As they neared the mall, Amber came running out. 'Bray.' She stopped as the group walked over to her, Bray setting down Sierra. 'Are you sure? You're alright with this?' She searched his face for telltale signs as he nodded. With a small cry of happiness, Amber launched herself into his arms, giving him an excited kiss. When she pulled back and ran back into the mall, Bray looked around for Novalee.

'She left loverboy.' Lex said, chuckling at Bray's expression. 'To go into the mall Bray. To go into the mall. Man, you got it bad.'

Bray didn't hear him, he was too intent on locating Novalee to tell her what was in his heart. To ask her how she felt about him. To find out everything about her and the children that she'd willingly tell him. As he entered the mall entrance he could hear Mel talking to KC, Tally, and Sierra. He walked as fast as possible in that direction, but was disappointed to find that Novalee wasn't with them. 'Mel, where's Nova?'

Mel looked at him, 'She's upstairs. I think she went to check on Brady.'

Bray nodded, 'Thanks.' Swiftly he went to Brady's room, but stopped outside the doorway when he heard singing. Slowly, he walked through to see Novalee standing next to Brady's bed singing a song. Something about wanting to be part of someone's world. He smiled, 'You have a beautiful voice.'

Startled, Novalee turned around. 'Sorry, I'll leave now.' She started to walk by Bray, but was stopped by his hand on her arm.

'Please don't. I'd like you to stay. Tell me more about your life before here…before the virus.'

She shook her head, 'I don't think so. You have more important things to do.'

'Like what?'

'I don't know…be a leader I guess. Make sure Amber's alright. I…I should go check on Sasha.'

'I wouldn't do that if I were you.' He smiled as a perplexed look came over her face. 'Amber is seeing to him.'

'But…'

'It looked bad downstairs…like something it wasn't. Not really. It hasn't been like that for a long time.'

Her eyes became shuttered, 'No matter of mine.' She pulled away from him. 'I should go check on the children.'

'I just saw them, they're fine as well. Why are you afraid to be alone with me?'

'I'm not afraid.' She looked into his eyes and sighed, sitting on Trudy's bed. 'Okay, maybe I'm a little uneasy. But that's only because I told you things about my past. Things I've never really told anyone. Never had the chance to tell anyone else. I don't want to be vulnerable to anyone.'

'You can be yourself around me…I can promise you that I won't run. It doesn't bother me. In fact, I want to know more about you.'

'No you don't. I saw the look in your eyes when I went gung-ho on that gang with Sasha. The look in your eyes when you thought I would hurt the man who took the girls. You don't want to know me.'

'Yes. Yes I do. It's true that I don't like violence. That I feel, there are other means of communication. But I know you wouldn't hurt anyone without good honest reason.'

'Thanks, I think.' She tentatively smiled at him. 'You're really fine with this whole Sasha and Amber thing.'

He nodded, 'She deserves to be happy. I told you things haven't been good between us for some time now.'

She nodded before looking at him intensely, 'About this violence thing…you understand that it is very possible Ebony and I might get into it?'

'Yes, that was made clear this morning. I know Ebony and I know how she is with everybody. I trust you to take care of yourself.'

'So you know how she fights?'

He nodded, 'It is nothing like you. Granted she might be a bit of a challenge, but I wouldn't be placing any guaranteed bets on either of you if it came down to it.'

'Gee, somehow that's not all that reassuring.' She smiled when he laughed. 'But would you be okay with me fighting her?'

'I suppose…the restraint you've already shown with her men is evidence that you only fight when necessary. Where did you learn to fight anyway?'

'My sister…actually my sister-in-law. She was a street fighter. One of the best.'

He smiled widely, 'She look like you?'

'No.' she giggled, 'She was an inch shorter with pitch-black hair and almost black eyes they were so dark. Not to mention her temper…man, if you pissed her off, watch out.'

'Was she your mentor?'

'No, I took some fighting lessons from her, but my dad started showing me self-defense as I got older.' She shook her head, 'I thought he was joking when he suggested it. So unlike him…he was like you.' She looked at Bray. 'Calm, reassuring…safe. He believed that violence was unnecessary. He was my protector. I can still see his face if I concentrate hard enough. But one day, one day I know I won't be able to picture him. That scares me, that I'll forget him, forget his teachings.'