[IMPORTANT: MANY OF THE DIALOGUES AS THEY OCCUR IN THIS STORY ARE WRITTEN UNDER THE ASSUMPTION OF BEING ADAPTED INTO A GAME AND ARE MEANT TO BE VIEWED AS OPTIONAL BASED ON PLAYER CHOICE]

Previously on The Walking Dead...

During Clem's time in Richmond, Lingard was euthanized by Javier Garcia. Joan was shot, and Clint went missing. After finding out about Conrad's death, Tripp survived the shooting that followed, but failed to escape death a second time. In the end...Javier and Clem teamed up with Kate to save Richmond. David died after being bitten, and Gabe died soon after.

Chapter 1.

Warm Welcome.

Flashback. Tristan's Perspective:

Tristan was 10 years old. Before the outbreak, he lived with his family in Baltimore. He had an older brother who was five years older than him. His name was Justin. The two brothers had a mother whose name was Laura. They also had a father by the name of Jackson who was in the military. About eight months before the outbreak, Tristan and them received news that Jackson, the father, had died out in the field of battle trying to save his fellow servicemen. The news of Jackson's death leaves Tristan and his family devastated. As Tristan is being given the news, he is standing in front of the open doorway to his house; his mom and brother standing right beside him. His five-year-old sister Lisa is there as well. As tragic as the loss of a father figure had been for the young boy, it would pale in comparison to what was about to happen.

Present Day. Clementine's Perspective:

Just before noon, Clementine is on her way to the Mc Carroll ranch just a few miles west of Richmond. Along the way, she comes across a walker eating a corpse along the side of the road. Just as it starts to turn around, Clementine pops it straight in the head. After that, she holsters her pistol and continues on her way, killing a shit ton of walkers as she goes. Clementine still has her hair in a short cut just like she asked Javier to give her before she left. She also still has the red jacket she brought with her from Richmond.

As Clementine makes her way through the countryside, she thinks about all of the things that shes been through up to this point: Meeting and losing Lee, being separated from Christa, traveling with the cabin group, leaving Kenny behind at Wellington [Determinant], trouble with 'The New Frontier,' meeting Javier's family, and leaving Richmond to go after AJ. All of these events so far have led up to this moment. Clementine will not rest until she knows that AJ is safe and sound.

After dealing with the walkers, Clementine takes out her binoculars, and looks on at the ranch some distance ahead of her. Under her breath, she calmly says "Yea. That's gotta be it...the place that Dr. Lingard mentioned." From this range, Clementine can clearly see that the whole area is surrounded by an electrical fence. "Figures. No way I'm getting through there." She can also see the entrance to the facility, which is currently being guarded by two people; a full-grown man, and a teenage boy. With that, she realizes "Only way to reach AJ is through the front gate past those guards. Well shit. Guess I have no choice." She puts away the binoculars and continues down the road towards the gate.

Upon reaching the front gate. Clementine comes across the two guards she saw earlier. One of them is a teenage boy with blue eyes, and dark brown hair in a mushroom cut. He is barely any older than Clem by the looks of him. He has a blue jean jacket, and black tactical pants. He is carrying a crossbow in his hands. He also has a holstered revolver, and a machete on him. He is currently talking to a woman whose complaining about the fact the two guards won't let her in. The boy explains to her. "Look, mam. We have a process. Okay?"

The woman is pretty pissed about this. "Spare me that crap, you little shitbird! My people are starving out here!"

The other guard steps in and says "Hey. It's not like we don't give a shit. Alright? We just can't take anymore chances with all the bandits running around."

"Screw you!"

Clementine steps forward and asks the two guards "Do your people treat everyone like this? Just...turning them away without a second thought?"

The boy looks over at Clementine. Then, he delicately conveys his current position. "It's...complicated. Alright? We need to be careful about who we do and don't trust around here, especially after the incident that happened in Richmond last week. Look, I understand that the world is pretty shit right now. I get that. But I have to put the needs of my group first. I can't just simply go around giving free passes to everyone who comes here."

At this point Clementine is so close to reaching her goal of finding AJ that she cannot afford anymore delays. Clem goes right up to the boy's face and tries to intimidate him with a lower voice. "Look, in case you weren't aware, I am a very busy woman. I would suggest that you let me inside right now, before I get really angry."

The boy isn't moved by this. He raises an eyebrow. "Is that suppose to scare me? Look...I understand your frustration, but if you want to intimidate me for just doing my job, it's not going to work."

Clementine pulls out her pistol. At this point, the boy grabs Clementine's gun then pushes her away; disarming her with ease. Clementine is stunned by what just happened. "Ah. What the fuck?!"

The boy holds up Clementine's gun with pride. "Told you." He holsters it.

The woman next to Clementine is completely shocked. "Jesus fucking Chri-! This kid's packing heat. Fuck this shit! I'm out of here!" The woman leaves.

As the older woman leaves, the other guard says "Guess that's one less person to worry about."

The boy happily says "Yea, no kidding. Fewer scumbags I have to deal with the better." He looks back at Clementine. "Now. Where were we?"

With no other options, Clementine becomes desperate as she changes her attitude. "Look. I'm really really sorry about that. Okay? I'm...I'm just trying to find AJ."

The boy is surprised by this. "AJ? You mean...the toddler?"

"Well...Yea."

The boy looks over at the other guard and then back at Clementine. He then reluctantly asks her "D-Did Dr. Lingard send you here?"

Clem nods. "Uh...Yea. That's right."

The boy lets out a breath. "Oh boy. Jesus Christ. I wish you would've mentioned this to me before pulling out your gun." He then pleadingly asks "Now if I take you up to see AJ, will you promise not to threaten me again?"

Clementine solemnly replies "As long as I get to take AJ back with me, you have nothing to fear. Okay? I promise."

The boy will hold Clem to this statement, as he effects a smile. "Good." The boy shakes his head before gesturing Clem to follow him. "Come on. Don't make me regret this."

On the way over to the house at the end of the driveway, the boy tells Clem "Sorry about the whole gun situation back there, but until I know more about you, I must consider you a threat. Can't be too careful around these parts."

Clementine is still pretty shocked at what just happened. She can't help but ask "How'd you even manage to do that? I mean...you disarmed me pretty easily. Was that like...martial arts or-?"

The boy noticed Clem's response. "Well...uh...yes, actually. I took some MMA classes when I was still in Baltimore. Learned a few tricks while out on the road as well."

"I see."

"Name's Tristan, by the way."

"Clementine."

Tristan smiles. "Well. Thanks for making my job easier, Clementine. Think that other person was scared shitless back there." Clementine rolls her eyes. After a short pause, Tristan delicately asks "So, uh...if you don't mind me asking...what is AJ to you exactly? I mean...you seem pretty young to be a mom."

Clementine solemnly remarks. "It's a long story."

"Try me."

"His REAL parent's names are Rebecca and Alvin. They both died a long time ago. I've had to take care of AJ by myself since then."

Tristan is curious about this. "You weren't with him when WE took him in. You guys get separated?"

"Yea. We did. I was trying to help him get better from an illness, but 'The New Frontier' took him away from me. Haven't seen him since. That's uh...that's why I got so frustrated back at the gate."

Tristan stops and regretfully says "Aw...shit. I'm sorry, Clem. I-I didn't even realize."

"Hey, don't worry about it."

Tristan smiles and they both keep walking. He goes on to say "You know, ever since Doctor Lingard brought him over here, I've been doing most of the work taking care of AJ. My mom pitches in every now again but...I'll tell you what though. Being a father for this kid, it's been one hell of a job, Clem." Sounding exhausted, he scoffs. "Now I know how my mom always felt taking care of me and my siblings."

Clem understandingly replies. "Being a parent is NEVER easy. My friend Javi found that out the hard way."

"Huh. Yeah. I think you're right."

They both continue towards the house at the end of the driveway.