Melanie woke in a cold sweat and was gasping for breath as she sat up in the room she had fallen asleep in, running a hand through her now short hair, she got her bearings and tried to calm herself. The last thing she wanted was for Tommy or Maria to be worried: they would know what the nightmare was about.

Looking out the window, she guessed it was nearly dawn and could already hear some of the men getting to work on the dam. They had settled here a while ago, hoping to get the electricity going to help the small community that had grown thanks to Maria and her father, to continue to survive in this harsh world. Melanie was just glad she was here and not elsewhere, she doubted she would have survived this long…

The last twenty years had been hard…

She didn't like to think back when she, Tommy and Joel first came to Boston. The things they all had to do to survive made her feel sick. At first she had blamed Tess for changing Joel, for changing everything but she had just used the other woman as a scapegoat. Melanie hadn't wanted to accept that this was the way of the world now and it drove her and Joel apart.

When Tommy had spoken of the fireflies, she had felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: hope. On the spot, she decided to follow Tommy to find them only Joel wasn't happy about her decision, the argument turned nasty and things were said that shouldn't have been said. Tommy had to intervene after it turned violent.

""I don't ever want to see your god damned face again…"

Tommy's last words to his brother ran through her head and she felt the small pang of heartache that she always felt when she thought of Joel. Even after all these years, she never quite got over him, memories of their life before stopped her from moving on.

She and Tommy had found the Fireflies but soon they both realized that they weren't the answer they were looking for. That life wasn't as good as Marlene had led them to believe and they had left. For a long time, they just travelled the countryside, watching each other's backs and looking for a place to call home…and after ten months, almost a year of searching – they found it.

A knock on the door brought Melanie out of her thoughts and she smiled weakly at Maria who stood at the door, "Hey, I was wondering where you were," the blonde woman smiled, "breakfast is nearly ready."

"Yeah, I fell asleep after reading one of those damn manuals," Melanie explained, stretching out on the couch she had passed out on, "thought I'd try and help the guys out but it made no sense to me."

"They'd put anyone to sleep," Maria replied, sighing as she leant against the doorframe, "when Tommy gets going with the others about this techno mumbo jumbo, I just hear white noise."

Melanie snorted and pulled on her boots before standing up, "So, think today will be the day?" she asked her friend as they walked out of the small office and into the main building where the others had started gathering for breakfast.

"Tommy seems to think so," Maria said thoughtfully, "it'd be good to have electricity again. Get those showers working? That would be heaven. A nice hot shower."

Nodding, Melanie pouted "I used to love a luxurious bath…candles…bath bombs…the whole works, y'know?"

"Well, you keep an eye out when you're out on a supply run tomorrow," Maria joked "it could happen."

Melanie smiled back and took a seat opposite Tommy who nodded at both of them, "Mornin'," he said kissing Maria's cheek as she sat next to him, "got you both a coffee. Set you up for the long day ahead of us."

"Don't remind me," Melanie muttered adding some sweetener to her black coffee, "I wish I never agreed to help out with the fuckin' damn. I wish Toby never asked me."

Tommy and Maria shared a small smirk, "I don't see why you and Toby just don't get together," Maria said raising an eyebrow, "he's a great guy and also really taken with you."

Melanie rolled her eyes: Maria and Tommy seemed intent on getting her hitched. It didn't help that after their wedding celebrations (and a couple too many beers) she had spent the night with Tony. It hadn't been out of lust or attraction as they seemed to think, but rather out of lonlieness…

"Maria, he is ten years younger than me!"

"And?"

Melanie shook her head, "He's a good guy but sadly not my type. It ain't gonna happen."

"You sure that's the only reason?" Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow and Melanie shot him a warning look.

"Can we just drop it?" she asked in a low voice when she seen the sad looks they both gave her, she felt angry and stood up, "Thanks for the coffee. I'm gonna go get started," she muttered and ignored Maria calling after her.

Sighing, Melanie soon felt guilty for getting angry with them both. She knew they didn't like to see her alone and only wanted her to be happy. Toby was a good guy, sweet, funny and caring. He took a shine to her as soon as they met and she was flattered someone younger liked her that much. But like she had told Maria countless times, he wasn't her type. Sure they could have a laugh at times and he was good in bed from what she could remember but she couldn't sit down and bare her soul to him, tell him why she had nightmares nearly every night and didn't like to help guard the kids.

Most of all, she didn't think she could handle another heartbreak.

Entering the dam, she gave a small smile and nod to Earl who was on guard duty, "Hey, good luck today 'Mel," he said and gave her a cheeky salute, "getting some electricity will make a lot of folks happy."

"Here's hoping, Earl!"

The others were already working away and she sighed inwardly when Toby made a beeline straight for her, "Melanie, glad to have you working with us," he said smiling, most of the women swooned when he smiled but Melanie just nodded, "hopefully you'll be the luck we need to get these babies goin'."

"I'm not that good with damns," she said politely, "I'll leave that to y'all and just keep a look out."

Toby seemed a bit put out but nodded, "At least I know we'll be safe in your hands," he said quietly before putting on a hard-hat and heading back to the others.

Feeling like a total bitch, Melanie reached out and grabbed Toby's arm, "You'll get it going, I know you will," she said smiling softly as she gave him a gentle squeeze.

"Thanks 'Mel, appreciate it," he grinned widely at her before heading back to the others.

Guard watch wasn't that exciting and Melanie walked around the top level mostly where she could see anyone approaching the rear of the dam. There had been a lot of bandit attacks lately and she was determined a sneak attack wouldn't happen on her watch. Glancing down every so often, she smiled as the men all joked amongst themselves as they worked. It was good to see that there was still laughter in the community and wasn't all doom and gloom. Most of that was because of Tommy and Maria, they always managed to lift everyone's spirits.

A few hours passed and Melanie heard someone approach and seen Esther with a gun in her hand. She was a tall, black haired woman who Melanie sort-of got on with. "Hey, you're missing all the excitement," she said raising an eyebrow, "apparently we got some new people at the gates, a guy and his kid."

"And Maria just…let them in?"

"That's the weird thing, she and Tommy let them in. Welcomed them with open arms," she folded her arms "lucky for you, you can go find out. I, however, need to take over watch."

Melanie shook her head, "Don't worry, I'll go see what's going on and tell you all about it."

"You're a doll," Esther said winking at her, "he's quite the looker I hear."

Walking quickly past the others as she headed outside, Melanie wondered who it could possibly be at the gates that Tommy would welcome. Maybe it was an ex-Firefly or Marlene herself just passing through. It certainly wouldn't be his brother, Joel would never leave Boston without good reason…

"When did you learn to ride a horse?"

Melanie froze as she recognized that voice and stunned she walked around the corner and sharply inhaled when she seen Joel standing next to one of the horses, patting it's back. A small girl was with him chatting away to Joel and Maria and she wondered if this was all a dream and she'd wake up in the office.

Slowly approaching, it wasn't until she was a few feet away that Joel noticed her and he fell quiet. He was different looking, more lines on his face, greying hair but he still had those intense hazel eyes that she immediately fell for when they first met.

"Melanie?"

Tommy looked up as did Maria and watched the two of them carefully, the young girl frowned and glanced between Melanie and Joel.

"Joel…" she stopped and let out a shaky breath, "…is…is that really you?"

His gaze stayed on her, almost as if he was afraid he would blink and she would disappear. Nodding, he gave her a weak smile, "Yeah…yeah it is."

The young girl's frown deepened, "I take it you two know each other?" she asked sarcastically.

"You could say that," Tommy chuckled, "maybe we should head inside…have a little talk."

Maria nodded, "Sounds good to me, we can get some food going. That sound good to you, Ellie?"

"Fuck yeah, I am starving."

Melanie swallowed hard and averted her eyes, suddenly feeling like she couldn't breathe as the others passed by her. Pausing beside her, Joel's eyes flickered over her face, almost looking concerned.

"Guess you're surprised to see me?" he whispered softly.

She met his gaze again and smiled faintly, "Just a little, Joel, just a little."