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writing-a-to-b · 1 year

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Wildflowers

Title: Wildflowers Word Count: 4,771 Pairing: Joel Miller x Reader A/N: This work is written in collaboration between @specialagentmonkey & @bangaveragewhitewine.

We’re back! Welcome to the first of our ~interludes~ which take place in between the main Seasons fics. This side-quest / mini-series is called Between the Seasons and we have a few planned / in the pipeline, along with something pre-TLOU storyline that we are working on!

This fic takes place between Spring & Summer

Thanks for reading folks, any comments and feedback are greatly appreciated! Follow and turn on notifications if you would like to hear when we post!

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Seasons Of Us & Between the Seasons masterlist

Contains: fluffy goodness, some angst & anxiety towards the end, mention of panic attacks.

Spring was beautiful and definitely in full bloom in Jackson. Wildflowers grew around the town, bright and vibrant and colourful, replacing the snow that had blanketed the town in the winter months. Your backyard was a particular hotspot of growth; wild lilies, dog daisies, larkspur. You noticed patches of wild lavender, which would be plentiful in the summer. It was a sight to behold. Someone used to love this garden before the world went to shit, nature had taken over, and now you had the chance to bring it back to life and make it your own.

The flowers didn’t just stay in your back garden. After they had first grown you plucked several of them from the grass and brought them inside to make a nice arrangement for the middle of the dining table, brightening up the room and a chipped old vase that had come with the house.

It didn’t stop there; once you had one in the kitchen, another appeared in the living room a few days later, then two or three larger arrangements appeared on the porch, there was even a small arrangement in the family bathroom. A box of old vases from the attic and a few glass bottles you had found around the house had certainly come in handy.

As the days got warmer and brighter, it was nice to bring some of the joy that came with late Spring into your house. You had hoped that neither Joel or Ellie would be allergic, or sensitive to the pollen. Your prayers were answered so the flowers stayed. And multiplied.

“Darlin’ this is getting a little out of hand.” Joel murmured as he turned in a circle in the kitchen, his eyes counting the amount of flower bouquets that were on the windowsill, the small dining table and on the counter, “You left some flowers for the rest of the town, right?”

“Ha-ha.” You fixed him with a look before narrowing your eyes, “I happen to think they’re pretty. I might have found my true calling.”

“That so?” He asked while raising a single eyebrow, coming to stand behind where you were sitting at the dining table, wrapping the stems of another bouquet.

“Flower arranging. The buckets out on the porch have attracted quite an audience, I’ve been asked to make some others for our neighbours and even Maria has asked for me to create a couple for her.” You tilted your head back to look up at Joel when you felt his hands on your shoulders, “So you’ll be pleased to know that all of these aren't staying here.”

“Good to know we’ll be able to see the kitchen again.” He teased, smirking when you scowled at him again. Joel moved away to put some water onto boil in a pan on the stove top, getting two mugs out for some peppermint tea. “While I’m happy that you’ve found another hobby, are you getting anythin’ for your time?”

“Well, Mrs Kelly about four houses down found a stack of those Savage Starlight comics in her basement so I’m getting them for Ellie.” You explained as you snipped a piece of tied string with your scissors.

“That’s kind of you, sweetheart.”

You nodded your head, “And Janet, you know the red-head at the Tipsy Bison, she’s usually behind the bar,” at Joel’s blank expression you wave him off, the scissors still between your fingers. “Anyway she asked for some to dot around the bar while the flowers are in bloom, so I happily obliged. There’s a free meal and a couple of drinks for us when we next go down, I’ll keep ‘em fresh over the next few weeks for her.”

“Now that’s what I call a trade.”

“Mmm, thought you might like that one.”

Joel placed down both of the cups onto the table before taking the chair next to you, “I was thinkin’...”

“Steady, you’ll hurt yourself.”

“Ha-ha.” It was Joel’s turn to dead pan. He didn’t hold it for long, his face and voice softening fondly, as it often did when he spoke to you. “I was thinkin’ that we could maybe go for a picnic.”

You turned your head quickly towards Joel, “Really?!”

“Really. There’s a nice spot just outside of the wall, a little creek upstream. Thinkin’ maybe we get a basket together, there’s that blanket we can throw in there.”

“I like the sound of that. When d’you want to go, handsome?” You placed the scissors down on the table before picking up the cup of tea.

“Are you on the schedule for tomorrow?”

Taking a sip of your tea you shook your head, “No, I’m not back in rotation until next week.”

“Then after I finish the mornin’ patrol tomorrow we’ll pack up and go for a picnic. Just you and me.” He nodded decisively, and you smiled fondly at the thought of Joel Miller asking you on a date; it made the butterflies in your stomach flutter wildly.

“Okay, it’s a date.” You tilted your head to the side before speaking again, “What about Ellie, I don’t want her feeling left out..”

“She’s got an afternoon of classes. Then she’s helping to muck out the stables. She’s really dedicated to those animals, I’m glad she’s found something for her, y’know?”

“Something other than seeing how many times she can squeeze ‘fuck’ and ‘shit’ into a sentence?” You smirked, remembering how the girl had made herself laugh hysterically with her creative swearing, and Joel’s reaction to it.

“She’s dedicated to that too. Gettin’ real good at it..” There was that proud smile tugging on his lips, the same one he had whenever Ellie would come into the living room or kitchen after another guitar lesson and show you what she had learned. “She knows anyway, about the picnic. Gave me some stick for it - said that I should take you on cute dates more often.”

...

“Next time you come out on patrol with me and Tommy, I’ll show you.” Joel started, hanging his rifle up in his locker that stood in the small outbuilding that had become the towns’ armoury. “It’s right by that creek, on the south side, there’s a big tree. It’s perfect for a picnic.”

Ellie looked up at Joel from her spot where she sat on the counter beside the lockers. She watched him with a little bemused smile; she’d never seen this side of him. “Yeah? It sounds nice.”

“Oh, she’ll love it. I gotta take her there.” He nodded to himself at the idea, he did a double take at the look Ellie was giving him, “What?”

“You’re an old romantic, aren’t you?”

“What do you mean- and hey, less of the old.”

“You’re taking her on a date!” She exclaimed through a breathy laugh, she was seeing a totally different side to Joel and she found it fascinating. “Like you’re both practically married and have been together for like a million years but-“

“Ellie, what’re you gettin’ at?”

“It’s cute is what I’m getting at,” she pointed out with a teasing smirk, then hopped down from her perch.

“Oh shut up.” Joel grumbled, dismissing the notion completely trying to ignore the heat that was creeping up his neck and cheeks.

“It is! I never pegged you for a hopeless romantic, Joel.”

“Get outta here, weird kid,” he tutted but his face held a smirk as he shoved her towards the door, “Ain’t you got classes to go to?” Her cackling laughter had him shaking his head as he locked up the armoury, but he couldn’t keep the excited little smile off his face.

...

“I always knew she was a smart kid.” You teased him, leaning across the small distance to peck his lips, your hand on his cheek, “You don’t need to wine and dine me to keep me, Joel. You’re stuck with me.”

The next morning your picnic was all packed up. You had made some ham and salad sandwiches and picked a small range of fruits from the fruit and vegetable patch at the bottom of the back garden. A cold canteen of water and a flask of whiskey was next to be thrown in, topped with a blanket covering the basket.

You waited for Joel to return home from morning patrol. It wasn’t a long patrol, but he was on with Tommy and those two could talk for days. You had worked on the garden a little, cutting some flowers for drying and harvesting the seeds to sow later in the year, keeping your hands busy while you looked forward to your date.

He arrived home only a few minutes after you had agreed to meet, looking almost boyish as he slipped through the door, his skin glowing after a few hours in the morning sun. When he spotted you standing in the kitchen, fussing over the picnic basket for what he knew was the tenth time, his smile only widened further.

“Don’t try sneakin’ up on me,” you called, looking over your shoulder as he stepped into the kitchen with his mind set on wrapping his arms around you to hear your squeal and laughter.

He rolled his eyes and did it anyway, pressing kisses from your shoulder to your jaw before you dropped your head back to seal your lips together. “Missed you. Ready to go?” he asked against your cheek.

“Ready.” You turned in his arms and stroked his cheek with your thumb before pecking him again. “Let’s get out in that sunshine before I drag you upstairs and we waste the day.”

Joel opened his mouth to argue that spending the day in bed with you certainly wouldn’t be a waste, but you had already ducked out of his arms to add the last few pieces of your picnic to your backpacks before getting on the way.

Joel had arranged permission to leave town for the day with one of the horses for the short journey; it wasn’t too far but the young mare was well trained and could carry your backpacks and Joel’s rifle as you rode to the spot he had picked out. There hadn’t been any infected spotted in a few weeks, and the morning patrol had come back without any sightings of raiders or travellers.

You almost felt giddy as you looked out at the landscape beyond Jackson, the lush green hills and mountains, the blue sky. Your cheek rested against Joel’s back with your arms around his middle, he could feel your smile as he steered the horse toward the river after a short ride away from town..

With the horse secured to the tree, between you both you managed to get the blanket laid out, a backpack on opposite corners to secure it in the breeze. Taking off your sneakers you settled yourself down on the blanket and began unpacking all the food and goodies.

“What’cha got in there then?” Joel asked, sitting down with a grunt, mumbling a complaint about his knees.

You took out the wrapped sandwiches, handing him one of them and setting the other down on the blanket next to your leg, “Ham salad sandwiches, there’s some strawberries in here, blackberries and some blueberries,” you showed him the contents in the basket, “Water, and of course a little whiskey.”

Joel flashed you a grin while unwrapping the food before taking a bite. It was an easy afternoon, sitting in the sun, eating nice food and sipping on the whiskey straight from the flask.

You laid on the blanket, your legs crossed at the ankle and your head resting on Joel’s thigh. He was currently feeding you the last of the strawberries, sometimes taking a bite for himself first then giving you the rest. Once the bowl was empty he leaned back on his hands, enjoying the sun and the sounds of the different birds in the tree and in the air.

“What would a date with Joel Miller be like, back in the day?” You asked as you closed your eyes. You had been together a long time - ‘like a million years’ if you asked Ellie - but starting a relationship in the QZ had been less dates and more a companionship that grew between you and Joel.

Joel hummed and lifted a hand to scratch his beard, “Well, I never really had many dates, not after Sarah was born and before that I was with her mother a while after graduation.”

“So you never dated?”

“Not really, no. A little in high school - drive in movies and goin’ for burgers. Kid stuff. I tried goin’ out with one or two of the other single moms but it never worked out.”

“You really hit the jackpot when you met me then, huh?”

Joel let out a laugh, letting his head fall back, “Y’could say, that sweetheart.” He moved his hand, stroking across your cheek before his fingers started gently combing through your hair.

“Alright what about this,” you started and opened your eyes, lifting a hand to shield your eyes from the sun so you could look at him properly, “If the world didn’t go to shit and you were taking me on a date, what would you have planned?” You ignore the fact that had the world not gone to shit, you most likely wouldn’t have met - you in Michigan, Joel in Texas…

“Well, that depends,”

“On…?”

Joel slipped his fingers between yours, resting on your stomach as you shielded your eyes with the other hand , “Where we met ‘cause if we just bumped into each other at the grocery store I don’t know if I would have the balls to talk to someone as beautiful as you.” He admitted with a small huff. “And if we met in a bar I’m pretty sure Tommy would’ve swooped in first. The ladies always loved Tommy.”

You scoffed, “Oh I don’t know about that. I didn’t go for Tommy when we met on the way to Boston.” You’d heard the stories of younger Tommy Miller, he was a little wild back in the day, and while he had simmered down before you had met, he hadn’t been the Miller for you. “While you’ve both got that Southern charm, those big brown eyes of yours really drew me in. Would have been the same regardless of when or where we met, baby.”

“Alright, well if we met at a bar - didn’t really go out much either… Anyway, I’d have bought you a drink, asked how your day had been. We’d talk until I had to pull Tommy out of some fight, ask for your number first though.” Joel slid his arm under your head and laid himself down beside you. “I’d probably text you when I got home, or the next morning. Make sure you got home safe.”

“And this is before you even ask me out?” you teased.

“Shh, I’m paintin’ a picture, baby.” He linked your hands and pressed his lips to your forehead. “So I’d ask you out to dinner - not some burger joint either. Somewhere nice, with a wine list and I’d wear one of my good shirts just for you. We’d skip dessert and take a little walk as the sun set.” Joel’s voice was deep and soothing. Your eyes were closed as you imagined it, cuddling his hand to your chest. “There was a little ice cream shop down by the river, I’d take you there. We’d talk until you were bored of me.”

“Never bored of you,” you said, nuzzling his hand.

“Then I’d drive you home, like a gentleman. If I was feelin’ brave, lean in and kiss you goodnight.”

You smiled lazily when you felt his lips and nose press into your cheek, “You sure are full of yourself there Miller, a kiss on the first date? Oof.”

Joel broke out into a grin and smooched your cheek, causing you both to laugh, “Shut up. You wouldn’t be able to resist my Southern charm.”

You turned your head and looked into his eyes again. “I think that’s really romantic. I’d have loved that.” You found his lips and kissed him again. “I know that’s not how we met, and it’s not the kind of date we can go on now, but laying on a blanket with you in the sun might just be the best date I’ve ever been on, Joel.”

Decades after the outbreak, before which Joel never really did have much luck with relationships, he was still a romantic at heart. Loss after loss had made him feel hollow, uncaring, that was until he met you and then Ellie. He didn’t think he had the capacity to love anyone after his heart shattered all of those years ago; he certainly didn’t think he would have a partner or a family, a semblance of a normal life where he could whisk you away for dates in the sunshine, or pass on his love of music to Ellie. You had been a lift-raft for him in the QZ; he couldn’t help but fall for you, even though he fought it to protect his own heart. If he thought about it too much, his chest ached and eyes stung. He felt like he didn’t deserve any of it, any of the happiness or the affection you brought him.

A stronger gust of spring breeze brought Joel out of his thoughts, stopping them from getting too dangerous. He stood from where he was crouched and eyed the small bunch of wildflowers in his hand. He didn’t claim to know a thing about what flowers they were or what time of year they bloomed the best but he knew that you’ve come to love this new greenfinger hobby. These were some flowers that didn’t grow behind the walls of Jackson; you had pointed out prairie clover earlier while you ate, and there were more wild daisies in soft colours that he knew you would love.

Joel headed back to where you were still dozing, spread out on the blanket. He settled down beside you again, only wincing slightly when his knees cracked. Joel watched your chest rise and fall with even breaths, he could see the dusting of freckles on your nose and cheeks darken in the sun.

“You’re staring again.” You mumbled, your voice quiet as your eyes fluttered open, squinting in the afternoon sun. They slowly connected with Joel’s dreamy whiskey stare.

He stayed quiet, propping himself up on his elbow he gave you a one-shoulder shrug and moved his hand to stroke his thumb over your cheek, moving some hair from your eyes, “I can’t help it, I like watchin’ you sleep..”

Scrunching up your nose you let out a noise from the back of your throat as you began to stretch, “That’s just creepy, Joel,” you said, as if you didn’t do the same to him - seeing him asleep, fully relaxed was a sight to behold. You yawned before your eyes found him again.

“You look peaceful when you sleep. Like nothin’s wrong with the world.” Joel gazed over your features, a small smile on his lips.

“That’s because there is nothing wrong in my world. I’ve got you, and Miss Trouble at home. I’m a lucky woman.”

Joel blushed and turned his face up to the sky; he still couldn’t believe how lucky he had gotten with you. “Plus, you’re too beautiful to look away from.”

You brought your hand up to lightly take hold of the collar of his tshirt, tugging him over you, “I could say the same about you, looking all sunkissed and irresistible.”

Joel hummed against your lips, kissing you slowly as his hand, now on your hip gave a gentle squeeze. He would spend hours kissing you if he could; your lips were always soft and sweet. He reluctantly pulled away from the kiss, placing a few quick pecks to the edge of your mouth and your cheek, “I got you somethin’ while you were nappin’.”

“You ran to the store while I was snoozing?” You joked and sat up along with Joel.

Joel reached behind him and brought the small bunch of flowers into view, “These are for you.”

“Oh Joel,” you sighed and held them in your hands, bringing them to your nose, “they’re beautiful. Definitely not your standard gas station bouquet.”

Joel smirked and watched you examine the flowers, “You were pointin’ ‘em out and- well I thought you could tie them up all nice and put them in our bedroom?”

Your eyes met those gorgeous brown ones of Joel’s, “That’s really sweet, Joel, thank you.” You murmured and leaned over, kissing his lips gently. You smiled into the kiss before pulling back, examining the bouquet for a few seconds. You plucked one out, a long stemmed alpine daisy, and carefully twisted the stem, using the long end to tie the bunch carefully before tucking the lilac flower into the button-hole of Joel’s shirt pocket. “Perfect,” you whispered, eyes bright as you looked back at him.

Once the flowers were placed down on the edge of the blanket you laid back down with Joel, your head resting on his chest now with one of your legs over both of his.

“I want to press these ones, make somethin’ pretty that I can look at all year ‘round. Remember our first real date.” Your mind was brought back to some framed pressings in Bill and Frank’s that you had admired years ago.

Joel pressed a kiss to your head. “You’re makin’ me mighty soft, baby. I never gave a shit about flowers before this spring.”

You looked up at him, smiling. “Don’t be silly, you’ve always had a soft centre. You might look all tough but in here,” you tapped the centre of his chest, “In here, you’re a real romantic.”

Joel scoffed, pretending to protest as his fingers slipped against your ribs, drawing out your happy laughter.

–

As the sun peaked in the sky, you took shelter in the shade under some trees by the creek. After relocating your blanket base-camp, you unlaced your shoes and rolled up the ends of your jeans as Joel watched on. You grinned over your shoulder before going to sit by the edge and slowly dipping your feet into the water.

“Fuck, that’s cold,” you laughed, seeing Joel shake his head fondly. “Feels good though. Come sit with me.”

Joel skipped dipping his feet in, but sat with you as you rested your head on his shoulder while you traded stories from your old lives and reminisced on your time together.

“When it gets hot in the summer, I want to come back here to swim. Look how fresh and clear it is.” You smiled as you dragged your feet through the cool water. “Could teach Ellie to swim, if she wanted to… Either way, this is our spot now. Thank you for finding it, and for taking me out.”

Joel smiled and accepted the sweet kiss you pressed to his cheek. “M’already plannin’ our next one. If you’ll go on a second date with me, that is.” His eyes twinkled with signature Miller Mischief; it gave you butterflies, almost like this was a first date and you weren’t practically married, raising a teenager at home.

“Play your cards right and I might just take you home with me and have my wicked way with you.” You smiled up at him with your own cheeky look.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, darlin’.”

Breaking out into a giggle you leaned further into him, pressing your blushing face into Joel’s neck. His arm wrapped around your shoulders. “Might be time to head back soon,” he said against your hair,

“I don’t want to.”

“I know, but we kinda have to.”

“No I mean…I know we do but I just want to press pause,” you said softly, leaning back to look up into his eyes, “Today has been so special Joel.. Sorry, it’s silly.”

“Nothin’ you say is ever silly. Go on.”

“I don’t want it to end. It feels like a real first date, one of those ones you read about in books or see in the movies y’know? The type where you spend all night talking, getting to know the other person…that’s how this felt to me.” You paused, looking down at your hands in your lap, “It’s stupid but I felt normal, like the world is okay and I’m just on a date with you, and tomorrow I’ll tell all my girlfriends how dreamy you are, and...” Your voice choked up, thick with emotion. It had crept up on you, missing your old life and wishing you could have had Joel slot right into it. “Sorry, I’m ruining it.”

Joel’s heart ached for you and he took your face in his hands as you pulled your damp feet out of the water, curling up against him. “Hush. You’re gettin’ in your head. Breathe, baby.”

You smiled, laughing wetly as he grounded you - just like you had done for him so many times. Eyes closed, you breathe deeply for a few moments and covered Joel’s hands with yours. You were the first to break the silence, the sound of the birds and the creek bringing you back to the moment.

“I’m just glad I’m with you, Joel. You have no idea how much I love you.”

“Course I do, sweetheart. I love you too.”

Those four little words made your heart soar. Joel was the one who demonstrated his love, rather than saying it out loud. You both knew you loved each other - hell, you had both killed for each other, done unspeakable things for one another, and you would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant keeping each other safe - but exchanging ‘i love you’s’ was always a special little moment.

You smiled, giggling to yourself after a few moments. “Never said ‘I love you’ on a first date before, but it feels right.”

Joel grinned, reaching back to grab the edge of the blanket to dry off your cold feet. “Me neither. Definitely feels right, baby.”

You shared a few kisses before he helped you back into your shoes and you both packed up for the journey home, making sure the flowers he had picked for you were wrapped with a damp napkin around the stems, and stored carefully in your picnic basket.

The ride home went much too quickly for your liking, even though Joel took a slightly longer route so that you could see the sun begin to set, dragging dusk over the mountains and the town. It had been the best day, and you and Joel both looked sun-kissed and happy as you made your way back through town.

The stables were your first stop after getting back, making sure your horse was untacked and well fed after her own adventure. You brushed her down and gave her some love before gathering her reins and bridle, ready to bring back to the tack room.

“Hey, listen,” Joel murmured, his fingers catching around your wrist, causing you to turn back around, both of you still standing beside the horse, “What you said earlier, about feelin’ normal for a moment and forgetting the crap that’s happened…I felt it too.”

All day his chest had felt full, fit to burst, and he had kept himself measured in the hopes that it wouldn’t turn to panic.

You reached up your hand to cup Joel’s cheek, stroking under his eye, “Thank you,” you whispered and went up onto your tiptoes to lay a slow kiss to his lips.

The moment was broken when you heard a loud sigh from the stable door, “Finally. There you guys are, Maria was about to send out a search party.”

“No she wasn’t.” Joel grumbled and rolled his eyes, pecking your lips quickly once more. “She was on the wall when we came back through.”

“Whatever.” Ellie came over and took the reins from your hand to bring them over to the right peg. She had her own system in the stables. “Did you guys bring back anything good?”

A grin developed on your face, your own brand of mischief. You bent down and fished out the bunch of flowers that Joel had picked for you. You held them out to Ellie, shaking with silent laughter when she let out a loud groan.

“More flowers?! Jesus Joel.”

He shrugged, smiling as he caught you fixing the petals carefully, almost lovingly. “The lady likes flowers. What’s a guy to do.” Ellie spotted the forgotten little flower tucked in his shirt, muttering about how he had it bad for you.

She rolled her eyes before turning to hang up the bridle and the reins, “What did you guys have in mind for dinner because I am starving.” And just like that, you were back to normality. You wouldn’t change it for anything.

You shared a knowing smile with Joel, hooking your arm through his as you tugged him towards the door, “Well how about we stop at the Bison for dinner?" You suggested, looking between Joel and Ellie who were both happy to agree, "Only a quick visit mind you," you look at Ellie with a teasing smirk, "I need to get my new flowers into some fresh water soon."

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