For the best

Warm yellow light streamed through the white lace curtains of the unfamiliar bedroom I woke in. Abi was gone, her side of the bed sloppily made. I sat up, stretching when the smell hit me. It was glorious.

My mouth began to water as I made my way to the kitchen where everyone sat, eggs steaming on their plates. It had been a year since I had even seen an egg.

"Fried or Scrambled?" Lori asked me with a smile.
"F-fried, please." I said, a little disoriented. She laughed and turned back to the frying pan.

I spotted everyone in the dinning room besides the man with fisherman's hat, Shane, Robert, Jack Dean and of course Daryl. Abi sat with Carl and Glenn at a smaller table set up next to the large oak one. She jumped up from her seat when she saw me, almost falling.

"Bellie!" She said, smiling brightly.

"Whoa there." I said, stopping her. "You should probably take it easy with your hand there."

"No, Bellie it only hurts a little. It really hurt this morning but Hershey gave me medicines." She exclaimed.

I smiled and nodded thanks to Hershel.

"I still want you to take it easy." I said, directing her back to her seat. She complied and returned to her eggs.

Lori appeared and set my plate in a spot next to her. I nearly ran to my seat and sucked up the warm, delicious eggs.

"If you guys hadn't of already done so much for me, I would've asked for seconds." I said, as Patricia picked the plates up from around the table. They laughed, but didn't continue the subject.

"Ya'll will be gettin' on the road pretty soon, won't ya?" Maggie asked.

"Yes, I think-" But a sudden burst of loud voices from outside cut me off.

"You better shut the hell up!" I recognized the voice as Shane's.

"How about you make me!" It was Jack.

Oh shit.

"What the…" Hershel said, moving toward the window. I stood up with everyone else, rushing outside. Lori ordered the children to stay put.

Shane, Robert, Dean and Jack stood in front of the camper, Shane snarling in Jacks face, Robert and Dean trying to hold them back.

"Just give me my gun back!" Shane yelled.

"I told you I don't have your damn fuckin' gun!" Jack hissed.

"Guys! Guys!" Hershel yelled out at them, stepping down the stairs.

They ignored him.

Shane pushed Jack back, sending him flying. Jack jumped back to his feet, taking a swing at his face. Shane dodged it, charging head first to Jack's gut. They went flying into the dirt, landing with an oof. They rolled on the ground, a tangled mess of limbs and flying dust.

Before I knew it Rick and Daryl were in the heat of the struggle, ripping them off of each other. Rick held Shane back with a hand on his chest while Daryl held Jack back only with his dangerous glare. Jack didn't dare to move.

"What is going on here?" Rick yelled at them.

Shane wiped his bloody lip. "Motherfuckers took my gun."

"We didn't steal anything." Jack cut in sharply.

"Well my gun was by my tent last night then when I woke up it wasn't. Someone took it, and I'd bet my ass it's the newcomers."

"Shane. Calm down. You don't know that anyone did anything." Rick ordered. Shane tore away from his grip.

"I'll get my gun back." He said furiously, and then walked toward the tents fiercely.

Hershel looked to the group by the R.V, then to me.

"I think it's best ya'll be on your way." He said quietly.

I looked at him, feeling rushed. I wasn't ready to leave.

Jack didn't say anything as they climbed into the camper, slamming the door behind him. Robert and Dean walked with Rick to the porch where we were standing.

"I'm sorry about that. Thank you for all you've done." I could tell he was embarrassed about what had happened. "Arken, tell the girl it's time to leave."

I didn't move.

"Arken, now." He said, impatiently. I looked around to the faces staring at us. They were worried, and tired but so kind. I didn't want to leave these people. I didn't know them well, but I know that leaving was something I didn't want to do. I didn't want Abilene squished up in a camper for weeks on a road to nowhere. There was stability here, food, shelter, and if I had observed correctly- love.

"No." I said. Everyone turned to stared to me. My hands felt a little clammy as I squeezed them together. "I want to stay here." I turned to Hershel. "I'm sorry, I mean if it's okay with Hershel."

He shook his head for a moment, rubbing his chin. "I don't want any trouble between your people and mine-"

"No, they won't want to stay." I started. "But Abilene and I…" I trailed off.

"Arken, don't be stupid. Get in the camper." Dean said.

"You guys like the road, but it's not good for Abi, you know that. She needs somewhere like this place."

Hershel looked to Rick who looked to me. He nodded.

"I think for the sake of the little girl we can take you two in. But you will have to perform the same duties as everyone else. We all got jobs." His words were slow, like he was trying to figure out if he decision was right.

I nodded quickly. "Yes, oh yes thank you. Of course." I said quickly, maybe fearing he'd change his mind.

"Then it's settled. You will have to figure out your own places to sleep. I'm not sure if there's an extra tent-"

Dean suddenly cut Hershel off. "Arken you're not actually staying? He asked, incredulously. I found it hard to meet his eyes.

"Dean, you know it's for the best. Abi-"

"We need to talk." He cut me off grabbing my arm suddenly. He pulled me off the porch toward the camper. Everyone tried to not stare.

"I'm not going to let you leave me." He said, his eyes sad, but his voice angry. It felt like someone had punched me in the chest.

"Dean, I'm sorry." I said, sincerely. "But I have to think of Abi. This isn't about you."

He looked at me, suddenly furious. "No, it's not. It's about you. You want to stay so you can be with that fucking Redneck!"

I gaped at him. "What are you talking about?"

He rolled his eyes. "You broke up with me then couldn't stop staring at him last night. You broke up with me for him!"

"I didn't know someone could be so stupid. And possessive. We were never dating!" I yelled. I knew he was speaking out of spite, and probably just saying things to convince me to stay with him. I wish he could just realize this had nothing to do with anybody but Abi. I should have been understanding and calm, but rage had already consumed my sympathy.

"We were together, but then that hick saved your little sister and suddenly he's like a goddam superhero in your eyes. Don't even try to deny it."

I glared. "You should keep your mouth closed because you obviously have no clue what you're even saying."

"I bet if I would've saved your parents this would all be different." He said, sharply. I didn't know if his words were meant to hurt me, but they did.

My mouth fell open. "You son of a bitch." I whispered. "Don't you dare bring them into this!"

"We all lost someone, Arken. It's not like you're the only one."

I swallowed his words. They were true, Dean was right. He always was.

"But I don't bring them into a pointless argument." I shot back.

"This isn't pointless."

I began to walk away from him as I said, "It is. Because I'm staying."

I felt his hand catch my arm and yank me back to him. "You can't leave." He pleaded. "How am I going to live without you, and Abi?"

I didn't want look at him, it was too painful. He was the best friend I ever had. He knew I needed to stay and that he couldn't, I could see it in his eyes. I tried to rip my hand away, but his grip tightened. I yelped a little.

Suddenly his hand was off me and he was stumbling back a little. I looked over to see who had pushed him off.

Daryl.

"We don't want no trouble, kid. Just say goodbye and get." He ordered.

Dean looked up at him, probably trying not to swing back. He'd easily loose. He looked at me before turning on his heel and climbing in the camper. He didn't say a word. Daryl was silent, too as he walked back to the porch.

Robert hugged me for the first time ever as he prepared to leave.

"I don't think this is a good idea. But you're old enough to make choices for you and little Abilene. I'm praying that this is the right one."

I looked at him, sadly. "Good luck, Robert. Please be careful."

He nodded. "You too. Do you need anything from the camper?"

"No, no. Everything's in my truck."

He nodded. "Goodbye, Arken. I'll see you later." He began to walk away when I called after him.

"Tell Dean that I'm sorry. He won't listen to me." I said. "And that he'll figure out sooner or later that this is best, and if it's not… then he told me so, I guess."

Robert smiled and waved once more before climbing into the R.V, making a slow U-Turn and driving back the way he'd came.

I saw Dean staring through the back windows of the R.V. I may never see him again.

We didn't even say goodbye.