Reunions 1

Clementine gripped AJ's hand as the pair approached New Richmond's gates. They'd spent the past couple of months walking from Ericson's to New Richmond. She tried not to scowl, after stopping Marlon from bashing Brody's head in, she'd opted to back Marlon up. Not for the first time, Clementine found herself wishing that AJ had shot Marlon in the back of the head instead of the ear.

A bullet impacted Clementine's ankle, forcing her onto one knee.

"Clyde, you fucking idiot!" Someone shouted, before the gates opened.

"Holy shit, are you okay?" Asked a woman, Clementine glared at her.

"Yeah, I'm fan-fucking-tastic, Kate," Snapped Clem, her hands gripping her blood-soaked foot, "it's not like I need my foot anyway."

Kate stared down at her, before whispering "Clementine?"

Clem sucked air in through her teeth and started to stand, only for her wounded leg to buckle under her weight, "MOTHERFUCK-"

AJ tried to catch her as she fell, but ended up trapped under his guardian, "Clem, you're heavy."

Clementine grunted, as Kate pulled her to her feet and hook her arm around her shoulders.

"Sorry about Clyde, he's new." Apologised Kate, as she helped Clementine into the settlement.

"Really, I couldn't tell." Grunted Clem, trying not to focus on her foot.

"Kate, we heard a gunshot, is everything-Clementine?!" Gasped Javi, with Gabe just behind him.

"Hi, guys." Groaned Clem, "Your guard fucking shot me."

R

Clementine tried not to wince as Lingard examined her foot, Eleanor was checking over AJ, smiling whenever he giggled. Kate and Javier were watching from some seats up against the wall.

"So, how bad is it?" Asked Clementine, making Lingard look up at her.

"Well, you're not going to lose it, and if definitely isn't going to kill you." Lingard informed her.

"That's a relief," Sighed Clementine, "just imagine surviving for nearly ten years, just to be killed by a bullet to the foot."

"You are going to have to be in a cast for a while, though." Said Lingard, dropping a couple of pain killers into Clementine's hand, "These should help."

"Yay." Muttered Clementine, sarcastically.

"The cast will be on for six-to-eight weeks," Lingard told her, "Although, knowing your modus operandi, it may as well take an entire year."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Demanded Clementine, indignant.

"You need to get plenty of rest, to make the healing process work as effectively and as quickly possible." Continued Lingard, ignoring Clementine.

"You look adorable when you pout." Teased Kate, getting a glare from Clementine.

"I'm not pouting."

"Aw, your chin crinkles."

"I will bite you."

"And your cheeks go all puffy-SON OF A BITCH!" Kate withdrew her hand, which now had a bite mark on her thumb, "You bit me!"

"In her defence," Said Javi, "Clem did say she'd bite you."

Kate threw a glare in Javi's direction, before looking at her thumb.

R

"It doesn't look that bad." Said Gabe, as Clementine hobbled around on her crutches, "It could be a lot worse."

"Like how?" Scowled Clementine, carefully sliding into a chair.

"You could've been bitten or had it amputated." Gabe suggested, getting a sigh from Clementine.

"You must be fun at parties." Muttered Clementine, she found she'd been doing that a lot lately.

"Not really, I don't get invited." Shrugged Gabe, getting a funny look from Clementine.

"I know you're saying that because it doesn't really bother you," Said Clem, after a moment, "but, that really fucking sad."

Gabe froze, before frowning, "Thank you?"

Clementine then let out a low chuckle, before leaning back and staring at the ceiling. Gabe frowned and leaned closer to her, "Wait, are you high?"

"Nooo."

Gabe sighed, instead opting to sit down and wait for Clementine to either fall asleep or come down from her high. He was leaning towards the former more than the latter.

"Gabe." Whispered Clementine, "Gabe. Gabey. Gabe. Gaaabe. Gabriel."

Gabe sighed sharply through his nose, "What is it, Clem?"

"I love you."

Gabe's face went red, "O-okay."

"You're like the best friend I can't live without."

"Okay, Clementine."

"But it's a secret."

Gabe frowned, before looking at Clementine, her hat was lopsided, and she looked like she was about to fall asleep.

"Can I have a hug?" Asked Clementine, quietly.

Gabe jumped, he'd been staring at Clementine and had forgotten the rest of the world existed.

"O-okay, sure." Stuttered Gabe, getting up and awkwardly hugging Clementine.

She let out a small, happy sigh, before drifting off to sleep.

R

Gabe looked around the farm, one of the newish arrivals, a redhead called Sophie, was showing AJ the various animals. He'd just left Clementine with Lingard and didn't have anything to do for at least half-an-hour.

"Everything okay, Gabe?" Asked Sophie, making Gabe jump.

"Don't fucking do that!" Gasped Gabe, as Sophie cracked up at his reaction.

"Swear."

Gabe spotted AJ and sighed, at least his search was over.

"Hey, bud," Said Gabe, crouching down to AJ's level, "Clem's having her foot looked at."

"But they looked at it yesterday." Said AJ, confused.

"They want to see if they need to do anything else." Explained Gabe, as Sophie walked over to one of the cows with a smirk.

"Like what?"

"They want to make sure none of her bones are broken or in the wrong place." Called Sophie, carefully setting up a bucket, "I had a friend who almost shot their foot off. God knows where he is now."

R

Louis sneezed, accidentally slamming his head into a tree.

"You okay?" Asked Marlon, getting a glare in return.

Marlon had stepped down as leader, Violet had been all for throwing him and Brody out, but she'd been outvoted. Violet and Louis had taken over, while Violet was more than a little upset that they threw Clementine and AJ out, but not the two that had actually betrayed them. Louis was beginning to wonder if they made the right call.

"I'm sure if his highness had anything wrong with him, you'd be the first to know." Snapped Aasim, dropping the firewood near them.

"I just sneezed."

"Sure, the wonders of having a clear conscience." Muttered Aasim, stalking away.

"What's his problem?" Asked Marlon, Brody stopping next to him.

"We found that coat AJ was wearing before he and Clem left." Said Brody, swallowing, "A walker had it."

Louis froze, if a Walker got AJ, then one got Clem. He'd voted for them dying.

"That doesn't mean they're dead." Argued Marlon, making Louis snap.

"No, but you probably hope they are."

Louis left the two in stunned silence, he passed Violet as he went.

"You voted for it." Said Violet, before climbing up the watchtower.

Louis flinched.

R *Three months later*

Clementine sighed as she rolled her ankle around. Gabe stood a couple feet away, holding onto her crutches.

"Gabe, really, I'm going to be fine." Said Clementine, putting her foot on the floor.

"Sorry, I worry." Apologised Gabe, stepping closer to Clementine.

Clementine smiled, before standing on her toes and giving Gabe a quick peck.

"Seriously, I'm going to be fine." She murmured leaning against her boyfriend. Gabe had asked her out a week after she and AJ had arrived at, or in Clementine's case returned to, New Richmond.

"We should probably go find AJ." Muttered Gabe, making Clementine sigh.

"I was wondering why the goofball was so quiet."

The pair exited Clem's home, stepping onto a busy street. They joined hands and made their way towards the farming areas of New Richmond. AJ had taken to the animals, and wanted to be around them as much as possible, Clementine didn't find an issue with it, unless it was a dog. They started to get closer to the area, before they heard gunshots. The two paused, glancing at each other, before sprinting towards the source of the noise.

Clementine skidded to a halt, staring at the hole in the wall and the walkers getting in. Sophie had taken a few walkers out with a sawn-off shotgun. Clementine quickly unholstered the colt python Javi had given her and took down three walkers Sophie hadn't spotted, before using her knife to take out a few more walkers.

"Soph, where's AJ?" Demanded Clementine, as soon as she got close enough.

"I sent him to get help." Answered Sophie, as Clementine took down three more walkers. She reloaded her gun and promptly emptied it into six more walkers.

"Great." Muttered Clementine, before a hand grasped her ankle.

Clementine fell to the ground, her gun landing a few feet from her. She kicked the walker's hand, trying to get free.

"Clem, don't move!"

Clementine screamed as her foot burst into a fire of pain.

"Oh, fuck!" Screamed Sophie, before discharging the shotgun at the walker's head, doing more damage to Clementine's foot as she did.

"Fuck!" Screamed Clementine, using her good foot to kick the walker back, the monster taking a chunk of her leg with it.

Gunshots rang out, taking down the walkers, as Javi arrived with Kate and other members of the community.

"Gabe, pass me the axe." Ordered Sophie, taking the laces from a boot and tying it tightly around Clementine's leg.

"What axe?" Asked Gabe, pulling a knife from a walker's skull.

Sophie turned and pointed at a fire axe lying on the ground next to the stool. Gabe grabbed the weapon and handed it to Sophie, who turned and placed her hand on Clementine's shoulder, "Clem, I'm so, so sorry."

With that, she raised the axe above her head and swung it down.

R

Gabe stared at the stump where Clementine's leg used to be. She'd fallen unconscious shortly after Sophie had taken off her leg, the remains of her mangled boot were with one of the R&D guys, Javi had asked them to make Clem a new leg.

"How the hell was that hole made?" Javi asked, looking around the rest of the council members.

"The Delta are losing the war, I wouldn't be surprised if they resorted to under-hand tactics." Said Conrad, as Kate shifted.

"But there weren't any members of the Delta in with the walkers."

"It could be a smattering of Whisperers," Suggested Christa, "there are still small groups of them, causing chaos wherever they can."

"That still doesn't answer how it was made." Said Vince, "The only group that has that sort of firepower is the Delta, I know that we've caught some of their soldiers roaming around the forests."

"Children aren't soldiers." Said Lingard, frowning.

"Who's and what's aside," Interrupted Mike, "We lost half-a-dozen cattle and at least three pigs. We may have to start rationing supplies, until we replace them."

Javi was silent, before looking at Lingard, "How's Clem holding up?"

"Aside from almost bleeding to death, she's fine physically," Answered Lingard, "Mentally and emotionally, I'm afraid, will have to wait until she wakes up."

Javi sighed, before looking around, "Do we have the materials needed to fix the hole?"

"I've already got a couple of teams working on it." Answered Mike, leaning back, "We've got some of the school kids helping out."

"Speaking of," Said Christa, "Some of the teachers have got the test results. I hate to say it, but we need to start teaching them how to protect themselves at a younger age."

"What do you mean?" Asked Kate, frowning at Christa.

"The only one who passed the tests was AJ, we might not like Clementine teaching him how to shoot someone, but it might be the best thing to do in today's world." Answered Christa, "They're suggesting that Clementine teaches a couple days a week."

"I'll see if I can spare any guards to help with that." Said Vince, getting a grimace from Kate.

"Anyone but Clyde, I hope."

"We don't even know where he's fucked off to."

R

Clementine groaned, before slowly opening her eyes. A man with long brown hair and a glorious beard stood at the end of the bed.

"…Jesus?"

The man smiled, getting a groan from Clementine.

"What are you doing, Paul?" Asked Clementine, looking up at him.

"Javi asked me to watch you, he said Gabe needs to sleep." Said Paul, as Clementine groaned and went to turn over, "I take it, that you know about your leg."

"I can still feel my foot."

"That's normal."

The pair were interrupted by Eleanor entering the room, "Clementine, you're awake."

Clementine groaned.

"Mr Monroe, if you could please leave my patient alone with me."

"No, please, don't leave me with her." Pleaded Clementine, as Paul left the hospital room.

Paul made his way towards the gate, he'd say goodbye to his friends here before returning to the Kingdom.

Eleanor looked down at Clementine, "How are you feeling?"

"Confused, mostly." Answered Clementine, "It's weird, I can still feel my foot."

"That's normal," Said Eleanor, gently, "we can come up with a treatment plan to help you cope with your phantom limb."

Clementine stared at the remains of her leg, "I was bit."

"Sophie managed to amputate your leg before the infection could spread." Explained Eleanor, "We managed to cauterize it and stop the bleeding before you lost too much blood."

Clementine shakily nodded, "O-okay, c-can I have a moment alone. Please."

Eleanor solemnly nodded, before leaving the room. Clementine swallowed thickly and let the tears fall.

R

"I feel ridiculous." Muttered Clementine, fiddling with her dress, as Gabe kept her steady and held her crutches for her.

"I think you look great." Said Gabe, getting a glare from Clementine, "Honestly, I really do."

Clementine turned her attention to the church, watching Kate and Javí laugh about something. After a few years of dating, almost three years since Javí became the leader of the New Frontier, he and Kate had finally gotten married.

"I think Kate's going to throw the bouquet." Muttered Gabe, as Kate turned her back to the guests.

"Yippee." Drawled Clementine, before spotting something in her peripheral and shooting her hand out to catch it before it hit her in the face.

Everyone stared at Clementine and Gabriel, while the pair just stared at the bouquet in Clementine's hand.

"Holy shit." Said Clementine, staring at the flowers, "Wait, is that a cob of corn?"

R *Ten years later*

Louis scowled as he swatted at the bugs. Their entire group had to leave the school, after Minnie turned up and warned them about someone called Lilly. Violet still hadn't forgiven Marlon about selling the twins and then getting Clementine and AJ killed.

"The New Frontier is our best chance at getting away from Lilly." Said Minnie, ducking under a branch.

"So, are we nearly there yet?" Asked Willy, getting a shush from Mitch.

"That's a good question." Said a man's voice.

The entire group turned and faced the direction the voice came from. A man dressed in clothes that looked like had walker guts on them, held a rifle loosely in his arms, the only piece of clothing that didn't have walker guts on it was his orange beanie, which looked out of place on him.

"Where is there?" Asked the man, as another man joined him.

"We're looking for the New Frontier." Said Minnie, raising her hands above her head.

The man frowned at her, before looking at his friend.

"Why are you looking for them?" Asked the man's friend, eying them suspiciously.

"Protection, we're running from the Delta." Said Minnie, as the man in the orange hat looked at his friend.

"James, double back, make sure there isn't a herd following them."

The man's friend, James, nodded and pulling a walker mask over his face, "See you in a few."

The man nodded, before turning back to the group. Marlon stared at the bag the man had, it had supplies, not much, but enough to last them to the New Frontier.

"Right, he'll-" The man was cut off by Marlon shooting him in the head.

"Whoa!"

"What the fuck?!"

"Marlon," Gasped Louis, "what have you done?"

"We need these supplies," Justified Marlon, grabbing the man's bag and grabbing the weapons he had on him, "more than he did, anyway."

Marlon held a knife the man had out towards Louis. He stared at it, before shoving past Marlon. Tenn reluctantly took the knife, while Brody took the pistol he had. Minnie stared at the corpse, Lilly had kept tabs on all New Frontier members, especially one that were close to someone called 'Clementine'. She swallowed, glancing at Marlon's back, before following the rest of the group.

R

Kate handed Lee and Carly off to Javí and AJ. Eleanor had Sophie turf everyone out of the room, going as far to stop Lingard from using the toilet in the process. Clementine, for her part, only looked vaguely annoyed. She had sweat gathering on her brow and she had her eyes closed while she carefully controlled her breathing.

"Have you been able to get a hold of Gabe?" Asked Kate, as Javí frowned at the walkie talkie in his hand.

"No, but James has just told me that he's had to divert a large group of walkers." Answered Javí, "He said that he and Gabe ran into a group of survivors looking for the New Frontier."

"Have you told everyone else?" Asked Kate, before mentally slapping herself, of course he hadn't, he's only just found out.

"I'm going to," Said Javí, jerking his head, "AJ had guard duty with Arthur, I'll take the twins to the council meeting."

"You're going to dump them on Christa again, aren't you?"

Javí remained silent, before awkwardly clearing his throat and ushering AJ out of the room. Kate stared after him, before groaning.

Clementine exhaled shakily, before hobbling toward a chair. She stumbled when another contraction hit and was caught by Sophie before she hit the floor.

"Fuuuuuck." Wheezed Clementine, as Kate joined Sophie and helped carry Clementine to a bed.

AJ scowled at the road leading out of New Richmond. He'd been stuck on watch for the past several hours. The sixteen-year-old rocked back and forth on his feet, Arthur glanced at him, "Just a couple more hours, kid."

"They should be back by now." Said AJ, before a branch moving caught his attention.

Squinting, AJ focused on the area, unslinging his rife from his shoulder. Arthur followed AJ gaze, before unholstering his rifle as well.

A woman that looked a lot like Sophie stepped out, followed by a blond man with a messy mullet.

"Marvin?" Asked AJ, confused.

Arthur aimed his rifle at the woman's feet, firing a warning shot.

A group of people slowly appeared behind them.

"That's far enough!" Yelled Arthur, alerting both the group and the other guards along the wall.

"Are you the New Frontier?" Asked the blond man, his hands raised.

"Depends." Answered Arthur, as AJ made his way down to the gate and followed Mike out. AJ aimed at the group, joining the rest of the team in disarming the new arrivals.

"We're not here to fight." Said the woman, "I'm here to defect, they're here to join."

"Sophie?" Asked Gill, frowning at the woman, "What happened to your hair?"

The woman stared at Gill, before Becca swatted his arm, "That's not Sophie, you idiot, she'd helping Eleanor."

"S-Sophie's alive?"

They turned their attention back to the group, AJ recognised Louis and Violet, the latter missing an eye, before his eyes raked across the rest of the Ericson's group. His eyes settled on Tenn, before zeroing in on the hilt of a knife.

Without a word, AJ advanced on Tenn and roughly grabbed the knife. He examined it, no one moving.

"Where did you get this?!" Demanded AJ, glaring at the group.

"We found it on a corpse." Said Marvin, quickly.

They were saved from further interrogation by a car's engine. AJ looked over at a rusty dodge challenger, the car stopping just before the group. James got out and solemnly looked at AJ.

"Gabe's dead."

R

Clementine screamed as she pushed, she vaguely heard Eleanor say something about the baby's head. Sophie winced as she felt her hand crack, Kate had left to answer the door after someone knocked on it.

"Okay, Clem," Said Eleanor, "You're almost there."

Clementine pushed on Eleanor's command, before a shriek pierced the air. Clementine gasped, as Eleanor quickly cleaned and wrapped the baby up in a towel.

"It's a girl." Said Eleanor, carefully handing the baby over to her mother.

Clementine stared tiredly at her daughter, still squalling and using what little strength she had to wave her tiny fists.

"She's beautiful." Breathed Clementine, cradling her, "Hi, Mari."

Mariana still wailed, when Kate re-entered the room. She nervously jerked her head to Sophie and Eleanor, both leaving the mother and new-born alone.

"Gabe's dead." Whispered Kate, looking between the two women, "A new group arrived earlier, they said they found Gabe dead."

"Okay, shit," Swore Sophie, "What do we tell Clem?"

"That's not all of it." Said Kate, "According to James, they were the group he and Gabe ran into earlier. When he left Gabe was very much alive."

"Fuck." Whispered Sophie, as AJ walked up to them.

"One of them looks just like you." Said AJ, making them jump, "She was surprised to hear you were alive apparently."

Sophie's eyes widened, before she took off for the gate.

The three watched after her, before looking at each other, "We still need to tell Clem." Said Kate.

"I'll do it." AJ volunteered, "She's less likely to lose it with me."

They opened the door, finding Clementine awkwardly waddling around and cooing at Mariana.

"Hey, Clem." Said AJ, walking towards her, "Is that Mari?"

"Yeah," Smiled Clementine, bouncing her gently, "just wait until your father gets home, he's going to love you to pieces."

AJ felt his heart freeze, suddenly regretting volunteering to tell Clem the bad news.

"Um, C-Clem, I-I have some bad news." Stuttered AJ, making Clementine look at him.

"AJ?" Asked Clementine, carefully adjusting Mariana, "Goofball, what's wrong?"

"J-James ran into some new survivors, today." Stuttered AJ, "He w-was with Gabe a-and he had to divert some walkers."

"Okay," Said Clementine, dread slowly building in her gut, "what happened?"

"S-sometime after leaving Gabe with this group, s-someone," AJ swallowed, "I-I'm s-sorry, C-Clem, b-but G-Gabe's, Gabe's, he's…"

Clementine froze, figuring out what AJ was trying to tell her. Without thinking, Clementine wrapped an arm around AJ and pulled him close to her.

Outside, Kate and Eleanor flinched when they head Clem wail.