focused on steering the horse after the group, not that it was too difficult to do since there were people all around her. Snow sprung up as the horses hooves touched down on the ground, coldness biting at Lucia's cheeks with the speed they were going at.

Joel rode beside them as they galloped toward wherever the group had decided to take them to. The hostility had vanished from the air as they no longer were held at gunpoint, but there was still a tension in the air that didn't sit right with her.

"Where are they taking us?" asked Ellie, keeping her gaze on the strangers. "Do you think they have a settlement somewhere?"

The smuggler shot her a quick glare of warning that shut her up. The mountains were closing in on them as they rode through the snow covered valley below. 

Gates that were about twenty feet high came into view the closer they got to their destination. There were guards stationed up ahead, guns held tightly in their hands as they watched the incoming group move toward the gates. The guy at the front waved a flag around in order for the guard to recognise him.

Lucia pulled on the reigns of her horse once they reached the gates and it fell into a slow trot. Ellie had a tight grip on her waist as they entered the unknown on the other side of the wall.

The teenager let out a small gasp as she peered around her shoulder. The town was filled with people, she hadn't seen that many since the Boston QZ and she wondered how they'd survived this long. It was a strange sight to behold as they were living in their own little world.

They weren't armed or even looked up at the strangers that entered their safe space. Some were working, some were just strolling around while others sat on the benches beside the row of buildings with a steaming mug in front of them.

"What is this place?" wondered Ellie.

Lucia blinked away her confusion and met Joel's gaze as he walked beside her on his horse. It was the strangest thing they had seen in a long time. Children ran around gleefully as they made snow man's, one even waved at one of them atop the horse.

"I have no idea." muttered Lucia, feeling as if an attack could come at any moment even if she wanted this to be real.

There was some construction happening on their left and Joel tugged on the reigns, stopping the horse in his tracks. His gaze was solely focused on the two people on top the ramp as they lowered wood and supplies to the ground below. Lucia came to a halt beside him and followed his gaze with furrowed brows.

Joel took in a sharp breath, as if someone had stomped him on the chest. The air was knocked from his lungs as he raised a glove covered hand and screamed, "Tommy!"

Jesus Christ. This had not been what he had expected. If Joel was honest with himself there had been a slim chance of finding his brother, especially with no contact or clues left as to where he had been. But now he was just staring up at him, a few years older than he had seen him last. He met Tommy's gaze and his brother pulled his brows together, staring at the smuggler in disbelief.

The moment Tommy made a move toward him, Joel swung his leg over the horse and jumped off. They were quick to meet in the middle, embracing each other in a tight embrace. 

Lucia held the reigns between her fingers as she smiled at the sight of them, feeling genuine happiness for Joel as she watched him hold his little brother close to him. The woman tried to ignore the sharp pain in her chest at the loss of her own brother, this wasn't about her and she swallowed it. Ellie rested her head on her shoulder as she too, watched the brothers embrace.

"What the fuck you doin' here?" demanded Tommy, still in utter disbelief at the sight in front of him.

Joel released a long breath and said, "I came here to save you."

Tommy raised one brow as Joel let out a fit of laughter, pulling him back into another embrace. Their laughter echoed through the streets and neither Lucia nor Ellie had ever seen Joel this happy, and he really deserved that.

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THE PLACE WAS COVERED IN FAIRY LIGHTS, THE SCENT OF FRESH FOOD AND SMOKE CLUNG TO THE AIR ONCE THEY STEPPED INSIDE. It was like a barn but it had been turned into a dining hall, tables made with all sorts of coloured table cloths in long rows along the room.

A lot of thought and love had been put into the place and the hall reflected it. The chairs were fairly comfortable as the small group of three sat at one of the tables with Tommy and Maria in front of them. The latter had been the one to take them in as she had recognised Joel. The woman seemed kind enough but there was unspoken judgment behind her eyes that wasn't easily ignored.

Ellie was inhaling her food as if she hadn't eaten in days, and that might have been partially true. There hadn't been a lot of food for the last three months and hunting during the winter wasn't as easy as the documentary's had made it out to be.

"There's more if you need it." suggested Maria as she and Tommy watched the three of them devour their plates.

"Thank you, ma'am." said Joel, shoulder brushing with Lucia as she took another big bite of her food. He peered down at her for a moment before returning his gaze toward the woman. "It's been a while since we've had a proper meal."

"Actually," began Ellie with a mouth full of potatoes. "I don't think i've ever had a proper meal. This is fuckin' amazing."

Joel gave the teen a stern look before apologising to Maria and his brother. "Sorry. Ellie, let's mind our manners."

"What?" demanded Ellie, glare on her face and Lucia looked up from her almost empty plate. It was a young girl, maybe a year older than the teen that stood at the other side of the hall, sneaking glances their way from behind a pillar but she quickly made her exit after that.

"What is wrong with you?" asked Joel, affronted.

"What about her manners?" retorted Ellie.

"She was just curious." stated Maria, offering her a smile. "Kids around here don't usually look or talk like you."

"Right," sighed Ellie as she looked up at the woman, taking in her nose ring. "well, maybe i'll teach them. And I want my gun back."

Maria pursed her lips and said gently, "They also aren't armed."

"You know what?" began Tommy, taking in a deep breath. He looked like Joel but at the same time there weren't many similarities between them. They had the same facial hair but Tommy's was black and not salt and pepper, and his eyes were a little lighter than Joel's. "I think maybe ya'll got a little off on the wrong foot."

"She was gonna have her guys kill us!" barked Ellie, narrowing her eyes toward them while Joel shot her a glare.

Lucia felt eyes on the side of her face and she turned away from the teen, meeting Maria's gaze. The woman was observing her and Lucia didn't trust her so she stared right back, unwavering as she leaned back in her seat. Joel felt the tension beside him and quickly turned their way, not knowing if he should step in or tell Ellie off.

"Well, we gotta be real careful about who we let in this place." tried Tommy as he also offered Ellie a small smile, as if she was going to explode any second. "But it's all bark. We just tryna scare off those who might wanna try us, is all."

Ellie rolled her eyes. "Well, you got a couple of ninety year-olds shitting themselves out there."

"Ellie," gritted Joel out as he dropped his fork.

The teenager ignored him and continued. "They say that you leave dead bodies around?"

"Those are the people who tried us." Maria dropped her gaze from the brunette woman in front of her as she turned to the girl.

"A bad reputation doesn't mean you're bad." tried Tommy, rubbing at his face as he peered around the room.

"Not always, at least." Maria said and looked toward Joel pointedly as he stopped chewing his food.

The hidden jab in her words touched a nerve within Lucia and she dropped her utensils on her plate rather loudly, causing the entire table to turn to glance toward her. Joel looked somewhat unnerved as he placed his hand on her thigh below the table, but she ignored him as she glared at Maria. 

"You don't even know him." said Lucia as she tilted her head to the side. "And you're already making assumptions. I'd say that's pretty childish for a grown woman like you, don't you think?"

Maria raised her eyebrows, lips twitching into a small smile.

"Ma'am," began Joel, trying to diffuse the tension. "we're grateful for your hospitality and all. But it'd be nice to have a moment here, maybe just for family."

Tommy Miller was swirling his drink around in his mug while glancing between the strange woman and his brother as if trying to figure something out before he blinked. He set his mug down and leaned forward as he glanced at Maria, taking hold of her hand. "Well, Maria is family, actually."

"Oh shit! Congrats." mused Ellie, sarcastically. An awkward silence befell them and she jabbed the smuggler in the side with her elbow. "Joel, say congrats."

Joel clenched his jaw and managed to grit out a 'Congrats'.

Another moment of silence fell over their table and slowly Lucia reached down to grab his hand, giving it a squeeze as Tommy smiled. "How 'bout a tour?"

we're in jackson! i love jackson and i'll try to keep them there a bit longer than in the show. i honestly love this place and my next joel fic will probably only take place within jackson so hopefully you'll like that too. also, there will be a full smut scene while in jackson.