Chapter ONE: Long Road Ahead

Hey everyone! I am so excited to start this fanfic. This is a sequel to my first fanfic, Life is Stranger. You dont't have to read that one but it may probide some insite. Thanks so much for reading and enjoy the first chapter!

Arcadia Bay. Once a town infested with corruption, conspiracy and hate.

Now what was it?

Rebuilding, surviving and healing. After a storm that caused destruction and chaos on a catastrophic scale.

The death toll was insane and the damage caused was believed to be in the millions. Yet...only one year on from that traumatic disaster...here it stood. Not complete, it probably never will be, but a home again. A place people can live, marry and be happy. Just like a certain shy hipster and a blue haired punk.

Max Caulfield and Chloe Price found something during the carnage that many people can only hope to find in ever day life...love. They had been friends for years and this friendship survived large distance and loss so devastating it left those involved feeling empty and lost. It then not only survived a mega storm/tornado but it blossomed. The love and bond between Max and Chloe continued to grow until the two old friends finally married and became the Price-Caulfields.

Now, a full month after their wedding, the two lovers finally decided to go on the road trip across America they had been planning for a long time. They didn't have a destination and they didn't know what was going to happen and who they'd meet or what they'd get up to. But before they could leave and go on their grand adventure, they had to pack and say their goodbyes but in usual Max and Chloe fashion...it wasn't going exactly as planned.

…

"MAX! I swear to God if you've lost my copy of Blade Runner, I'm going to take that camera and sell it to a guy...who really hates cameras" Chloe started. She wanted to come up with a clever threat but she was too tired to give a shit. The young punk had been packing for what felt like a decade when she suddenly realised her treasured copy of Blade Runner (the directors cut) had gone missing after Max took it over to Warren and Brook's.

"Chloe I told you, it's under the bed. I think. If you actually came to the movie night like I begged you then you wouldn't have this problem would you" shouted Max from downstairs in the living room.

Chloe replied instantly, immediately coming up with a funny remark. "Max the only begging I heard from you was last night in bed" she replied, walking over to the landing to ensure the young hipster could hear her.

In just over a month, Max and Chloe Price-Caulfield had completely settled down into married life and it showed. Chloe had her spirits lifted hugely and even though she was still her sarcastic and humerous self, she had a light inside her that shone brighter than ever before. She had even begun to draw again, ideas for awesome-sauce tattoos mostly but she enjoyed designing them although she would never show a soul yet. Except her amazing wife of course. Speaking of which, Max had become something of an internet icon. Among photographers anyway. Victoria Chase of all people had put her in contact with some amazing up and coming web designers who needed photos fast and Max delivered. Her work had been so well received that she was offered a full time contract and she got so emotional over the offer, she burst into tears telling Chloe, Joyce and David. Chloe had teased her of course but was extremely happy for her. Surprisingly, the newly weds hardly ever argued. The only excpetion was today when Chloe lost her DVD.

"You're such a dork, you know that right" laughed Max as she walked into the room carrying a large box, blushing at Chloe's dirty comment.

"I know but you love me for it hippie" replied Chloe, putting down her own box of shit and rushing over to Max and sweeping her off her feet, simultaneously sending Max's box flying across the room.

The two looked into eachothers eyes and kissed. The very momment their lips touched, both women felt a pulse go straight though them. Againt all odds they had surived and come together, finally living a life they could be proud of and aspire for. A life they loved and wouldn't give up for all the money in the world.

They both pulled away from the kiss at the same time as they were both aware they were meant to be leaving on a long road trip across the country in less than an hour. Max couldn't believe it was finally here after all this time. Not only had she married the love of her life and best friend, she was going on an adventure like they had always dreamed of ever since their days of playing pirates. The only part of their journey they had planned out was their vehichle and the first pit stop on the way. They were taking Chloe's truck and were stopping off at a motel a few hours outside of Arcaida Bay for the night and probably camp out the next few nights.

Chloe had worked for weeks on her truck to get it in working order. With some help of course. Her former step-douche David Madsen had provided some help as well. Max was surprised at how well they worked together, considering a year ago they pretty much hated eachother. The last year had seen a change take place in the former millitary man as the threat of nearly loosing his step-daughter had shown him the error of his ways and he had made up with Chloe. The punk had also changed towards David as they had bearly lost him during the storm when he had been injured saving Kate Marsh and her family. Now Max, Chloe, Joyce and David made up a nice little family and they were all very happy and content. Besides when Chloe and David were working on the truck. Then it was hell. Pure hell. They had a system and an understanding of cars neither Max nor Joyce had and they had learned not to say a word when the 'team' was in the zone. Both Max and her mother-in-law always found it hilarious when David and Chloe worked and Max learned new cuss words she never thought existed.

Suddenly aware of how little time they had, and after a friendly reminder from Joyce, Max and Chloe began to collect the final things from their room. Neither woman knew how long they'd be gone for so they took anything and everything they could find; CD's, DVD's , hair dye, towels, pirate hats, secret stashes, toilet paper...at one point they considered taking the damn house. It was all a rush but an incredibly exciting one for the young couple. Especially Chloe. Ever since she lost...her father...she planned to split from this fucked up town ASAP. She had tried it before several times but never really made it far. Not even when she met Rachel Amber. Now it was finally happening and as an added bonus, she was going with Max freaking Price-Caulfield, the woman she loved. Nothing could ruin this day!

As Max and Chloe packed the final few things from their room and began to heave it all downstairs, Chloe stopped halfway through the door and gazed at her room. She used to call it her prison. She hated it here for so many damn years she lost count. In this room, she had cried, shouted, screamed, punched, kicked and medicated to the point of numbness. Countless hours were spent dreaming of finally walking out that door and never coming back that it surprised her how sad she was now that she was finally leaving. It wasn't forever, they were coming back but she didn't how long. Their was a sadness to that she didn't fully understand. With a shake of her head, Chloe closed the door of her old prison and walked down the stairs to her truck.

…

David and Joyce were already packing the final few items of clothing into the truck by the time Max walked out of the front door. Before she walked over to the truck, Max did what she always did when exiting the front of the house. She looked down the street and saw the remnants of the storm. Even now, a year on, there was still evidence of the chaos that rocked this small town. One of the houses had extensive damage to the roof and another had no front lawn, just some debris that hadn't been cleared. Naturally a large portion of the surviving population of Arcadia Bay had chosen not too return, that is if they even had a home to return to. Max looked down to the ground. Every time she looked at any part of Arcadia Bay, she felt that awefull twinge of guilt without fail. She and Chloe had worked hard at trying to help the grief and guilt that haunted her and she had come a long way but they both knew it would never truly go away, even though she had no way knowing if she caused that storm. Her storm as she used to call it.

Joyce seemed to pick up on Max's episode and slowly walked over and gently placed a warm hand on her daughter-in-law's shoulder.

"Max honey, are you okay? I think we're nearly ready to go" she spoke with that soft and calm voice she was famous for. Max always thought that Joyce's voice could calm the angriest of wild animals but put the fear of God into those that piss her off. Her compassion is one of the many things Max loved about Joyce Price.

"Yeah I'm fine Joyce. Great actually, this trip is going to be amazing I'm sure of it. The area around Arcadia Bay is beautiful for photography!" Max proclaimed. It was true, she couldn't wait to take so many photo's on this trip, her camera was going to get a hell of a workout.

David strolled over with his trademark stride and smiled down at Max.

"I wanted to thank you before you go Max" began David, "A long time ago I accused you of breaking up my family. Now I know I was wrong. Instead I want to thank you for keeping it together. I know I wasn't sold on this trip of yours but you do have my support. Now...where's that step-daughter of mine" he asked, jokingly looking around. Max smiled wide. She loved how much David Madsen had changed. He really stepped up and became a man she and Chloe could actually rely on and Max really did think highly of him. Speaking of the devil, Chloe walked out of the front door and nearly tripped up, earning a chuckle from David. Chloe responded in her usual loving self,

"Something funny lieutenant moustache? It's not I nearly tripped on you're ego" laughed Chloe as she gave him the bird once she set the box down in her truck. The old David would of demanded respect. The new David simply shook his head and his a smile, clearly thinking of a clever comeback.

It took a further twenty minutes for the four of them to get everything packed and tidy. Max and Joyce made sure everything was neat and arranged and Chloe and David ensured everything was messy and all over the place. Finally, at 12:10 in the afternoon, everything was ready to go. Max and Chloe were very excited. They had been dreaming about this for so long and were eager to get going and beat the traffic around the freeway. The goodbyes however, they weren't looking forward to.

Joyce and David walked up to the truck and gave the two a sad smile. They all knew it would be a while before they met in person again. It was the last goodbye they had to do before they left. Max had spent an entire night saying goodbye to Warren and Brooke. Both Max and Chloe spent a day with Kate and her girlfriend, Victoria. It wasn't a permanent trip but it was still sad and they all had their phones. That still didn't make it any easier. The stood in silence for a full minute before Joyce spoke.

"Well...I guess for now this is goodbye. When I look at you two, I am blown away by how proud I am of both of you. My daughters. I hope you both have a great time and I love you both." said Joyce, a tear visible in her eye. Max gave Joyce a huge hug and so did Chloe. Every day Chloe regretted treating her mother like crap and promised she would make up for it. Saying goodbye for a while made that harder.

"Come on mom, not the mushy stuff please. You'll get me tearing up. I got my phone and money and shit so I'll be fine. Plus I have super-Max here to keep an eye on me. I will miss you mom and I do love you. But...I will miss your cooking a little more" Chloe joked and gave her mom another hug.

Now it was David's turn.

"Make sure to call every day without fail. Both of you. I don't want to have to drive hundreds of miles to come get you but...know that I will if you need me. I'm always here and I aint going anywhere. Stay safe please. I don't...I need….to know you're always safe" and with that, the tears fell down the big mans face and he turned away. Max and Chloe looked eachother longingly. They knew it had been hard on him since the injury and the whole storm disaster had taken its toll on him more than he let on. He was like Chloe, stubborn until the end.

Before Max could say anything, Chloe stepped forward and put her arms around the man she had hated for years. They had become close over the last year and a bit and it warmed Max's heart.

"No tears form you step-drain. I need you to look after my mom. I will miss you by the way and you know that hurts me to say heh. Plus, what could go wrong" she said, blinking away her own sadness.

"Now that does not ease my worries" laughed David, wiping his eyes.

They said their final goodbyes, including Max thanking David for being a great man and Joyce for being a kind and loving mentor to her all her life. They climbed into the truck and with a beep of the horn and a final look back, Max and Chloe Price-Caulfield were on their way.

They had just started a long and awesome journey.

Putting her hand on Chloe's, Max put in a CD with her free hand and pressed play. One of her favourites, Obstacles by Syd Matters. Chloe nodded her approval and kissed the hand of her wife. As they both began to sing along to the song, they smiled as they passed a sign.

'Another great day in Arcadia Bay. Thank you and come again.'

Well I really hope you enjoyed. Sorry for the spelling, my spell check is not working aha. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out but I will always aim to be every week if not, every other week. Thank you so much you awesome people and have a great day!

-Fynnlay Simms