it wasn't time that did it.

"You'd have to have a stash of wood. Or something to use as kindling. It's a complicated thing. We'll do a lot of camping and I'll teach you all that shit, okay?" He could see the way her mind started clouding her face. She was so much like Sarah, so expressive in the same ways. He didn't want to overwhelm her... she liked learning, and he was still learning what the cut off to that was. He'd never tried to mitigate things with Sarah because she'd had Tommy and school and her grandparents. "Come over here."

"Woman... you've never needed a man a day in your damn life. I like the sound of the lie all the same, though..." He couldn't get her close enough, wrapping her tight and kissing her face over and over. He'd been so sure that Allie was the last time he'd feel this... she was the last time he'd wanted to. Love wasn't safe after her. He'd tried and failed and it cost Sarah her mom. Now, though? In the end of the world, with only himself and a brother who didn't care much for him anymore thanks to a certain rebel leader... there was no reason not to let Tess in. So fuck it. He was all in. "I sure as shit need you, though."

"I couldn't take anything else. Tess, you know... she's got things pretty well set up. Hilarious to me that even after the world ended, the women are the stronger ones." He couldn't find words for the way talking to Frank made him feel so at peace and calm. He reached for his own bag, digging in and pulling out a knife he'd picked up somewhere around what he thought was Helena. Reaching, he offered it to Frank, voice quiet as he followed it with the soft explanation of the gift. "Found that when we stopped to eat one night and it's real nice. My brother had one just like that when we was kids. Used it all the time, it should hold up to just about anything. Your... uh... yours can probably fix it up if it sticks or anything. I just sharpened it a few nights ago... so... careful with the blade near your hand, hu?"

The permission made something in him snap. He pulled her roughly against him and pressed their mouths together, not thinking about finesse or skill, just about the nearly feral need to finally know what her lips feel like on his. His arms moved, one wrapping her hips and the other adjusting the hold on her face as he kissed her over and over and over. This was heaven, as close as he'd ever get and he was certain of it. "-- I love you, Tess."

"Stuck with you... right." He loved watching her absorb information. For as much shit as the child talked, she really was so damn smart and eager to take in anything you wanted to teach her. Her question confirming the items that could ensure she had fire made him nod, looking around and point out examples. "See, like there? Also, dry moss. Sticks, bark. Anything dry. It's a quick trick. It's harder when it's cold or wet out... that's why you should try and keep things like a notebook. Kindling if it's too wet to use things around you." The tease about trusting her to do this made him shake his head, snorting in laughter as he moved to start setting up their dinner. "I don't know that I actually trust you. But you technically know what to do now, so I guess it could be worse."

He didn't know quite how to process this act of kindness. He was frozen in his place as Frank extended his hand with the watch secured in it, explaining the reason he thought this was a good idea, staring and feeling like a rock had suddenly settled over his vocal chords. He reached, wrapping both hands around the one offered and squeezing tight a second. He was struggling to breathe, much less form words. So he silently accepted it and strapped it into place on the other wrist, studying it as his fingers wrapped the broken one a beat. Finally, he felt able to clear the boulder in his throat, shaking his head and looking back to Frank. "This is very kind of you... I... thank you for this. Really."

"You'd never say it. It's why I do so often. You deserve the reminder." He was slow as he moved closer to her, reaching to rest his hands on her hips and leaning slightly into her space as she assured him she'd keep it warm and that dinner would done soon, taking a breath and coming closer still, pausing so they were barely touching. "It's very nice of you to cook again. I know it ain't really your favorite thing to do..." He didn't even try to stop himself as a hand came up to cradle her cheek, leaning in to bump their noses. "I will happily clean up after... since you did the hard shit..." He took a breath, then whispered. "-- can I?"

"If you fix it... it won't be the same." He had no idea how to explain. The broken face, the hand frozen on the moment his daughter's light had been snuffed out... it should have triggered his anger and sadness. It should have made him want to get rid of the damn thing and let the scar heal over. It was a reminder of the singular worst moment of his whole fucking life. Yet, all he could think of when he looked at it was her face... those sweet eyes so full of joy and excitement, proud of her surprise for the father she loved with everything she had. The lilt in her laugh telling him she'd slung drugs to pay for the watch repairs before confessing to using his own money. The giddy dance in her spot before he pranked her. It was one of the most mundane, silly moments ever, and he was so grateful that after all this time... he could still hear that laugh. Her voice. See her beautiful little face when he looked at it. It was all he had left of his entire universe. "You're kind. I appreciate that offer more than you know. I just..." His voice broke a bit, forcing him to clear his throat. "It's all I have left. The way it is. I don't know why I can't... I just... need it to stay this way. Maybe it's because the last time it was fixed, she did it... it's crazy. I know."

"It's a long story. Ain't a happy one, either." He hadn't really ever shown anyone this stuff. Tess knew, but only because Joel guarded it with his life if it wasn't on his wrist, and he insisted on wearing it even though it wouldn't work again. He reached to take it back, being gentle and easing it out of the man's hands and back around his wrist. "My high school sweetheart gave it to me. Then she gave me a daughter... and left me. Busted it one day when Sarah was four... she got it fixed for my thirty-sixth birthday..." It hurt, thinking. He let it crash, though. His voice cleared up and he added softly. "It got broken again a few hours later..."

i jus want someone where we can literally write anything together no matter how many ships & we can send each other plots we wanna do n be comfy writing/hcing smut & there’s no pressure to respond & we hc the shit outta our pairings but we talk ooc too if we ~vibe~ and are comfy w each other n we can have like 20 plots going or a mumu where all our characters exist together in the same verse IDK MAN i jus want that kinda writing partner u know. ok this is an edit but my dms r open if u wanna hmu bc of this post!!