Some Miller family headcanons for if Tess lived.
While I made these according to my fanfic Blood Stained Flower, these can also be for any fanfic that have Tess alive. So yeah 👍
1. Tess and Tommy actually are not able to lie to Ellie, someone can torture them to almost death and they still won't open their mouth but when Ellie looks at them with her doe eyes, they suddenly forget how to lie.
2. Tess and Joel doesn't tell Ellie about Salt Lake hospital not only because she would be upset at them but also they are afraid that she would think of them as monsters. Tess doesn't mind being a monster to the world but she would fucking die if her babydoll think of her as someone she should be scared of.
3. Joel regrets killing so many people in the hospital but Tess doesn't. They both don't regret stopping the cure, not when their kid's life was on the line.
4. Tess is clingy as fuck, she would always cuddle with Joel during the night, she would demand cuddle while falling asleep. During going to Colorado Tess tried to be close to Ellie, Ellie was a bit hesitant at first but she soon got used to it, often found herself leaning to Tess whenever she was near her. While Tess acted cool she was so happy that was Ellie felt safe and comfortable enough to actively seek out to her. Ellie and Joel were awkward at start but Ellie would ride with Joel mostly and lean against him sometimes even falling asleep holding Joel and Joel would try his best not to smile or look at Tess's knowing look. He would most of the time get sad remembering Sarah but Ellie's weight against his back would bring him comfort. After Joel got injured, Tess would often hold Ellie until she went to sleep. It also helped Tess. After David Ellie avoided physical contact like her life depended on it and it broke both Joel and Tess, their kid was so happy and comfortable with them before, Joel was heartbroken that him babygirl got scared from him while Tess was blaming herself that it was her fault that Ellie had to face that because she couldn't get to her quick enough.
So when one day during living in Jackson Tess comes back to Ellie sleeping with her head in Joel's lap with Joel looking at her with a tired smile, she over joyed. Their kid was healing and it was best thing in the world for them.(they might have taken some pictures but that's nobody's business except theirs and Tommy and Maria's)
Tess is one of the reason Ellie is really clingy when she is comfortable.
5. Maria and Ellie have necessary Aunt-Neice dates because Fuck off Tess she in my niece too, I deserve to spend time with her too. During this Maria would tell her everything, about Jackson, her past life, her being a cop, how she meet Tommy, her old relationships and that's how Ellie got to know that Maria is bi. She also taught her how to tackle someone, the fatal points where she can stab, how to have upper hand in a fight and how to make flower crowns.
6. When Ellie got crush on Cat she first went to Maria, while she loves Tess and Joel, they are useless in this case, Joel is too awkward and Tess still thinks of her as the 14 year old who made a big mistake of asking what does orgasm mean, she thinks that Ellie is still a little kid.
7. Tommy is Ellie's partner in crime, when coming back to Jackson Ellie was weary of everyone especially men but Tommy did everything he could to get on girl's good side. Gave her a tour to Jackson, brought her as many comics and video games he could find. Got her many random things he thought she would like and it worked Ellie thought Tommy was the coolest person in Jackson after Maria. He was only person who was on her side most of the time when she got in trouble.
8. All the adults bring the things they think Ellie would like from patrol because of this Ellie have many collection cards, random cool toy figures, painting supplies, some cool rocks (mostly from Tommy), videos games, books & comics and a lot of hair accessories because Ellie loved them (while all insisted that she should let her hair grow actually past her shoulders instead of cutting them as soon as they reach her back, Ellie never agreed saying it was too much work to take care of them)
9. Tess jokes around alot and after Ellie's, her pun's are the worst according to Joel, when Ellie took out Will Livingston first time Tess loved it, when she was around the Miller brothers she would often joke around to lighten the mood but as the time went by she stopped being optimistic and then Ellie came with her innocent and childish nature, that had Tess feel that lightness she hadn't felt in forever, the world had went to shit and took her with it, but maybe in this shitty mud pond of shitty people and infected, her life with Joel and Ellie could be the lotus that still blooms beautiful despite growing from mud.
Okay these are the only one's my mind has made up for now, I might add some more later
