THE UNEXPECTED

36

A couple days after my birthday had passed and since, nothing out of ordinary had happened and soon I began to forget about the look Joel and Ellie had shared that morning in the kitchen and I was blissfully unaware of any scheming.

"Hey darlin'," Joel came into view of the kitchen and soon enough his arms wrapped around my waist and he rested his chin atop of my head softly, leaning into his touch I smiled to myself at his affection, "'M gonna take you outta town tonight, Tommy's agreed to let us leave as long as we're back before dark." My eyebrows raised at this, and excitement pooled in my lower belly - I was looking forward to having some quality time with Joel.

"Sounds intriguing, I'm in." I say teasingly, still wrapped in his arms comfortably. I feel the vibrations from Joel laughing and it sends a feeling of warmth within me.

"Good." He says, and presses a soft kiss to the crown of my head, "and before you ask, Ellie is with some friends tonight so we don't have to worry about her."

I nod, "okay." a small grin is slowly painting my lips and I begin to feel giddy for tonight, especially considering that I hadn't left the walls of Jackson in quite some time - Joel on the other hand was an expert considering he was on patrols often.

"Alright," he presses yet another chaste kiss to my head before withdrawing his arms from me, "I better get goin', Tommy needs me." Bidding him goodbye, I continue making my cup of coffee for the day whilst the excitement swirling in my belly continues to whirl.

Throughout the day, I hadn't heard much from Joel and Ellie had popped by around lunch to grab a bite to eat before scurrying off with her friends excitedly again. Today was my day off from the school and I had decided to tackle the mess in the kitchen from last nights dinner as well as the growing pile of dirty washing that needed to be done. And although these tasks were very mundane, it was somewhat relaxing and a stark change to what my daily routine used to be before I met Joel again. I finally felt a sense of ease and normalcy - was this what life was like before the outbreak as an adult?

It was now the early evening and I assumed that I would going out with Joel soon considering we had to be back within the walls before dark so ceased my tidying and began focusing more on myself. The soft patter of water was running from the bath and the record player in our bedroom was lulling myself into relaxation as I layed out in the tub. My shoulders involuntarily loosened and my head tipped back against the back of the bath slowly as my eyes shut in bliss. This is just what I needed.

"Em'?" My eyes reopen at the sound of a door slamming and Joel's muffled voice from downstairs.

"Up here!" I call out to him and then hear the thump of his boots ascending up the staircase. The bathroom door creaks open and I crane my neck backwards to meet Joel's gaze, his eyes wander my naked body lovingly and a small smile braces his usually stoic expression. "Hey." I say.

Joel seems to be lost in a trance as he stays put by the threshold of the bathroom, his eyes continue to drink me in and it appears that he hasn't heard me. Shaking his head,  he eventually renders himself back into the present, "I'm a lucky man." He breathes out, whispering to himself but loud enough so that I can hear. My lips curve upward and the familiar sense of warmth fills my chest.

"How was your day?" I ask as I watch him tug off his clothes and shoes, he places them neatly on the counter top and his shoes just by the door. Shamelessly, I gaze upon his now naked body in adoration - I will never tire of his features.

"The usual, Tommy being a hard ass." He chuckles to himself and slowly enters the tub behind me. I shuffle forward so that he can sit down comfortably before leaning back into his hard chest. I can feel the soft rhythms of his heartbeat which lulls me into a sense of relaxation.