Authors Note: Sorry that it took me a bit longer to get this chapter out, I was in the search for a Beta reader. I would like to thank Whitewolf200056 for aiding me in making sure that this story reaches its full potential, and becoming my Beta for this story. It took us a bit longer to get this out, as we re-worked chapter one and I have reposted it.

I would like to also thank those of you who have added this story to your alerts to keep track of the updates, and those of you who have even added it to your favorites list already. It means a lot to me as a writer to know that you all enjoy reading the story that I have floating around in my head.

Another thank you goes out to those who took the time to review. I try to respond to all those who have an account, but I know that there are a few who may not. Thank you for your kind words and feedback.

I know that most of you pointed out that Maddy is sixteen on the show, and I thank you all for speaking out and filling me in. As I said in the first chapter, I am a few episodes behind, so I had to look some things up online. What I found told me that Maddy was fifteen and Josh sixteen. (I guess it's what I get for trusting what people say online!) I will say that I did plan on her turning sixteen within the story, but there are a few things that are going to have to happen first.

With that said, just as a reminder this is an AU story, so some plot lines may differ than what happened in the show from 'What Remains' on. This is also an 'M' rated story, and will contain: drama, action, romance, hurt/comfort, some harsh language, mature/adult situations, and graphic violence. You have been warned.

I hope you all enjoy the new chapter.

Simple Man

Chapter TWO

The soft sensation of the cool night air that ghosted over Maddy's warm skin was enough for her to inhale a small breath, only to release it in a sigh of contentment. The aroma of prehistoric flora and fruits drifted on the air, allowing her to pick out the soft and sweet scents that floated around her. The light citrus of the brightly colored acetic fruits of the market blended perfectly with the floral plants that where found all around the colony. The perfect combination gave Terra Nova its own unique scent, one the soft air current carried all throughout the settlement.

Her and her family had already lived in Terra Nova for a little over a month, and at times she felt like it was nothing more than a large, highly detailed dream that her mind and subconscious fabricated to give her an escape from the harsh reality that had been her life back in 2149. Each night when she retired to bed she would have a moment of fear, dreading that when she woke up it wouldn't be in this beautiful and mysterious land, but back where the world was dissolving around the human race. As dangerous as Terra Nova was, with the threat of dinosaurs lurking just past the tree line and Sixers who would come and demand supplies with force, this place had brought her family back together. No amount of danger would be enough to give that up.

Before her mother received the letter informing her that she had been recruited for the Tenth Pilgrimage, Maddy's life had been crumbling around her. She had been finding it harder and harder to find the positive in her life, only feeling the hurt and pain. When her father had been taken away from them for breaking the law, it had torn such a large hole within their family, she felt that it was consuming them into its darkness. She tried with all her heart to help her mother get through the absences of their father, but there was only so much a thirteen year old could do.

As much as she missed her father, his kind words of encouragement and playful banter with her mother and brother, she knew that he wouldn't want them to cry over something that couldn't be changed. He had been sentenced to six years in prison for a crime that fell on both her parents. There was little that could have been done other than serve the time. Her father had always been the pillar of strength in their family, and when he was hauled away it was as if the very foundation of their family began to crumble.

Their mother took extra shifts at the hospital to cover the loss of income, and Josh begun to hang around a rougher crowd of friends. All Maddy could do was keep to her studies and take care of her little sister, Zoe. Other than the kind smiles that her sweet little sister would give her while they played or got ready for bed, she never got noticed in a positive light. Her mother was hardly home, and Josh was always out trying to impress his friends and Kara.

Being a thirteen year old senior didn't help, it did little for her social life and other than getting called crude and harsh names in the halls by the other students, she was overlooked. It wasn't hard for her to understand why either. She was smart she knew that the others only had one thing on their minds, to gain the attention of the opposite sex.

With uncontrollable frizzy hair, soft complexion and small frame that had yet to blossom from adolescents to adulthood, no one speared a second glace her way. Most the time she was too short to even be seen while she walked through the halls. Even her brother would try and ignore her while he was with his friends. He never went out of his way to help her socialize, but he did step in when others would try and get physically aggressive with her. As much as she knew he was upset that she was smarter than him, and ahead of him in school, she knew that in his eyes she was still his little sister who he loved. He never stood by as others would try to knock her books down, or shove her into the lockers that lined the hallway walls.

Maddy knew Josh had his own hurt and confused emotions to deal with, so she never blamed him for not being more involved in her life. It didn't stop her, however, from wondering what it would have been like to have an older brother who wouldn't let anything happen to her. Not just worry about the physical abuse, but the verbal and emotional abuse that she had to deal with everyday in high school. Just another reason she missed her father. He would always know what to say to her to cheer her up, to let her know that it didn't matter what others thought of her, but what she thought of herself.

Once she had finished high school, she had asked her mother if it would be possible to take online courses instead of having to attend the college. Her mother had been supportive of her desire to further her learning, and told her that as long as she works hard and kept her grades up, she saw no reason she couldn't take her classes online. It had been a small blessing, but Maddy was glad even if it was a small improvement.

Her brother had not been thrilled that she had been able to stay home while he was still dealing with the drama of high school. It had caused a small rift between them, and it was one more thing that she fought to deal with, forcing it down and hiding how it hurt her. She always looked up to her brother, he had always been there for her when she had needed him, but there were some things that not even he could help her with.

Once they learned of the chance to come to Terra Nova, they all sat down to talk about it as a family. The pass was for their mother and two depends, something that had worried both Josh and Maddy. They knew that Zoe would get one; she was far too young to leave behind. In that moment she had seen her father in her brother as he sat beside her.

"Mom, you should take Zoe and Maddy,"he had said without hesitation. "I'll be fine here. I can stay with Kara and her family until I'm eighteen, then I can get a job. I'll be okay."

It had taken both her and her mother by surprise, his willingness to let them go on without him. It still broke her heart when she thought back to that moment. The look on his face had been heart breaking, yet hopeful. She knew that he didn't like the idea of leaving Kara, his girlfriend, behind. He would rather stay there with her than cross over.

"We are all going, as a family," her mother said as she reached over the table to grab his hands in hers. "Do you hear me Josh, as a family."The tone in her voice told them she had already thought everything over, and had a plan. It hadn't taken long to figure out their mother was planning on busting their father out of prison, and somehow smuggling their younger sister over the time fracture into the past. She never doubted her mother, she was a very intelligent woman and she was able to accomplish anything she set her mind to.

Taking another deep breath of the fragrant scented air that floated around her, Maddy couldn't help but smile as she thought back to seeing her father again for the first time after two years. So much had happened in that short twenty-four hour time period; she thought for sure she had been dreaming. First had been waking up and grabbing her single bag that she was allowed to take with her, then was the last glance around the small cramped living space that she had called home.

Walking through all the security at Hope Plaza had been unnerving and stressful, but she understood the need for it. There were many who would have done anything in order to be able to pass through the time fracture, hoping to walk out of the nightmare the world had become and into a safe haven. The walk up the platform had been almost frightful for her. They were getting closer and closer, and there had been no sign of their father or sister.

The thought of crossing over and being stranded without them was something that caused pain to flood her chest. Once she had taken the final step and floated through to the other side, all she could think about was her family. The pain in her lungs from breathing in clean air, nor the sting in her eyes never registering with her.

The commotion that followed had forced her to look up and over to see that her father, along with the rest of her family had made it. The small misunderstanding that led to the pack that Zoe was hiding in almost being cut open, had led her whole family into a shouting frenzy. None of them were willing to let anything happen to the youngest Shannon.

Looking back on that day, Maddy couldn't help but think it was the last day of all the bad in her family's life. They were together again, and in a new place to start fresh. The fact that the Commander hadn't seen it fit to punish them was another sign that things could only get better.

Then there had been Mark Reynolds. He had been assigned to show them to the housing unit that had been built just recently, and that they would be given to live in. The whole walk there he talked with ease, informing them of the passing facilities and where everything was located within the colony. Maddy told herself that she had been imagining things, but she couldn't help but notice how often he would look back over his shoulders and offer her a soft smile. The burning heat that would flair up across her face was something she had never experienced before, and her overactive mind had started to list off all the possible reasons behind the reaction.

Feeling the heat from the sun for the first time had been the more realistic conclusion, however it was her little sister who pointed out the truth.

"Maddy, you're blushing," Zoe said with such innocents, it hit her like a ton of bricks.

'Blushing, the involuntary reddening of a person's face due to embarrassment or emotional stress.' Maddy's mind relayed to her. Part of her knew never to doubt her gut, something her father had always told them growing up, however the other part of her mind that would never stop thinking or analyzing, told her it wasn't possible. No one had ever speared a glance her way before, and here was this young and rather attractive man who continued to look back at her, always with his soft smile upon his lips.

The tightness in her chest she got whenever in a social situation took hold of her and she found it slightly harder to breath. Anxiety was nothing new to her, and she had learned how to deal with it in the past, but it didn't mean that it made it all the more easier for her. No matter how many times she felt the sting, needle like pokes in her chest, it was still rather painful, and uncomfortable.

Sure she had seen plenty of attractive guys back in 2149, but none of them compared to the man who led her family to their new place of residence. She kept telling herself it was because he was clearly in very good health, the soft glow of his skin a tale tell sign. His strong shoulders, straight back, and steady footing was similar to that of her fathers, telling her that he was confident. However it was the way he spoke, open, kind and friendly, that drew her in. He appeared to enjoy showing them around, and telling them what they had needed to know. The way that he interacted with Zoe was just one more thing to confuse her. He answered all her questions with real answers and facts, not just something to get her to be quiet like so many other adults would do to children.

Reaching her front porch, Maddy sat down on the front step, not quite ready to go inside for the evening. Looking up into the clear, star covered sky she couldn't help as a smile took hold of her lips. She had found herself smiling more and more these last few weeks than she had in her life time combine.

She was happy.

Her father was back, her mother wasn't having to over work out of necessity but out of desire, and her and Josh had started to talk more. But most of all, they didn't have to hide Zoe. There was no more finding hiding spots for her to disappear into, or making up games to get her to stay quite. She was able to be a little girl, and it made Maddy smile all the more that she was making friends for the first time.

Thinking of friends led her thoughts back to Mark Reynolds once more. He was really the only other person outside her family who she talked to. He always seemed to be there. He had come over to check on her and Zoe when her brother had been foolish enough to leave the safety of the colony, and had been assigned to their house when the Pterosaurs attacked. He also checked on her when both of her parents were still outside the colony, and even went as far as to get two guards to stand watch over Zoe while she slept so that she could go and find out what had been keeping them. He had kept up pace with her the whole way to talk to Lt. Washington, trying to reassure her that they would be fine, and that when there was news, they would tell her.

She had never been one to rush off and demand to be told what was going on, however it seemed that the time in Terra Nova was already affecting her in ways that she never thought to be possible. Never before would she have let two strange men look after her sleeping sister while she ran off to ask questions about the whereabouts of her parents. It just went on to show that she already begun to openly trust everyone around her; it was easy to do with an almost zero percent crime rate.

Thinking back on that night Maddy couldn't help but regret her actions. She had never thought for a moment that in her quest to learn about her mother and father, that she would push Mark into a life and death situation. Because of her, he had been held hostage by the Commander who had been suffering from the side effects of a nasty virus. The image of fear and regret in his eyes as he looked to her, the knife cut into his throat, was something she couldn't easily forget.

"Darling, what are you doing out here?" the sound of her mother's soft voice caused Maddy to look behind her. She saw her mother close the front door quietly behind her, walking out onto the porch and taking a seat next to her.

"Just enjoying the stars," she told her mother, pushing the image of Mark out of her mind. "Wasn't ready to come in just yet."

"I understand that completely," Elizabeth said to her daughter as she nudged her with her shoulder. "There was an old saying, 'Don't forget to stop and smell the roses'."

"I don't understand," Maddy said as she looked to her mother with thought.

"No I guess you wouldn't," she said with a hint of sadness. "There weren't any roses back in 2149, but the saying simply means to stop and enjoy the small things in life, like stopping to smell the scent of a flower. Or in your case, to stare up at the stars," she added with a light smile. "You never know when they'll be gone," she said as an afterthought, clearly thinking back to the conditions of the time they left behind.

Maddy thought on what her mother shared with her. She had every intention of enjoying all that Terra Nova had to offer, the possibilities were endless.

Their quiet time enjoying the star light quickly ended as the loud alarm sounded throughout the colony. Before they had time to voice their concerns with one another, the front door opened wide behind them. Standing up quickly, Maddy turned around in time to see her father rush out of the house as he pulled a shirt on over his head.

"Liz, get Maddy inside the house. Make sure all the windows and doors are locked, and don't leave until I get back," he said as he walked out of the house, placing his firearm at his side.

Maddy didn't waste any time in doing what her father asked of her. Walking into the house she kept the door open for her mother. Looking out she couldn't help but witness the love her parents had for each other. The look of worry in her mother's dark eyes, and yet she could make out the understanding clear as day, even if it was dark out.

"Jim, be careful," Elizabeth said as she reached up and placed a kiss on her husband's lips.

"You know I always am," he said in a soft tone, placing his own kiss on her forehead in reply.

Maddy couldn't deny that even after all these years; it was still very clear to see that her father was still madly in love with her mother, who returned it wholeheartedly. She read in plenty of books and articles about how over years, loved ones tend to fall away from each other, falling out of love. Not Jim and Elizabeth Shannon, if Maddy knew any better, she would say they fell more in love with each other every day.

Watching her father pull away from her mother, to make his way to find out what had caused the alarm to go off, Maddy couldn't help but wonder if she would ever find someone who was so willing to do the right thing. It was said that girls where always drawn to men who resembled their fathers. If that had any truth to it, Maddy feared that she would be out of luck. It was a rare thing to find a man who was so willing to help those in need, and do the right thing.

A man who couldn't not help someone who was in need, just a good and honest simple man.

With a slight sigh, Maddy moved away from the door to let her mother in. As they both walked around to check all the locks, she couldn't help but think that if her father had rushed out to see what was happening, did that mean Corporal Reynolds was also?

Authors Notes: Alright, so here is the second chapter. As always, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, the next one will involve more action. The ground work has been laid out, and the foundation is set.

Thank you all for reading.