Please review and give me your opinion! It helps me get better at this. Special thanks to my amazing beta, theblacklister23

I already knew that today would be the first good day in three years.

We had a few stops along the way, to refresh the horse. An hour after we left my place, we got to his. It was beautiful there… But there was no house. People that sat around the tall trees that were cascaded along the area started staring. Some got up and walked up closer as Res and I got off the horse. I should've expected this. After all, I was a woman they knew nothing about.

Murmurs and whispers flooded out of the mouths of all the people I saw. Then there was a squeaky voice louder than them all.

"Who is that?" A small boy with brown curly hair asked what everyone was most likely whispering.

"This is my former partner, Elizabeth Keen. She's staying with us." Ressler spoke up above all the commotion. Apparently what Ressler says goes, because nobody argued with him. They just nodded and grew silent while some came out to greet me. From that point, I knew I would like it here.

They were all very nice, and pounded me with questions about myself. Throughout all that, I lost Ressler, but the others made me feel at home so I wasn't too edgy. There were a lot of people.

Well a lot considering I haven't seen so many in one place in a long time. But between all the hellos and nice to meet you's, I remembered that my coworkers were supposed to be here, too. Somebody was in the middle of a story when I rudely got up and left. My heart started to race as I searched for Ressler.

I went the direction I last saw him go, and as I got closer, I heard his voice. From behind a tree I found him talking to a muscular sandy haired man and a brunette woman around a small fire. I hid behind the tree as best as I could, my curiosity getting the best of me, as I listened to the encounter.

"How do you know we can trust her with our people? What if she runs out and takes our weapons and kills some of em? What will happen then? You are the one who gave the speech on how we can't trust just anybody just because there are roamers now." The woman shouted. They were obviously in an argument about me.

"I know her. She's not just anybody. She would never do that." Ressler said while sitting up straighter.

"You never really know anyone." The woman spat. Exactly what Tom said to me once before. The sandy haired man shifted but stayed quiet. Ressler shook his head and grimaced. I could tell he was trying to keep his temper at a minimum.

"I guess we can't trust anyone here, then. Can we?" Ressler's eyes grew dark. "I'm not going to abandon her. She's staying here. So get used to it." He added as he abruptly got up and started to leave.

"So that's it?" The man finally spoke up puffing out his chest. His tone was unkind. I could tell this man and woman didn't like me, not one bit. Ressler stopped and turned in response to the menacing voice.

"That's it." Ressler said firmly, glaring down at the man, challenging him to say another word. The man shrunk down the teensiest bit and kept completely quiet. He tried to play the submissive behavior off by straightening himself back up, but I didn't miss it, and neither did Ressler. Ressler dipped his head in one small nod and turned to leave once again, done with the conversation. I moved the slightest as I felt my foot go numb, and instantly regretted it as a twig broke beneath me.

All three of them got their guns from their holsters in one swift movement. My eyes widened as each finger threatened to pull the trigger. I didn't know what else to do, so I got up and raised my hands in the air.

"Res, it's just me." I whispered as I took a small step forward to reveal myself.

Ressler instantly put his gun away but the other two were hesitant. Ressler looked at them in silent order to put them away and leave.

"Can you trust someone who listens to your conversations without you knowing?" The woman growled as she stalked off. The sandy haired man trailing closely behind her. When I was sure they were far enough away, I looked up into Ressler's eyes. The eyes that were cold moments before now softened… The eyes I knew so well.

"I'm sorry. I was just… Curious. I shouldn't have eaves dropped on you." I said while looking away from him ashamed.

"It's nothing." He said as I took up the courage to look back at him. I searched his eyes to see if he was lying, but found nothing.

I couldn't help but admire his features as the small fire lit up his face. I swallowed. Then the reason I came to find him in the first place popped up in my mind again.

"Uh, so… Where are they?" I didn't have to explain who I was talking about, he already knew.

"They are part of the group that usually gets the food. We set out a group each Saturday. They should be heading back now."

"Good." I said trying to hide my excitement but failed.

"Oh, and Liz?"

"Yeah?"

"There will probably be a bigger surprise once they get back." He said while looking down. He seemed sad to say that, as if that surprise would take me away somehow..

"And what would that be?" I asked curiously.

"Me." I heard a very familiar voice… One I haven't heard in a while. I whipped myself around to find Tom standing there, with all my coworkers and even Red and Dembe. Their hands were full of bags of food. The people I wanted to see for so long were standing just a few feet in front of me…And all I could think was, why would Ressler let Tom stay here if he's the one who abandoned me?

The relief I found in being here resided and a pit of burning hatred replaced it. I was staring at Tom with fists clenched until somebody finally spoke up from the awkward silence.

"SpaghettiOs, anyone?" Red said setting his bag down.

Hey guys, I just want you to know that Tom was not a spy in my story. ( Although he IS a douche still (Because he abandoned poor Lizzie with little to nothing back in the first chapter) please tell me how I did with this chapter. Much love and thank you for reading!