Shane stood dumbfounded not knowing what to do or say. He felt like he could pass out. Hailey looked at him angrily. "Well aren't you going to say something?" She had literally known Shane all over her life and he could never shut up when he needed to. Now here he was at a time where something should be said and he just stands there. He turned looking at the little girl in Rick's arms. She looked back at him with a questioning expression. Lori looked around the room at all the faces looking so interested in the situation before them. "I think you all need to leave. There's a lot that needs to be said." Everyone filed out until it was just Rick, Lori, Shane, Hailey, and Lexi in the kitchen. Rick sat down holding Lexi. "Ok. Well this is all a shock." Shane rolled his eyes looking at Hailey. "Why didn't you tell me? I mean come on Hailey!" Hailey frowned angrily, "You were too busy making out with Tina Felton when you were supposed to be MY boyfriend." Shane frowned, "I'm sorry Hailey! I treated you wrong and I never should have done that. But you had my child and I never even knew she existed until now." Lexi looked at Rick, "Everybody is so angry now a days Uncle Rick." Lori frowned looking at Hailey and Shane. "Listen to the child." Rick sighed looking at Shane, "You were wrong to cheat on her Shane and for that I ought to kick your ass from here to Atlanta. Hailey you shouldn't have run off like that! Lori and I would have helped you." Shane frowned, "What am I chopped liver? I would have been there! I deserved to be there! I have missed out years of her life Hailey! I loved you and you left me! Do you have any idea how it was coming home that night and you were gone?" Hailey put her arms over her chest. Her blue eyes looked furious. "Probably the way I felt when I saw you kissin another woman." She turned and walked from the room.
Shane watched her go sadly. He wanted nothing more than to go grab her and beg forgiveness for the pain he caused her. Lexi climbed off of Rick's lap and walked over to Shane, "Hi Daddy. I guess you didn't get hit by a bus." Shane looked down at her with teary eyes. He leaned down beside her. "No darlin. I never got hit by a bus." Lexi smiled touching his face. "Talk to mommy. She still loves you." Shane looked at her carefully trying to ignore the looks Lori was giving Rick who sat looking icily at the floor. "I'll try baby." Lori smiled finally. "Come one sweetie let get you to bed." Lexi looked up with a grin. "Daddy can do it Auntie." Shane looked a little unsure of himself now. Lori nodded enjoying the feeling of watching Shane squirm. "Well ok. Good night dear." Lori walked over and gently kissed Lexi as she followed Shane to an upstairs bedroom.
Shane sat looking at his little girl for a long time. "Lexi I'm sorry I haven't been around. I promise I won't leave you ever again." Lexi smiled. "Mommy is sad a lot." Shane looked down sadly. "I'll do what I can to make her happy." Lexi nodded, "Do you know any bed time stories?" Shane raised an eyebrow, "Uh…not really but let me try darlin." Shane tried to come up with a decent story that would scare the girl to death. It ended up being a mixture of The Three Little Pigs, Snow White, and something else. Right as he was getting done Hailey walked into the room. She looked at Shane sitting beside Lexi sadly. This should have been the way things were all along. Hailey was starting to blame herself but on one side she couldn't stand being cheated on when she loved him so. "Well I guess that's enough for tonight." Shane said with a gentle smile. Lexi sat blinking looking at Shane like he was nuts. She slowly crawled out of the bed and picked up a few story books out of her bag and laid them on Shane's lap. "Read these tonight. We will talk about them at breakfast." She crawled back in bed and lay down as Hailey came over and kissed her goodnight. "Good night mommy." She said in a soft baby voice. Hailey smiled kissing her cheek. "Good night. If you need me I will be next door." Lexi nodded closing her little eyes and snuggling up with a dirty stuffed lamb. Hailey and Shane slowly walked out.
As she went to walk into her room Shane grabbed her hand. "Hailey can we talk?" Hailey looked at him and shook her head. "I have nothing to say to you Shane." Shane rolled his eyes rubbing his head. "Hailey I thought you loved me?" Hailey looked at him like he was nuts. "I thought you loved me!" Shane sighed, "Hailey look I was drunk it shouldn't have happened with Tina or whatever her name was. I want another chance with you and with Lexi. I want a chance for our family. Please give me that." Hailey frowned, "I don't know Shane. I got a lot of thinking to do." Shane nodded, "Ok." He looked at her sadly before walking away. Hailey looked at his back sadly. He looked different without his full head of wavy hair but was still so handsome. With a sigh she walked into her bedroom to attempt to sleep.
The next morning Lexi and Carl were outside playing. Hailey sat beside Lori who seemed more cheerful than ever. "I am so happy you are here Hailey. It's doing Carl good to have someone to play with." Hailey smiled, "It does Lexi good too." Shane stood a few feet away with Rick, "Look man I am tryin to make it right with Hailey." Rick looked at Shane darkly, "You better. I'm pretty pissed at you man but I know you are. I also know you will be good to little Lexi." Shane looked over at his little girl who was chasing after Carl. She was so little. "I'm not lettin either of them out of my sight again. " Rick nodded as a scream pierced the air. Shane turned in a panic to see several walkers getting close to Lexi and Carl. "SHANE!" Hailey screamed as loud as she could. Hailey took off down the stairs toward Lexi and Carl while Lori stood frozen on the porch. Hailey threw her arms around Lexi and Carl who were both screaming. "mommy make them go away!" Lexi squealed holding her mother as tightly as possible as gunshots started going through the air. "Hailey! Lexi!" Shane's voice had a panic Hailey had never heard in it. Rick was busy screaming for Carl as he and Shane took down the walkers one by one.
Once they were all gone Shane prayed silently that they were all safe. He ran to her as quick as he could pulling both Hailey and Lexi into his arms. "Are you both all right?" He asked looking at them with panicked eyes. Hailey nodded as she kissed Lexi's little head that was pressed between her mother and father. Shane sighed pressing his forehead against Hailey and holding her as tight as possible. At least this time he was able to keep them safe. Feeling Hailey's face pressed against his chest made tubs of memories shoot into Shane's mind; their first kiss, the first time they made love, the time Hailey almost burned the house down fixing cake… He smiled slightly but the sadness was eating away at him like a monster making feel even more unstable. Lexi wiggled in-between them, "Can I get down now? They all gone bye bye." Shane gently sat her down and watched as she ran to Lori on the porch. "Auntie did you see? Daddy saved me!" Lori looked at Shane and Hailey sadly as she coaxed Lexi into the house. Shane turned back to Hailey. "Are you ok?" She nodded laying her head against his chest. "I didn't think you would get here quick enough." He looked at her looking deep into her blue eyes, "Hailey I will always save you. I won't let anything happen to you." Hailey smiled looking up at him. His brown eyes were still so intense just like they always had been. "I know you will." Shane carefully leaned down pressing a gentle kiss to her lips…
