"Clem, can you come help me lift this for a second?" Kenny asks, grunting as he holds a wooden beam up with a whole lot of force.

Not too sure why I should help him with anything, to be honest… but it's not like I've got anything better to do right now.

Leaning underneath the other side of the wooden construct, I put my back into it and try to lift my side up; but still need Mike to come over and help out a little bit. Together, we lift the support beam off of mine and Sarah's tent (or what's left of it) and toss it into the snow. Here comes the fun part: looking for anything of my old stuff that's still sticking around.

The first thing I notice is my backpack; singed by flames for the most part, but at least some of the contents are still intact. I didn't have a lot of stuff in here to begin with, but at least some of the important things are still here. Knowing full well that Kenny's standing behind me and watching, I wordlessly pull out one of Duck's old comics and examine it. Shuddering slightly, Kenny bends down beside me as I hand it to him like an ancient artifact. This must be pretty hard for him as he flips through the pages, so I leave him be while I go through some more of my things.

The zippo lighter is still here, whatever help this might be. The lighter fluid ran out of this thing a while ago.

A couple of chalk drawings that I made when I was younger… this particular one had Ben, Duck, Carley and Lee all holding hands underneath some trees with big, smiling faces. Glancing down at it makes me smile sadly. You know, just once I'd like to try and make one of these again – just put my colours to the paper and draw whatever it is that comes to my mind. If I'd have to take a guess, I'd say that I'd probably draw my family first – Mom, Dad and me. Next would probably be Lee, Lilly and I. And, if I'm feeling generous and/or have forgiven them, then maybe I'll draw the rest of these miserable pricks. They'd really have to make it up to me somehow.

"Duck was talking about you… when we were at that museum," Kenny remarks quietly, stopping at a page with Batman and the Joker. Duck really loved this comic. "He was saying all about how you helped him get through those two years, especially when he was thinking about Kat and I. Said that if it weren't for you, then he probably wouldn't have made it as far as he had. Duck pretty much considered you as his best friend."

Heh, yeah that sounds about right. There were several occasions where we would try goofing off and having fun while Lilly was away or wasn't looking. I really, really enjoyed those carefree times we'd share.

Flashback…

"Is she gone yet?" I ask, crouching down near Duck as he basks in the afternoon sun.

"Who cares if she is," Duck replies, stretching his arms behind his head as he yawns tiredly. "I'm tired… go bug somebody else."

"Seriously, Duck? It's the middle of the afternoon!" I complain, nudging him with my foot impatiently. "Come on, you lazy lump! We've got some frogs to catch!"

Sighing heavily, Duck rolls his eyes and bats my hand away; groaning like the moody teenager that he is. Huffing and placing my hands on my hips, I sneak up beside him and not so discreetly start rolling him over like a log – with Duck swearing as I keep on going.

"It's for your own good!" I tell him, giggling as he gives me the finger. Swears or swearing gestures don't even really faze me anymore.

We left Savannah a… long time ago. Honestly I don't even know how long it's been, just that Duck and I have both gotten a bit taller, while Lilly's become more and more isolated. We never seem to stay in one place for long, so it's hard for us to just enjoy ourselves and be kids.

Which is why I really need Duck to quit being such a little crybaby and come with me.

Thankfully Duck relents and stands up of his own free will (which is good because my arms feel like they're about to fall off), and we come to the place that I wanted to show him – this great big, open marsh with all manner of wildlife. There are dragonflies, crickets, really tiny fish, a whole whack of birds, and frogs. Slimy, small, slippery little devils that I'm almost certain Duck will have a field day with.

"What'd I tell you?" I say to him, smirking as I take his hand and lead him around the bulrushes that infest the place. We won't be able to go deep into the bog without getting our clothes wet, so we try our best to stay on dry land. Mud still clings to the bottom of our shoes and jeans though.

"Don't we need nets or something?" he asks, looking behind to check for any walkers.

"We don't have any!" I reply, letting go of his hand and motioning for him to creep down beside me. "There's a whole family of them over there… If we're careful, we might be able to catch them before they see us. Ready?"

Nodding eagerly, the excitement building in his goofy little grin as he slowly starts to enjoy himself, Duck rushes forward without telling me and tries to desperately catch one. Most of them are scared as he approaches, and the two of us laugh as we run around like a couple of morons.

"You were supposed to WAIT!"

"You were going too slow!" he laughs while sticking his tongue out at me, before tripping and falling face-first into the mud. "Ugh… I think there's a worm stuck up my nose…"

Giggling hysterically, I sit down and ignore the fact that all of the frogs have now escaped. The point is that the both of us are having some fun for a change. So instead of arguing with Duck, I jump into the mud beside him and explore the area for a few more minutes.

I doubt very much that Lilly's going to be too thrilled with us when we get back.

Oh man, you should've seen her reaction when we returned that day – covered in mud from head to toe. Needless to say she wasn't happy, and we had to spend the next few weeks preparing the meals and cleaning up the campsites (wherever they were that day).

Still, even though Lilly repeatedly told us how irresponsible we were being for not telling her where we were going prior to leaving, I wouldn't have given up that experience for the world.

"He was a great kid, Kenny," I tell him, nodding slowly as dries his eyes a little bit. "Can't imagine what losing someone that important to you'd be like…"

"Clem," he sighs, watching as I examine the torn-up photo of Lee that I've kept close to me ever since I took it from his dresser back at the motor-inn. When he mentioned that his family photo had been torn in half, I told him that I needed to keep him close. I was young. "…I've got nothing. There's nothing really here to say that'll change your mind about hating me, and I understand completely."

"I don't hate you…" I mutter, verbally huffing as I fold up my drawings and place the photo all in my pockets. "But you really crossed the line, Kenny. Yeah, I get that you guys didn't get along and all but… I was thinking about leaving with him. If Lee hadn't told me to stay here, then I'd be out with him right now."

"…for real?"

"For real."

"Jesus," he breathes out, holding up a piece of burned tent so that I can look underneath. "Well, I won't say that I did the wrong thing – since I still don't trust the bastard, and probably never would've anyway. But… for what it's worth, I'm glad you're still around, Clementine. Duck was lucky to have a friend like you."

Not saying anything for the moment, I see Sarah's old jacket sleeve hanging out from underneath her burned-out bed, so I lift it up and dust off the ashes as a folded up piece of paper comes tumbling out. Picking it up, I bring it over to Kenny and begin to read aloud.

It says:

Dear Dad,

A lot's been going on since I last talked to you at the museum! We left it behind and went up north to Michigan, and now we're staying at some camp called Wellington. It's really pretty here with the lake, trees and everything, but I still like our house better. Could we please go back there some time? You told me that Mom is still trapped inside there, so don't you think it's about time that we get her out? She's probably been trying to get back to us for ages!

Some of the people I'm here with are scary! Lilly and Kenny yell all the time, and Luke doesn't seem to get along with them either. And this new guy came in a couple of days ago – his name's Lee, and he seems… nice, I guess. Clementine's really good friends with him though, so he must not be too bad. I'm not sure how you'd feel about him, Daddy. Lee's only got one arm, which is pretty scary, but he says it doesn't hurt at all, so that's good. Maybe when you get here, you can help him out!

Oh! I almost forgot! Clementine taught me how to shoot a gun! I know you told me not to go near them, since they're dangerous and all, but Clem said that I needed it for protection. I'm guessing it's for the sick people that you've been talking about, but… what if they can be cured? Wouldn't that just be, like, killing someone? I felt kind of bad when I shot my first one, but not nearly as bad as when we went through that tunnel…

It was all my fault… Clementine shouldn't have had to get her foot taken away! It was soooo gross, but Kenny kept saying how it was "necessary" or something like that. I bet if you were here, Daddy, then you would've been able to do something. Now Clementine has to use crutches, and it looks really hard to move around. Maybe I can make it up to her by showing her this really cool place I found… hopefully she doesn't think it's too dumb or anything.

Last thing though – I promise! I think that Clementine's become my best friend! Seriously! She's totally the best, ever! We're a team, and a team always looks after one another, right? Maybe when all of those sick people get better, we can play on like the same soccer team or something. That would be so cool! I just hope her parents let her… (She scribbled this part out messily, which causes my breath to slightly hitch in my throat as I think about my parents again).

Sorry about that, I forgot about what she told me before… That's so horrible… At least you and Mom are still around, Dad! I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have you guys still with me.

Anyways, that's all I wanted to say. I'm going to try putting this in a bottle and sending it down the lake or something – you might not get it, but I hope you do! I miss you lots, Dad! Please come see me again soon…

"Love you tons, from Sarah…" I finish, dropping the letter uselessly and burying my face in my hands as Kenny goes over it a second time. Unbelievable… to think that I had no idea of the delusion she'd set herself up in…

"Holy shit," Kenny murmurs, shaking his head in disbelief. "Jesus… you weren't kidding about her. Did you know this was going on?"

"Not a clue…" I admit sadly, wrapping her jacket around me tightly as Kenny sits down beside me. "I should've clued in… Sarah kept telling me that she'd see her dad right beside me while we were talking, but I had no idea that it was this bad."

"There wasn't really anything you could do, Clem. It's not as if we had a psychologist on site."

"I was a pretty crappy friend, then," I shudder as Kenny wraps an arm around me. The only reason that I don't tell him to take a hike is because I could actually understand why Kenny wanted Lee gone. Luke and everyone else were just a mystery. "I pushed her too hard with the whole shooting thing – I just thought that maybe it'd save her life… But then those walkers came in, and that was it."

"This world ain't for everyone, darlin'," Kenny reassures, patting my back comfortingly, "And you did all that you could. So don't go blamin' yourself, alright? Sarah and Duck wouldn't have made it as far as they had without you… You're a great kid, Clementine."

"That's what you always say," I point out, getting a small chuckle out of the older man. I haven't noticed this before, but Kenny just looks… tired. Lee's the same way. "When's the last time you've slept?"

"Oh, about two years ago. I'm fine, kiddo."

"Bullshit."

"When did you start swearing?" Kenny asks, shocked at how abrasive my vocabulary has become recently.

"About two years ago."

"Ha ha! And she's got wits now, too!" Kenny laughs, but his face turns serious a moment later as he looks down at my leg. That's what everyone first notices about me these days. "How's that thing holding up, anyways?"

"It works fine, if that's what you're asking," I reply quietly, moving it around a little bit, "Sarah and I were pretending that I was a pirate just the other day… It was just stupid kid's stuff."

"Hell, just because this is the apocalypse it doesn't mean that you shouldn't get the chance to have a childhood. Enjoy your youth while it lasts," he remarks, offering me a hand as we stand up. "And between your leg and my eye, we'd be the most bad ass pirates around."

…

"HONEY, I'M HOME!" Nate bellows as he and his goons bust through the front gate on some ATVs and a few motorcycles, most likely obtained from that motor shop they were holed up in. They're fewer in number this time around, but so are we… and we're unprepared for such an entrance.

Some of the residents haven't even finished burying their dead yet.

Mike's up near the main gate along with Jane and Bonnie – all holding their guns at some of the people from their crew, though they're clearly at a disadvantage. Firing now would just be suicide. Luke (along with about ten other men and women) are all that stand between them and the rest of the camp… or rather what's left of it. Seriously, why are they still coming at us? What could they possibly be after?

Lilly, Kenny and I are up on the observation deck, and thankfully we're not visible to any of these chumps. Kenny doesn't have his rifle with him, so he's only got a pistol (as do I). But Lilly does. She must've expected something like this to happen.

"Howdy, folks!" Nate introduces again, chuckling at the scene going on in front of him. "Man… what a show we've got going on here, eh Tavia? You, my lovely lady, sure do know how to make an entrance!"

"We're not here to dick around, Nate," Tavia reminds him, glaring at Luke as he raises his machine gun straight towards her. Luke's probably been waiting for this for a while.

"Right you are, as always," Nate chimes, before addressing the rest of us. This guy must've been a hit at parties… if they involved lots of drinking. "So, we've bothered you this evening because guess what? We're looking to make terms! That's right! This fucking peace treaty that you've all been waiting for, and it can all be yours for just $19.99!"

"Then why'd you bring all of your guns with you?!" Luke asks harshly, not tearing his eyes away from Tavia's position.

"'Cause they're a bunch of dickheads, that's why," Kenny says; quiet enough that only Lilly and I can hear.

"They're not getting out of here alive… There's no way that they're coming here peacefully," Lilly shakes her head, her grip on the rifle tightening as she whistles for Vernon to get down. "Both of you get your guns ready. This – "

"You guys are tough as nails, we've recognized that. We've seen it – you people should be proud of what you've accomplished. So we've only got one demand!" Nate booms, running his hand over his balding head as he speaks. "I understand that a certain leader of Tavia's group beforehand – Carver – was murdered in cold blood. Butchered like an animal along with his shithead of a partner, Troy. They found the corpses while out on a scavenging trip."

Oh god…

"So here's our deal," Nate continues, "Our sources have confirmed that the killer rests among your group. In fact, it was one of your own that gave us the information! You might know of a certain… Lee Everett?"

"No he didn't…" I whisper, shaking my head and not believing it for a second. "Lee would never have done something like that, not even after he got kicked out. I know him."

"Sceptical, are we?" Nate questions, making me think for a second that he was talking directly to me. "Well, unfortunately for you guys, Lee's dead! He's not coming back… and the way I heard it, that's the way you fuckers wanted it to happen anyways! Here's some of his shit we confiscated to prove that we're serious!"

Squinting to see what he's doing, Lilly has to put a hand over my mouth to prevent me from crying out in anguish. Thrown to the ground… are his picture of his family, and that stupid leaf drawing that I gave him back at the motor-inn… He's really gone…

In a span of about five minutes, this man has shaken up my world and destroyed my hope. My body is numb with grief… Is Lee really dead?

"So tell me," he rants, smirking like a maniac as he takes a lighter and burns Lee's things, "Where is that murderous little fuck? Where's Clementine?"

Kenny and Lilly have to physically restrain me where I am, as I struggle to break free of their grasp.

"Let me go down there NOW!"

"Absolutely not!" Kenny argues, spinning me around to face him. "Listen to me, Clementine… You cannot under any circumstances give yourself up, understand? We won't have any of it."

"It's not your decision… I won't let people die for me! Nobody else needs to die!" I tell the both of them, shaking my head as my breathing speeds up. Everything's going so fast right now. "If they want me, then let them take me. I won't let Lee to have died for nothing…"

"You're staying here, period," Kenny finishes, allowing no room for me to retort. He's one of the most stubborn men I've ever met. "And if shit hits the fan, which it almost always does, then you take one of those canoes and get as far away from this place as possible, alright? I'm not fucking up again!"

"He's right, Clem," Lilly says, still grasping on one of my arms. "Just… leave your canoe on the side of the bank somewhere. We'll find it, no matter what happens. Just get yourself to safety."

"You guys aren't my parents! You don't get to make these choices for me!"

With one last sad smile, Kenny places a firm hand upon my shoulder and squeezes slightly.

"We know, Clem. But we're not about to let you get killed by these monsters," he explains, nodding towards me. "When all this is over, we'll find each other again. We'll live together in peace… like a real family."

As he descends the staircase quickly and Lilly and I watch him walk towards everyone, I can't shake off this nagging feeling.

Why does it seem like that would be my last conversation with him?

"Ahh, I remember you! Come to deliver our prize, have you?" Nate grins as the rest of his group chuckle slightly. Lilly's got her arm wrapped around my shoulders, and I watch as Kenny carefully moves forward. Shit's about to go down.

"You're not taking her…"

"Soft spot, huh? Figured as much."

Instantly, everybody's weapons raise up, though thankfully no bullets have flown out yet. You could probably hear a pin drop over how quiet it is right now…

"Looks like we've got a good old Mexican Standoff! I love it! Western movies were so full of action and gun slinging!" Nate yells, holding his aim on Kenny. "But I think it's time for this whole thing to wrap up, don't you? This would be sooooo much simpler for you folks if you just handed the kid to us."

"Over my dead body…" Kenny snarls, his grip tightening on his pistol.

"Clementine belongs with us…" Luke remarks, locking and loading his weapon.

"The kid's not going anywhere…" Jane.

"We're not letting you go anywhere with Clementine…" Bonnie.

"If you want her, you're going to have to get through us first…" Mike.

These people… even though I was incredibly angry at them for what they did to Lee, I can't bring myself to hate them. Not when they stand up for me like this. My friends… Kenny, Lilly, Luke, Jane, Bonnie and Mike… they're all willing to put their lives on the line for me. I've never felt more proud to be with these people. They're not perfect, and I can't forgive them for what happened to Lee (though I secretly still can't believe it), but they're family. And families stick together no matter what.

Narrowing his gaze, I can barely make out what he says next, but it's fairly obvious that he's done playing his games. No more jokes… no more grandstanding… The battle's back on.

"That can be arranged…" Nate says calmly, raising up the barrel of his gun…

…and shooting it right at Kenny's chest.

AN: AWWWWW SHIT, SON! I'm back, guys! Thanks for all the positive feedback/support for this thing, and thanks for being so patient! Vacation was sweet – we went sea dooing, golfing and all this other fun stuff. But I'm back, and I've finally figured out how this thing's going to go!

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, so please review! It means the world to me!