AN: Okay, I'm not sure what I'm gonna do with this story when I get to the season 3 finale. I might take a break from this story and start a sequel up when season four starts…or maybe, I'll go my own way…let me know what y'all think about that. I want to clear something up too, I haven't gotten any flat our questions about why the Governor is being so nice to Shane and Vanessa, but I'm sure a lot of you are secretly wondering. And, since I don't think I'm going to mention it actually in the story, I'll just tell y'all…Shane/Vanessa's relationship reminds Phillip of him and his wife, then they had a daughter too, if that makes sense? I hope so 'cause I get it lol. Please review. Thanks.

Blue eyes meeting brown ones. Time had frozen. It was as if everything around the two had completely stopped. The gun fire had ebbed out completely and neither of them could even make out the sound of voices or anything else for that matter. This could not be happening, Shane thought. Rick was standing across the field from him…the Governor hadn't seen the blue eyed man, and Shane sure as hell didn't plan on shooting him, no matter the circumstance. Not only had this man saved his ass more times than he could count, but Vanessa would kick his ass and never speak to him again. Everything faded back into reality as a bullet zipped past Shane's head, narrowly missing him.

"Let's roll!" the Governor called. Shane got back in the truck with the Governor as they pulled away. He could see the walkers flooding the prison yard as they backed away.

"Those were the people who attacked us?" Shane asked as they drove back to Woodbury?"

"Yes. Couldn't hit a thing now, could they?"

"Yeah," Shane laughed, trying to sound sincere, but in all honesty he was in complete shock. They were at war with his family.

"We captured one of their men the other night. Merle's own brother, can you believe that? Then, the traitor left with them!"

Daryl. Shane knew for certain that this was the group they had left behind.

"That's crazy. Can't believe I missed it…"

"You had to take care of your wife, I can understand that," the Governor said wholeheartedly.

"I appreciate that, man. I really do."

"Is she feelin' better now?'

"Much. Thanks," Shane replied. Phillip nodded.

"I had a wife once too…lost her before all of this."

"I'm real sorry, man. That's gotta be tough. Can't imagine my life without my Vanessa," all of this was true. It was hard for Shane to hate Phillip and hold shooting at Rick and his group against him, because they did attack Woodbury first. Then, to top it off, the man lost his wife? That was something Shane knew he wouldn't be strong enough for. So, at the same time as wanting to leave Woodbury and join Rick at the prison, he couldn't help but question staying at Woodbury. It was safer and better for Larayne.

Although, Shane thought back to incident with the army men. They were absolutely innocent and the Governor had come up and just shot and killed them all…he couldn't help but wander if Phillip was lying about Rick's group attacking first.

"You knew them, didn't you?" Phillip asked, surprising Shane.

"How did you-"

"You and Andrea are from the same group. She told me…"

"Oh…yeah…we were…"

"I gotta know, Andrea told me, your wife, your tiny little wife beat the hell outa her, is that true?"

"Yeah…I find it best not to mess with Vanessa when she's really mad…"

"I'll keep that in mind," Phillip laughed.

Vanessa danced around the apartment to the slow tone that was playing over the CD player. Larayne watched and giggled from her high chair.

"Wanna dance with mommy?" Vanessa asked the young girl. She simply clapped her hands, not having the ability to speak yet. "C'mon," she picked her daughter up and the two danced around together, Vanessa dipped her daughter as they continued to twirl and sway to the music. The door opened abruptly, scaring the two of them. Larayne whined. "Shh, it's okay baby. Look, it's just your daddy!" Vanessa pointed to the raven haired man and turned her body so the baby could see her father.

"How are my girls?" Shane asked as he contorted his features into a smile. Immediately, Vanessa sensed the vibe coming off Shane. The two were just connected in the sense of they knew exactly what the other was feeling. Shane was feeling guilty, and sad.

"We're fine…how are you?" she tried to drop subtle hints to get him to talk.

"Good," he forced another smile as he walked into the kitchen and got a bottle of water from the fridge.

"How'd it go?"

"Fine…I guess?" he didn't know how to respond. 'Oh it was great! I shot at people, and I almost got shot too! Oh, can't forget the fact that Rick and the rest of the group were the ones we were shooting at!'. Yeah, that would go over well.

"Just fine?" she asked as she put Larayne down with her toys. Shane had yet again taken a seat at the kitchen table. Vanessa, as usual, came over and massaged Shane's shoulders. It was one of the ways she tried to relieve the stress that overwhelmed him at times.

"What do you want me to say Vanessa?" he sighed. "We shot at people!" his voice elevated, causing her to release her hold on his shoulders.

"Okay, fine don't tell me what the fuck's wrong with you," she turned and left, taking the baby with her. Larayne needed a bath anyway. "You can make your own damn dinner," she let the bedroom door slam. Normally, she wouldn't get so mad at him over him raising his voice, but she knew something was bothering him and he wouldn't tell her, so she wasn't going to talk to him.

Shane rested his face in his hands and raked his hands back through his hair. He couldn't tell her…he just couldn't. He would live with the guilt if it meant doing what was best for his family.

Later that night, after a few glasses of wine and a few hours of feeling sorry for himself, Shane walked into his and Vanessa's bedroom. She was sleeping on the edge of the bed, cradling Larayne on the very edge with all the lights out. He could only guess she was asleep. He took his place in the bed, laying on his back. It just wasn't the same without Vanessa's head on his chest. She wasn't even facing him! Her back was to him.

"'Nessa…you awake?" he asked. No response, but she was awake. She just wasn't talking to him. He couldn't just be a jerk an then expect everything to be peachy. Plus, even with her back to him, she could smell the wine on his breath. Let him sweat it, she thought. "Guess not…" he sighed and faced to other way.

AN: What do y'all think? Should Shane tell Vanessa about seeing Rick's group? Or should she have to find out for herself? Please review. Thanks y'all.