Violet's POV:

It was another restless night. I tossed and turned in bed, but couldn't find the comfort of deep sleep. Even Clover couldn't provide me with the comfort I needed, for I missed the warmth of another body lying next to me. To which the fur of a stuffed animal could not provide. I wanted to feel the heat from Clem's skin, the warmth of her breath against my neck. I wanted to drift off with her arms around me. But instead, I was here with nothing but the cold blanket of my bare sheets on the empty spot next to me.

I rolled my eyes and huffed knowing the situation I was in. I threw the wrinkled sheets off of me, bunched up from my constant struggle for sleep. And my bare feet softly hit the wooden floor of my bedroom.

I threw on a pair of socks before slipping on my converses with the purple laces. Then I threw on my red Ericson sweatshirt and slid it over my head. I stuck Clover in my pocket and then picked up my backpack from off the floor and slung it over my shoulders.

I carefully opened my door and closed it softly behind me. I crept down the hallway not wanting to wake up my mom. I was worried that the stairs might creak too loudly, so instead, I slid down the railing, careful not to fall or land too hard at the end.

Knowing that the front door made too much noise, I walked through the kitchen to the back door and stepped outside. Luckily it wasn't raining this time but it was still really cold and I could see my breath accumulating in the air in white puffs.

I walked to the gate and put my hands on the top of the fence feeling the heat leech from my hands against the cold metal. I swung myself over and released my grip, leaving handprints in its place.

Once in the front yard, I took a look around. The street lights where still on and they would be for quite a while still, but I was running out of time, cause I could see the sun light up the sky. So I hit the road in overdrive.

I've been on my own for long enough. I look around and this city's cold and empty and I was dying for her, knowing I can't sleep until I feel her touch.

My breath billowed out in white puffs with every other step I took. My lungs taking in the chilly air of the night, freezing my limbs from inside out.

I emerged down a street after running for five blocks and slowed my gait to a walk. I slipped my hands into my pockets to try and obtain some warmth, feeling Clover inside who I had stuffed in there previously.

I walked down the street, looking more abandoned than anything at this time of morning what with the lack of people and lifeless cars seemingly forgotten on the sides of the road. If I tried hard enough I could pretend I was on another one of my adventures. One where I didn't know where the old cracks in the road would take me. I could pretend that I was in the apocalypse and I had just gone out scavenging, now bringing back to my group whatever I had obtained from an abandoned house. Which to be honest wasn't much. Just a teddy bear and some odds and ends in my backpack. But at least I had a backpack on this journey. Unlike some other unfortunate souls who I'd seen get robbed on one of those walking dead shows and they'd lose whatever they had.

But now that it was in my head, I was on a journey. A mission to get back to my group, back to my girlfriend before the walkers got me. And with that I picked up my pace, looking over my shoulder to make sure no one or 'nothing' was following me.

Seeing I was in the clear, I emerged onto the front porch of Clem's house. I took my hands out of my hoodie pockets and fumbled for the key that Clem had given me. I opened the glass door and inserted the key into the lock of the deadbolt above the doorknob. Then I unlocked the latter of the two. The door opened with a pop followed by a small squeak as I pushed it open.

I stepped into the darkened house and closed the door before locking it back up. Having done this many times before I slipped off my shoes and placed them by the front door. Then I took off my backpack and placed it next to my shoes leaning it against the wall.

I walked up the stairs and found the first bedroom door on the right. I ran my hand over the purple letters that spelled out the name 'Clementine' across it. Then I gripped the handle and gently turned it, opening the door.

I walked into the dark room and gently closed the door behind me. I made my way over towards the side of the bed and looked down at the sleeping form of my girlfriend. I let myself smile before taking Clover out of my pocket and setting him down on her nightstand. Then I pulled back the covers trying not to disturb the sleeping girl and I slipped into bed with her. The warm blankets warmed my chilled limbs after being outside in the cold and I felt myself relax in the sensation of the heated fabric.

I thought I had managed to slip in undetected. But as I snuggle in closer I fell an arm wrap around me. Naturally, Clem braces her arm around me and I feel her lift the covers as she attempts to pull me closer. I can hear the tiredness in her voice as she speaks. "I've been waiting for you."

I smile and nodded in acknowledgment even though she couldn't see it. I know that she had been asleep and had no idea if I was coming or not but I wouldn't be surprised if she waited up for me each night to see if I would come seeking her embrace. Today was just one of those nights and I had been needing her touch in order to obtain the gift of sleep.

I could already feel my body relax and my eyes finally felt tired. And after a run in the cold, I was happy to cuddle up under the covers with my girlfriend. It was where I was meant to be. And with that, we both fell asleep.

I woke the next morning to a loud banging on the door. Followed by a loud pitched voice.

"Clem! Clem, get up! Dad made pancakes!"

I felt a stirring next to me followed by another voice. "Okay AJ, I'll be down in a minute!"

I turned over and saw Clem propping herself up with her hands as she yawned. She looked down at me for a second then smiled. She ran her fingers through my hair and tucked a loose strand behind my ear. "You sleep well, beautiful?"

I blushed at her nickname and slowly nodded. I always slept better with Clem by my side.

Clem smiled before leaning over and kissing my cheek. "Good." Then she threw the covers off of us. "Now we better get down there or we'll never hear the end of it."

I nodded in agreement and slid out of bed with Clem following suit. I opened the door to her room and waited for her to go in front of me. Then I followed her down the stairs and into the kitchen where an excited gasp was heard the second I entered.

"Violet!" AJ yelled once he saw me. Then he ran up and gave me a hug. "I didn't know you were here!"

Lee chuckled from across the room where he was currently making pancakes just like AJ had said. "I thought those were your shoes and bag that I saw by the front door. I'm glad you could be joining us for breakfast Violet."

"You knew Violet was here and you didn't tell me!" AJ whined.

"Had I told you, you wouldn't have let the girls get any sleep," Lee stated as he poured some more batter into a pan.

I heard AJ grumble something under his breath at Lee's words.

So I smiled and signed something to him as I sat down at the kitchen table.

AJ looked at Clementine for an explanation. "What's that mean?"

Clem smiled. "You should know that one, it's easy. Violet said 'good morning'."

"Oh. Morning." AJ says to me. "Did you bring Woody?"

I shook my head no and signed that he was at home.

"Sorry, buddy," Clem told him. "Violet got here late last night. She couldn't bring Woody."

"Okay," AJ said defeatedly. But then he lightened up. "I'm still glad you're here Violet. I like it when you stay over."

I smiled and signed back. "I like staying over too."

Clem relayed my message and that's when Lee spoke up. "We're always happy to have you, Violet. Anytime you want to come over." Then he turned around with a large stack of pancakes. "Alright, now who's ready for pancakes?!"

"I am!" AJ yelled.

While Lee served AJ I slipped my hand under the table and grasped Clem's hand. I felt her fingers intertwine with mine and I sighed in contentment at the contact.

I guess Clem could see how relaxed I was and she leaned over and kissed my cheek.

AJ's nose wrinkled and an audible 'Ew' came from him.

"Alright girls, let's settle down. No kissing at the table." Lee scolded as he placed some pancakes onto my plate. He said it lightheartedly but I could tell he was serious. I smiled apologetically. Mental note, "Don't kiss in front of Lee."

But I squeezed Clem's hand a little tighter under the table. I smiled when she squeezed back. I loved it when she held my hand. Who knew a hand so strong and rough could also be so soft and gentle.

That's when we heard the phone ring. Lee stood up from his chair and pushed it in. "I got it." He said.

He went over to the wall and grabbed the phone, and answered it while we all continued eating. I could probably guess who was on the end of that phone.

"Oh hello, Mrs. Knight. How are you?"

"Yep, called it."

I figured it was my mom. She usually called here if she found out I was missing at home. She was okay with it, she just liked to check in and make sure that I was okay.

"Oh yes, Violet is perfectly okay." I heard Lee say. "We just sat down to breakfast."

There was a pause and then I heard Lee say, "Okay, I tell her." Then he hung up.

I was a little worried about what Lee had to tell me and I squeezed Clem's hand once more. I looked at her and she squeezed back reassuringly.

Lee sat back down and then delivered his message. "You're mom just said to be back by two this afternoon. She said to remind you that your Aunt and cousins are coming over. Won't that be fun?"

Oh no. I totally forgot that my cousins were coming over. I mean it's not like I hate my family, they just made me a bit uncomfortable. I don't think they really understand my muteness. I'm worried about what my Aunt might say or think or if my cousins would even understand.

I looked down at my half-eaten plate of pancakes, now suddenly not very hungry. I put down my fork and my grip on Clem's hand loosened. But I felt her squeeze back tightly. I guess she could read my thoughts because next, she said, "Hey, it'll be okay."

I looked in her eyes for any sign of doubt but couldn't find any. So I slowly nodded in agreement. I could get through it.

We finished breakfast and then Clem led me into the living room while Lee washed the dishes. She brought me over to the couch but we didn't sit down. Instead, Clem said, "Now we can kiss each other without any interruptions."

I felt a smile tug on my lips as I tried not to giggle. Clem had a smirk on her face before she leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose. My face turned bright red and Clem's smirk returned. Then she went in for another kiss but this time it was on my cheek. She worked her way down to my neck and I couldn't help but silently giggle at her touch.

She pulled back. "What are you giggling at? She said playfully. "It's not supposed to be funny."

But I couldn't help my giggling. That is until Clem wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me forward. She landed back on the couch with me on top of her. I used my arms to prop myself up and had both of my hands on either side of her head. My hair fell down around me and framed my face as I looked down at her. And before I could do anything, Clem caught me off guard and leaned up and kissed me on the lips. This felt like a real Lion King moment. My cheeks were dusted pink as she pulled away and all Clem could say was, "God you're cute."

I blushed harder as I felt heat rush to my cheeks. Clem could really turn it on when she wanted to. She knew just how to get to me when I least expected it.

She leaned up and waited for a second as if asking for permission this time before our lips met in another kiss. This time heated with the desire that we both wanted.

We didn't pull apart until we got interrupted.

"Ew." Came AJ's voice.

I quickly turned around, getting off of Clementine, and both I and Clem turned a shade of red. AJ stood a few feet away having just come in from the kitchen.

"Cleeem, can you and Violet come play with me? Instead of doing...that." AJ whined.

Clem swallowed hard before her words stumbled out, clearly embarrassed from having gotten caught making out with me. "Um...s-sure. Just uh...give-give us a minute."

AJ seemed happy with this and raced up the stairs saying, "Meet me in my bedroom!"

"Now...Where were we?" Came Clem's voice. I turned back to her just in time for her to plant a kiss to my lips. But I couldn't help but giggle again cutting the kiss short. She tried to kiss me again but I turned at the last second and she got my cheek instead. I giggled silently and shook my head at her antics.

I moved and got up from off the couch. It's not that I wanted her to stop, but it was time we met AJ before he came back and caught us again.

Clem's Pov:

I reluctantly followed Violet up the stairs to AJ's room. I'd prefer to keep kissing my girlfriend but I had agreed to play with AJ. I loved him to death, but sometimes I just want to spend time with my girlfriend. But I guess I should be grateful that AJ loved Violet so much. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if AJ hadn't accepted Violet as my girlfriend or embraced her muteness.

I got up the stairs and turned into the first bedroom on the left. And what I saw warmed my heart. Violet sat cross-legged on the floor next to AJ as he explained what he was trying to do with his Hot Wheels cars. He'd built a long ramp and was trying to jump them over a tower of blocks but couldn't get it just right. So Violet helped him make some adjustments. This time when he rolled the car down the track it jumped the blocks and landed on the other side on the floor. AJ cheered and I saw Violet smile at him. It was really cute to watch.

I was really glad that Violet got along with AJ and that my little brother got along with my girlfriend. It was honestly adorable with how much AJ looked up to Violet. And I wouldn't trade either of them for the world.