DISCLAIMER: READ CHAPTER 1.

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CHAPTER 11 - NEW HOME, NEW LIFE, AND NEW CHANCES

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When Harry had gotten word from the people who are manning the communications and told him about the West runners finding survivors and having trouble with Runners, he didn't hesitate to give out orders on sending back-up to save them and bring them back safely to Safe Haven.

He got very anxious and worried that the runners or survivors might not make it out alive when dealing with a pack of Runners, but all of his worries were soothed from his first-time boyfriend and partner Damian Wolfe, a male wolf shape-shifter and that his concerns were dashed when they had come back and returned to Safe Haven along with the new survivors the West runners had found and brought in.

Harry knew about Merle Dixon wanting to go on a run to search for his brother ever since they had found him, brought him to Safe Haven and treated him of his injuries and drug abuse. When the time came that Merle was cleared officially that he could go outside, the only thing the Dixon man focused on was finding his brother.

He was skeptical at first on sending Colt Gunner to go with him at the West run but he consented when Colt's mother approved of it and that Merle needed someone to keep an eye on him in case he falls back to his bad drug habits, even though Merle still cared deeply for the family he's got left out there. So Harry approved it and they left, and he got worried when he hadn't gotten word from them until he was told that they were in trouble and then he sent help to get them.

Now before the driving entourage came back and were about to enter into Safe Haven, Harry was by the high balcony that looked over the walls of the grand building he's in as his home and main office for him and his friends as 'Elders' of Safe Haven, and he saw them coming and went to prepare himself to greet them.

He notified his friends and others so that they would see him and Draco was glancing at Damian who kept staying beside him.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to have him around to greet the newcomers?" Draco inquired cautiously. "Even if they're normal mundane and all-don't you think that they might react badly if they find out about the relationship between you two?"

Harry scoffed and looked at him as if he's gone mad. "Even if they did, so what? I have long discarded everything since I wanted to leave the Wizarding world behind for a normal and peaceful life, what does it matter if I'm gay and I got myself a partner? If they don't like it-then screw them."

Damian looked like he was puffing himself with smug pride that his partner and mate didn't mind their relationship, even if it's only their first time together for only a few months. Luna rolled her eyes and said to Draco. "Come now, Draco. Just say that you were worried about Harry being exposed to more bias and prejudice or that you're jealous that you don't have a partner of your own to show off."

"I'm not worried and-I'm not jealous!" Draco protested as if Luna had just accused him again of being a Death-Eater before the apocalypse. "Why would I need to be jealous anyway since I don't need any partner?"

Blaise snorted with disbelief and gave a teasing glance towards his friend. "Oh really? What about that guy that kept following you around like a puppy and that you're starting to soften to?"

Draco instantly snapped at him sharply. "He's different and the only reason why I'm being lenient towards him was that he was being pathetic when he kept giving me those looks of hurt as if I pained or killed him or something!"

Neville chuckled. "Admit it, Draco. You're starting to get some fond feelings towards that mundane man."

"You shut it Longbottom-or I'll shut it for you!" the blonde young man warned the other threateningly.

"Alright, alright. No violence in my house, even with my kid present." Harry instantly soothed and stopped them from about to fight when he noticed that Teddy came out from his room awoken from his nap and was blearily looking for his 'father'. Damian went first to get him and picked him up and Teddy didn't mind as he had already accepted him as a second 'father' beside his most loved one, Harry.

The little toddler boy cuddled against Damian and reached out one small hand towards Harry. Harry smiled and came closer to nuzzle his face against the child in an affectionate loving gesture.

"Hey there, cub. Nice nap?" he crooned to the little kid and Teddy nodded tiredly as if wanting to sleep more and settled himself to nap in Damian's arms. Harry smiled wider at the sight before he snapped out of it when he remembered instantly of the newcomers that are arriving.

Harry went out first with Damian walking beside him and the sleepy Teddy in his arms and the others soon followed as they go and greet the new group of survivors, that were found by the West runners and brought to Safe Haven.

When he approached and greeted them in a friendly manner and personality, at first the newcomers tensed but then they relaxed when they saw that Harry's a family man of sorts when they spotted Teddy beside him as Harry decided to hold in his arms and cuddle him. When Harry spoke, they thought that he's the leader of this safe place but they didn't know that the others with him are also leaders of Safe Haven as well.

After he had given his greetings and welcomes to the new survivors, Harry turned to Luna and gestured them to her. "Luna will be helping you along to get settled in here. Meantime…welcome again to Safe Haven. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here."

Luna smiled kindly to the newcomers as Harry and some of his companions had turned and left them with her. It took a bit of gentle persuasion for Luna to guide the group of new survivors away to lead them to where they're going to be settled into their new homes inside Safe Haven.

Just as Harry and the others had turned around and were heading back to Harry's mansion-like manor, Harry whispered softly to Damian. "So what do you think of them?"

Damian discretely glanced back towards the new group of survivors that were following Luna, before he looked back to Harry and responded whispering. "Some of them looked to be good people but…I think I'm sensing that there's one or two of them who might be trouble in the future."

"Which ones?"

"That brunette woman with the kid and sheriff husband, and the blonde woman with the elderly old man. I'm sensing possible cockiness and some sort of pride on the blonde, so I bet that she'll be wanting to prove herself to be useful by wanting to have a gun or weapon for herself. And as for the brunette…I can easily tell that judgmental attitude she's got from the way she's looking at you and the others." Damian said and he growled upon remembering the latter part he's told Harry. "I didn't like it."

Harry almost smiled at his boyfriend's overprotectiveness and gently assured him that he and his friends will deal with it when the time comes with their special abilities. But for now, they'll need to keep a low profile about their unique kind (namely magic) before the newcomers were deemed trustworthy of knowing its existence and everything.

Time will tell eventually for the new ones in Safe Haven.

And hopefully, it will be good for Harry and his friends and the others of the magical kind that it will be.

OOOOO

The new survivors had followed behind the long-haired blonde woman to wherever they're going to be settled in their new living places and homes inside this safe place called Safe Haven.

All of them except for Daryl Dixon-and the group that is with Galley.

He stayed behind and stood by beside his brother Merle as he and Colt were the only ones left behind when the group left and Daryl wasn't surprised when they didn't notice that he wasn't following behind them.

Only Carol and Sophia had looked back to them with anxiety and worry in their faces, but Colt had given them reassuring nods towards them that they'll see each other again later and the two girls kept on following with the group and Luna.

"So…that's the boss of this place?" Daryl inquired as he glanced towards Harry and his companions as they turned around after finished with the greetings and they went back to the big grand-like mansion.

"Make that bosses, little brother. And yep, that's them." Merle responded as he nodded respectfully towards Harry who looked back at him and Colt shortly to see and check again if they're fine.

Daryl blinked in surprise and looked at his brother. "Bosses?"

Colt answered for Merle. "Their official titles they're called are actually 'Elders'-and yes, they are the leaders here in Safe Haven. You can relax for they are good people. I know that Harry wouldn't just bring in strangers here without hesitation, not unless all of you have to go through the weekly assessment trials for all newcomers and survivors."

Merle explained further on seeing more confusion on his brother's face. "The trials are necessary to weed out any bad ones among the new people that come in here into Safe Haven. But don't worry about yourself little brother, because you're with me."

Colt snorted and muttered lowly. "Wow, that's reassuring."

"Hey! I heard that, boy!"

Colt grinned at him as if he's not afraid to face Merle's 'wrath' or something. "You're supposed to."

Merle fumed, making Daryl almost laugh out loud at the look on his face and Galley chuckled and shook his head before he guided his nervous group to another direction where they might be heading to.

The Dixon brothers and Colt watched Galley and his group leave before they did too, heading in another direction and it seemed to be the path towards Colt's home.

It turned out to be true while Daryl tried looking around a bit more that he could like he wanted to assess the place if it's really safe and secure, and they were approaching a simple yet modest wooden-log cottage and a pregnant woman was sweeping a broom and cleaning the outside porch.

The woman stopped and looked at them upon noticing them approach and then she smiled widely, set the broom aside and almost ran forward to hug Colt.

"Oh, you're back! I was getting a little worried when I got word that Harry didn't get any contact from you on your run!" she gushed fussily and Colt let her before he scolded her a bit sternly as if he was her guardian instead of her child. "Ma, what did I say about doing any heavy lifting or working?"

Colt's mother just scoffed and lightly swatted his shoulder with her hand after she broke the hug. "Oh shush you! Sweeping a broom isn't heavy or too much working. Besides, I was getting too anxious over you being out on that run with Mr. Dixon and I had to make myself busy to keep my worrying mind off over things."

"Hey! What am I, chopped liver or something?!" Merle protested as if offended by the woman's wording that he's trouble to be getting along with.

She looked at him blankly before she said bluntly. "You know that you're still on watch-list over your last antics before, Merle. Now don't even try to deny it, but you asked for it."

Merle gave a mock-pained look and put his bare hand over his heart as she hurt him. "I'm hurt, missy! You know that I wouldn't bring any trouble to your boy even if my life depended on it. Nope-if it were anyone, it would be your kid bringing the trouble to him and anybody else in his range."

Colt glared back at him with a look that says. 'Oh really?' before he turned to Daryl and nodded towards his mother. "Mom, this is Daryl, Merle's brother. Daryl, this is my mom. Her name's Katrina Gunner."

Then Colt's mother Katrina turned to look and smiled warmly towards Daryl as if instantly welcoming him into her home. "Hello, it's nice to meet you. Welcome to my humble abode. I already got some food cooked and ready for lunch. Hungry?"

As if on cue, Daryl's stomach growled soundly to signal that he is and he almost blushed brightly in embarrassment as Colt stifled his snickers and Merle guffawed almost out loud when they heard it, but Katrina was kind enough to just smile at him in that warm gentle presence of hers.

"Well, you heard my little brother talking-especially his stomach-let's go and eat cause I'm starving too!" Merle said booming as he patted his brother's shoulder reassuringly that Katrina is a good woman, as well as her son Colt, is and they went inside but before they were going to sit down on the chairs by the dinner table, Katrina scolded the boys to wash their hands first before they eat.

Daryl seemed a bit perturbed that he and his brother were treated kindly without prejudice from this pregnant woman, even though they're both rednecks, but he guessed that it has to do with her son being the wild one as he is almost the same way he and Merle was when they go out hunting into the woods as they always have been. He wondered at first whether it was her or Colt's father that might have been a redneck or something, but it turns out from Katrina's few tales and stories of her son-no matter how much Colt tried to stop his mother from telling about it-and he was also a bit amused on hearing that Colt seemed to have a unique liking towards the outdoors, especially towards being a hunter and everything that it is one of the reasons why Colt is the way he is.

After they had eaten their lunch, Daryl became confused when Katrina reminded his brother Merle to have themselves checked out with the doctor just in case they didn't contract anything when they were out there that might kill them. Even though Katrina had confided that she's a doctor too and would have checked them out herself, but she's on maternity leave for the time being until she gave birth from her pregnancy. Colt offered to join along with them and Daryl had to voice his question out loud. "Why do Merle and I need to get checked out with the doc? I'm fine and I'm sure from what Merle told me, he's fine too, clean from his drug habit."

Colt and Katrina looked at him as if he's an idiot until the teenage boy realized something and looked at Merle incredulously. "You didn't tell him!?"

"I was going to-but I didn't find the time!" Merle protested defending himself.

Colt rolled his eyes and almost threw up his hands in annoyance because of Merle forgetting to impart something important to his brother and Katrina decided to share that knowledge herself as she said gravely to him. "Daryl, all of us are infected. Even if we die either by accident or old age or something else, and we're not bitten and scratched by a zombie-we all turn into one."

Daryl was stunned shocked and horrified at this grim knowledge but then he realized with the facts that it's true over the increasing number of zombies that emerged when the apocalypse happened before. Then he suddenly remembered about Merle and stared at him as if making sure he's really healthy and well.

Merle scoffed, knowing instantly why his brother is looking at him like that. "Damn it already, I'm fine little brother. I'm clean and I won't be dying anytime soon from my drug habits."

Colt points out. "Yeah, but you're still on watch-list, Merle."

"Well, thanks a lot, boy. Way to lighten up the mood." the gruff man said sarcastically at him.

"Speaking of which, you'll need to go soon, otherwise you might have to queue up on a long line when you get to the doctors. Now go, I'll clean up here," Katrina said as she moved her hands in a shooing motion to get them to go.

Colt and the two Dixon men went off to go to the place where they needed to go, which is known and called the Haven hospital where all doctors are set up there to help out all the people in Safe Haven. It is situated almost in the middle of the grand secure place. They had entered inside the Haven hospital and found Galley already inside with some of the new survivors, namely Siren, Mika, Sergey and the three ex-cons as they are getting checked out by one of the doctors working there.

Galley turned around and saw them come in and asked while looking pointedly at Merle. "Let me guess…something happened during your run with the new survivors?"

Merle threw his hands up in the air as if offended with what Galley said. "Why does everybody think it's me that's always trouble or something? I ain't always the one who needs the doc to get checked or something-he is!" he pointed at Colt as if to emphasize it and Colt looked at Merle with an expression that says again 'Oh really?'

Galley slightly grinned at his reaction as if he had expected it before he turned back to look at Siren who looked like she didn't want to get a check-up.

That's when Daryl noticed that besides the doctor who's trying to coax Siren into taking down her hood and removing her bandanna, there was another unfamiliar person in the room they're all in, and it's not another one of the doctors.

This one looked to be another young African-American teenage boy and it seemed that Colt had recognized him as he nodded to him. The black boy just beamed, walked instantly over to Colt's side and slapped him in a friendly manner to his back and jovially said. "Dude! I heard that you and Galley had quite a tumble when you met each other back then, huh?"

Colt glared at Galley as if this is his fault when they registered the joking and teasing tone in the black boy's voice as he retorted. "DJ, he tried to push me over and almost made me fall to my death when he thought that I was an enemy or something. It's not some wrestling rumble or something else you would call it."

The boy named DJ just laughed and said, "Even so! Galley caught you off-guard again! Man, I think you're losing your touch on being the best and sharpest in the fields out there!"

"Watch it…" he warned him with narrowed eyes. "Or I won't hesitate to shoot you point blank with my crossbow, DJ."

"Not on my watch, you're not. Remember that this is a hospital, and I will have no violence in here, boys." said the black woman doctor in a stern scolding tone of voice, who was about to check on Siren but failing again.

Both boys said in unison like automatically. "Sorry, Dr. Marg."

She nodded satisfied and tried again to gently coax Siren to take off her hood and bandana so that she'll do a health check but the silent girl still refused. She sighed and decided to do a different approach as Dr. Marg turned around and looked straight at Merle. "Get over here, Merle and let me give you a check-up."

Merle was about to protest but then there were instant glares from Colt and Dr. Marg-even his own brother-so he relented and went over to let the woman check him out and see to his health.

That's when Merle and Daryl realized that Dr. Marg is checking on him first because Galley's new group of survivors seemed to be very nervous into having their check-ups, so she decided to show them that it's not so bad if she did a check-up with one of the recent residents here in the Safe Haven, like Merle.

It helps a little that Galley is gently reassuring them that this check-up is fine and necessary, and it seemed like the only thing that managed to convince them to let the doctors check on their health when Galley confided the grim knowledge that everyone in the whole world is infected and that they'll turn into the undead monsters, even without a scratch or bite.

After Dr. Marg had checked Merle and deemed him with a clean bill of health for now-even though he's been clean ever since he's been in Safe Haven-she was satisfied to see that the others are compliant now and letting her check on them.

Sergey was first, next were the three former prisoners from Georgia Correctional prison, then little girl Mika was next (with a bit of gentle coaxing and reassurance from her protector, Siren) and finally, Siren is the last one.

Even though Siren looked like she still didn't want to be checked out, but it turns out that the reason she was hesitant to do so is about the hood and bandana she's wearing.

Galley seemed to be the only one who knew about her problem as he glared meaningfully pointed at the others and snapped at them testily like daring them to try to insult her once Siren takes them off. "When she takes the bandana off, do not judge her over what she has done to herself that got her into believing that this is the only way she'd be able to survive out there."

"Why would we judge her-? HOLY SHIT!" DJ was confused at Galley's threatening warning at them but then he understood instantly as he exclaimed out loud in a curse when he and the others saw what Galley meant.

After Siren took down her hood, showing her pixie-cut boyish blonde hair and she has completely lowered and removed the bandana cloth covering her lower face, they saw that she had almost many layers of duct-tape over where her mouth is. There is a slightly visible small hole to where the mouth's opening should be so she would be able to drink liquids through a straw, but the hole wasn't big enough for her to eat which shows the obvious answer that she's been surviving through drinking water and liquid food.

The others froze and stared in stunned shock at Siren and she just ignored them as she glared suspiciously and cautiously at the doctor studying and inspecting her thoroughly.

"Jesus…why the hell would she duct-tape herself like that?!" Merle exclaimed incredulously. "How was she able to survive and live that long enough without being able to drink and eat properly? That ain't healthy!"

Colt glared at him. "Really? How about you trying to look for drugs to get yourself high again while on rehab-is that healthy?"

Merle cursed when his brother looked at him with a disappointed expression on his face. "That was one time-one time! And you know that it was a bad day for me too, boy!"

Dr. Marg scolded him and the others. "Alright, that's enough of that. You're agitating my patient here." Then she smiled warmly to Siren, which made her relax and the young blonde boy-haired girl was calm and quiet still after the doctor had checked her out and deemed her slightly healthy with a little malnutrition from drinking and eating liquids the whole time she survived out there before she and another doctor who came to assist and gently removed the duct tapes from her lips, being careful enough not to make her feel any more pain than she might have.

Once they were done with the doctor's check-up and everything, and Siren looked almost completely relieved to have all the layers of duct-tapes off from her slightly reddening mouth, Galley led his group to be brought to Luna to be sorted and settled into their new homes. After Galley left with the others, only Colt and the Dixon men were the last and they went off and head back home to the Gunner house where Colt's mother is waiting for them.

Katrina welcomed them home, surprising Daryl and amusing Merle and her son Colt when she came to greet them warmly and then she hugged Daryl before she went and hugged her son and then Merle.

Daryl was floored and dumbfounded at the affectionate way Katrina's giving towards him and his brother, but then Merle joked that it's the pregnancy hormones that's gotten her this way, which made Katrina almost slap him hard at his arm when she heard him say that.

Then Katrina shooed them all off to go to bed and rest, as Colt went upstairs to his bedroom beside his mother's room. Merle guided Daryl to bunk with him in his room and Daryl settled in as he saw that Merle's room is tidy and neat.

Just as Merle went to sleep in sound snoring, Daryl followed him quietly after, feeling relaxed and safe inside the new home he's living in with his brother and the new kind of family they're with.

It was the next morning on a new day that the Dixon brothers woke up early like they used to before the zombie apocalypse and went down the stairs.

Both Colt and Katrina Gunner were also early risers and Katrina was setting the table while Colt helped his mother spread out the food and plates. They looked up when they sensed the two men approach, and Katrina smiled warmly again when they went down, both rednecks still looking groggy and tired as if they didn't get enough sleep. "Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully to them.

Merle just grunted in response while Daryl nodded, and then the two men joined her and Colt at the table and took their breakfast.

As they eat, Daryl was silent and looking thoughtfully at his brother, before he turned to discreetly look at the mother and son, with Katrina scolding Colt a bit since he seemed to be following some bad habits he got from Merle or somebody else and Colt apologized but Daryl knew that Colt will keep those bad habits without his mother knowing.

Daryl had a deep feeling that this place is good for him and the others.

Even with his brother Merle alive and kicking and that he's also a changed man for the better, he would easily give away his trust and loyalty towards those he believes that are good people and those who treat him and his brother Merle as good people do, like Colt and Katrina Gunner, and like the leaders of Safe Haven for letting them stay here, safe and secure from the dangers outside.

OOOOO

Just as Luna had brought the group of new survivors consisting of Grimes family and the others, she led them first straight to what looked to be an official registration center, where they need to fill out any basic information like what were the previous jobs and occupations they have before the zombie apocalypse, and additional information like what skills they have before and after the apocalypse.

After they had done this, Luna led them to the Haven hospital next to have them all checked out of their health and well-being, and when some of them protested or asked demandingly why they need to have a check-up (Lori's the only one who demanded as if her own privacy is being violated), Luna gave them the grim and grave truth about the worldwide infection. That shocked them all stunned silent and instantly they relented on getting themselves checked out, and after they were given clean bills of health-except Hershel Greene and Dale for their elderly health concerns, and Andrea, Rick Grimes, and Shane Walsh for their emotional or mental problems-and then Luna settled them into their new homes.

You'd think that this particular tight-knit group would stay together, even though they're now in a safe place. Instead, they all want to go in their separate ways and live in different places. So in a newly-built modest and almost large apartment-like house or mansion, the Grimes family stay in one unit, the next unit are Andrea, Dale, Carol, Sophia, TDog, and Shane Walsh, and the last unit is the Greene family and Glenn Rhee-since he wants to stay with his new girlfriend Maggie which her father Hershel begrudgingly agrees to much to his daughter's slightly begging demands to be together with him.

They were all about to settle in and relax but then Rick Grimes and Shane Walsh were called by Luna and they went to her questioningly on why she did, when she told them that the main leader of Safe Haven, which they learn that it's the man who called himself Hadrian Black or Harry, has called them over to his home to talk to them about something.

They exchanged uncertain looks but the two men agreed on a bit hesitantly to follow Luna and go see what the leader wants as they went towards the grand and almost big mansion where Harry lives in with his friends and family, and also using it as the main office or something.

Luna gets them in, and they passed by the other residents in Harry's place before they are now facing the door which would be Harry's office. She knocked on the door, heard Harry saying loud to come in and they went inside and they saw Harry on a chair by his desk, looking over some papers or files.

Harry looked up and smiled upon seeing Luna and the men, and he gestured the men to take a seat while Luna nodded and left them alone, closing the door and waiting outside for them to have their private conversation.

As the two former cops sat down and they were waiting for Harry to say something when he looked at them blankly for a short moment and then he looked at the papers on his desk as if trying to confirm something before he said inquiring. "Now I understand that the two of you were cops before, right?"

Both nodded as Rick replied, "Sheriff's department, a small county in Georgia."

Harry nodded at this. "Good. That's good. Now, I know that Luna has told you and your group that you're all on SWATs or Survivors' Week Assessment Trials ensuring your stay here in Safe Haven, but I'm considering to offer the two of you to work for the police force here in this place once your trials are over. There's an open position for the inside and outside posts."

Rick and Shane did remember Luna telling them about this 'SWATs' thing before when she had led them to the apartment-house building and settled them there, and they had understood that the trials were necessary since the apocalypse happened, and the very bad people who managed to survive and might be loose out there in the world, roaming about. Shane would know this when he rescued Rick's family and got them out away to safety as he had seen the worst things during the apocalypse. So it would be relieving to have the security and laws still in place even in the zombie apocalypse and the world has now gone into survival 'dog-eat-dog' mode.

"Outside?" Shane asked curiously when he registered the latter part of Harry's statement.

It was Draco who answered and explained. "Mostly the cases and crimes we got were committed from outside the Safe Haven, specifically the living hostiles we encounter or the Runner packs that are out there. It's rare for cases and major crimes to occur from the inside of Safe Haven since most of the residents here of both past and new ones have been getting along well with little skirmishes among them."

The two men were startled when they heard him speak and realize that he came in without knocking, but Harry seemed to not mind this as he was used to it and Draco went straight to his side to deliver some more file reports and papers to him. Harry nodded to him and Draco quickly left without so much of a polite greeting back just as he had entered. Rick and Shane were a bit shocked at his rudeness but Harry still didn't mind this as he set the new files aside and smiled at them. "Is there anything you like to ask about? Anything at all? I'll answer any questions that you have, but I can't guarantee that either my friends nor I know much of what's happening in the past, present, and future."

Shane didn't seem to have anything to ask as he is relieved and grateful to be living in a safe and secure new place and have some small normality in life like getting back into the job as a cop, but Rick does have a few questions.

"About the world-wide zombie infection…is it really true?" Rick asked, praying and hoping that it wasn't, since he had already known this back then from the CDC when Jenner almost killed his family and the group, and in the end the scientist let them go and told Rick about this grave truth.

His hopes were dashed and his entire heart sank when Harry frowned solemnly at him and nodded. "Yes, it's true. Even without a scratch or a bite from a zombie, if you die in any way-you will turn into one. Most of the residents and survivors here in Safe Haven have seen that, and all of them can attest that it's true."

He added in a teasing tone as if to lighten up the somber mood. "So when the time comes that you two start working as cops here in Safe Haven-try not to get yourselves shot or something."

Both men were a bit amused with Harry's slightly lame joke on this and nodded and the conversation ended with Harry kindly leading them out to Luna as she was waiting for them to escort them back to their new home.

Just as they were walking down the path back towards the apartment, Rick and Shane began talking to each other with Luna being polite to not listen to them-even though she's discreetly eavesdropping to get a feel of assessing the new people in Safe Haven.

"So what do you think, Rick? Which one are you going for once our trial's up? I'm going for the outside spot." Shane said.

Rick blinked in surprise at that but he believed that it's good for Shane is going for that position since he was aiming to get more active duty in the field before the apocalypse.

"Well, I've been wanting for some peace, so I guess that I'll just choose the inside one," Rick said.

His friend asked, "You sure about that? I know that you're not one to stay in one place even if it's peaceful and quiet."

Rick nodded, "I'm positive. I've been meaning to get something like this before…well, you know-when I got shot and got into a coma and then woke up into…this. I'd like some quiet so that I'll be able to spend more time with my family."

Although Rick doesn't know what kind of relationship it's going to be with Lori right now since it's obvious that they're both falling out from each other very soon, and also with her sudden change like her 'bitchy' attitude. Still, at least he has his son Carl to think about and he cares about him and what he wants.

Shane nodded in understanding and patted his hand at his friend's shoulder. "Alright, man."

As the two men talked, they didn't notice that Luna almost tripped over her feet and her eyes slightly widened in horror when she heard Rick said that he was in a coma before and had woken sometime in the middle of the apocalypse. They didn't know that Rick's former condition would be a cause for concern and she will be reporting this back straight to Harry and the doctors in Haven hospital.

When they finally reached into the entrance of the building they're all living in but in different unit places, Luna gave her goodbyes to them and left and both Rick and Shane still didn't notice that Luna was in a hurry to report the matter about Rick.

When they went inside, Shane went straight to his unit that he's sharing with the others and Rick goes to his wife and son and as he came in, the two of them looked up and saw him enter.

"Hi, Dad!" Carl cried as he ran to hug his father and seemed very happy as he babbled on that the house they're inside is good and whatever he's rambling about.

Rick smiled and indulged his son, listening to him talk on, and when he looked at his wife, he almost frowned visibly upon seeing the pinched expression in her face as if she's dissatisfied or upset with something. Rick sighed when Lori seemed to speak gently, but there was an underlying sound in her voice that she's angry about something. "Hey, Carl? Why don't you go to your room and play with your new toys or something? Your father and I need to talk."

Carl also seemed to sense his mother's mood and he became tense and nervous as he looked up at his father, like he's afraid that his own mother will hurt him or something.

Rick smiled down at his son reassuringly. "It's okay, buddy. Go to your room. Your mom and I will just talk a little."

When Carl left them alone a bit hesitantly, the moment the door in Carl's new room had closed did Lori dropped her 'loving wife' presence and demanded at him sharply. "What was that woman doing, getting you and Shane away before, huh?"

Luna…she must be talking about her.

Rick sighed, knowing that Lori will need to know about this sooner than later so he told her. "The Safe Haven's leader, the one who's name is Harry, has offered me and Shane a job position on being cops again for this place. He was considering to have us for our former experience and-"

"Oh, well that's all fine and dandy! You two going back as cops again and following orders from some leader, huh?" Lori ranted as she seemed to be very upset with this and crossed her arms at him, glaring.

Rick blinked. "Lori, he's the leader, and it's a good offer. Besides…it's not like I'll be chasing some bad guys again like last time. There was someone that mentioned that there's not much crime here but the law needs to be laid out to make this place secure in case if it comes up."

"Then that should be their responsibility-not yours! For God's sake! We just barely settled in here and already they're going to demand us to work for them as to what? Payment for letting us stay? No, I won't have it!"

"Lori, that's not what Harry's implying to-"

"Oh! You're calling him 'Harry' now, huh? What? He's suddenly your new friend or something?!"

"Lori-ENOUGH!"

Rick's shout almost stunned Lori into silence and it was a few minutes of tension before Rick sighed again and rubbed his nose and said to her. "Let's just calm down, go to sleep and talk about this again tomorrow, okay? We're all here and this place is good for all of us with its great security and safety…and I'm sure that everything is all good once you take a chance of looking around this place."

Lori seemed to doubt it and huffed and walked away with her chin up and marching haughtily towards their bedroom, which got Rick into deciding to sleep at the couch so that he'll be away from his wife and her temperamental mood.

Once he heard the door slamming almost loudly to show her indignation towards him, Rick almost sighed again when he suddenly heard a soft voice speaking from behind.

"Dad?" Carl asked in a small whisper as if he didn't want to make his mom Lori angry again upon being heard and then start up another fight with his dad, even though she left into another room with the door closed and now the father and son are alone together. He had come out of his room when he heard Lori shouting and seemed instantly worried and went out discreetly to listen in and try to stop any fight that might emerge and hurt his father.

Rick sighed, looking a bit tired and got Carl to sit down on his lap, wanting to have him close to comfort his son and himself.

"It's okay, Carl. Everything's going to be okay from now on. Yeah…everything will be alright." he soothed his boy as if wanting to erase his worries.

It worked as Carl curled and cuddled against his father, even though he's growing bigger now and he laid his head against his shoulder to relax while Rick turned his head to look outside through the windows, looking at the people living in Safe Haven milling about happily and also staring at the high stone concrete walls that protected them from the dangers outside.

Though his words to his son were a bit empty, Rick knew that it's true to his heart and soul, despite that there might more difficulties and hardships that are going to come in the future soon with his shaky and broken relationship with his wife Lori.

But he believed otherwise that everything is going to be all right from now on since they're now inside and living safely in this walled community called Safe Haven.

For this will be their new beginning.

Their new home, new life, and new chances.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Another chapter finished! This is one of the chapters that I made SUPER LONG for the story-hope you like it!

I'm sorry again that this took so long, REAL LIFE has been hectic for me and it doesn't help that there's a contagious ongoing CORONA VIRUS that's going around the area where I'm from and it's fatal for anybody who has this disease. I got a bit worried when I found myself sick and gotten bedridden for a few days, thinking that I got it and praying to God that I don't die too soon from it since I still got more years left to live in me. It turns out that it was just normal flu and cold that I got and then I was recovering well until I'm healthy enough to write again.

Everybody must watch out and be careful for this year 2020, there is a contagious life-threatening CORONA VIRUS going around. Be mindful of your health and pray to God to keep you safe, healthy, and alive!

Anyway, stay tuned for more updates and chapters in the future!

There will be more, I promise! Enjoy Readers!

PLEASE REVIEW OR COMMENT!

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