AN: Second last one, so review while you can, lol XP Hope everyone's enjoying the story and thanks to those who have been sticking with us the entire time! You'll be happy to know that we're working on another sequel... again lol I'll give you guys the details in the next chapter, so make sure you put me on author alert!

Left 4 Dead is property of Valve.

Happiness Is Not a Smoking Gun -17- Family

They had been walking for hours. The sun was getting low in the sky and the five were getting worried. What if their friends didn't make it? What if they searched the whole island up and down and still couldn't find them? Cas fidgeted nervously. Sophie wouldn't allow herself doubt. If the leader couldn't be sure, then who could?

"Are we any closer?" groaned Ellis.

"No," Sophie answered.

He let out a noise of protest and Sophie suddenly stopped walking causing Nick to walk right into her. She ignored it. She figured by the time they found their friends she could give up the challenge and still win by claiming ignoring him for that amount of time was 'forever' for her. Also, there was a distinct noise she could have sworn she heard just a second ago.

Holding her hand up to signal quiet, she strained her ears again for the sound. She broke out into a grin when she heard it and took off sprinting down the beach.

"Wait—Soph!" Cas called, reacting quickly and following.

The other three sprinted behind them, watching the scene unfold before their eyes. Seeing what they did edged them to run faster.

"Oh, hey, you got my note."

Lillian was lounging on a chair that Keith had made out of sticks for her. She found that the mechanic had taken quite a liking to her and she wasn't one to complain. She had taken quite the liking to him too.

Sophie gave a little ironic smile. They just went through hell again and all her friend could say was, 'you got my note.'

They probably got there without a cinch.

The blonde looked around, scanning the area for their other friends. "Where is everyone?" she asked.

Lillian hooked her thumb back, pointing to the foliage. "We made a camp in the woods by this little waterfall. You'd never guess—there was another group of survivors already here when we showed up."

Sophie raised her eyebrows. The rest of the group caught up, huffing and puffing.

"Hey guys," Lillian greeted.

"Hey," said Cas between breaths.

When they got to the clearing, no one could quite believe their eyes. Aside from the beautiful scenery (which was everywhere, really), there had to be another ten or so people there, not including their friends. Everyone parted to say hello to their lost friends. They were surprised when Coach took off through the camp towards a woman and her child.

They all couldn't contain their happy laughter when he picked her up and spun her around. Must be his family. No one could keep the grin off their face and Cas nearly burst into tears at the happy reunion. Sophie smiled over at Cas, sharing her sentiment but hiding hers much more effectively.

"You okay, Cas?"

She nodded before taking off in the direction of Brandon and Chelsea.

Chelsea looked up to her friend as she was approaching. "Oh, hey there pregnant lady! What took you so long?"

Cas laughed and hugged her. "You wouldn't believe it if I told you."

Brandon grinned. "Try us."

Sophie stood back from the camp, taking it all in. Lillian passed by a minute ago, giving her friend a hug, but excusing herself for sentry duty (which is why she was on the beach in the first place). Nick took his place by her side after making his rounds.

"We made it," he said, testing the waters.

"Yep," Sophie replied.

He looked down at her with his eyebrows raised. "I thought you could ignore me forever?"

She grinned up at him, giving her best glittery eyes. "It was forever for me."

He laughed at her comment, hugging her. "You lying bitch. There's a romantic in you after all."

"Yeah, sure. One of my multiple personalities," she joked.

Set up off to the side, Cas and Ellis lay quietly in their makeshift hammock, sharing kisses here and there. It had taken the pregnant woman a while to settle in with the hick, but once she was comfortable, she wasn't going to move for quite sometime.

"What do yew wan' next; a dog or our hon-eye-moon?"

Craning her neck, she looked up at him with a giggle. "How 'bout you get a dog, we go on our honeymoon, then you give it to me?" She flashed him a toothy grin. "Then all that's left is the happily ever after."

He pulled her closer and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Sounds per'fict."

Resting her head back on his chest, Cas glanced over at Coach and his son. Both of them were currently tossing a football back and forth with his wife watching with a smile on her face. By the looks of it, Cas assumed that he was about seven or so. She couldn't help but hope her family would turn out the same.

"Dad! How'd you do that?"

The boy was staring incredulously at his father. After keeping his throws to light tosses, Coach had finally decided to show his son a real throw. The kid had been amazed.

"It's goin' to take a lot of practice, son."

Nodding eagerly, the boy ran forward and held out the ball in front of Coach.

The woman who had been watching stood up with a short laugh. "Andre, why don't you let your father rest for a bit?" The boy pouted.

"I'll teach you later, alright?" He watched as the boy nodded, then headed towards his wife.

Wordlessly, he pulled her into his arms and held her there. It had been so long since he had seen her- since he had held her like that.

"I knew you'd make it," she told him softly, "and I'm so glad you did."

The man tightened his grip on her. Oh god, how much he missed her.

"I love you, Brenna."

She lifted her head to look straight into his eyes. "I love you too."

Her words came out so certainly. Finally, they were together again.

The five spent the first days after that trying to adjust to the new living environment. Lillian had been in charge of informing the group.

"The only position we have left is a teacher..."

The group only laughed at Nick's misfortune. The others had easily taken their previous jobs with the exception of Cas (seeing as she was pregnant), but their new community didn't need anyone in communications. Just the thought of the conman teaching little kids sent the group into fits of laughter.

"It'll be easy," Nick stated smugly.

Coach sent him a disapproving look. "Bet'chew'll only last a week this time."

Hiding his faltered confidence, Nick took a breath in, expanding his chest. He knew that a job as a teacher was much, much, worse than his previous job in communications. Not only did he have to teach, but he had to teach children. Not only was he out of his strong suit, but he was being tortured at the same time. And for a matter of fact, he knew Sophie didn't like to be around kids for that long either. Maybe she'd have some sympathy.

"Hey, Soph-"

"No."

Or not.

Looking around the room, he looked for a way out or for someone to help him. His only hope sparked when Cas lifted her hand hesitantly.

"I don't want him teaching Keith."

Coach snickered. "I wanna see him try."

Sophie grinned and placed her hand on his shoulder. "You never know," she said with false sentiment, "you could be good at it."

"Sometimes I wonder why I married you."

"Me too."

The five sat around the camp fire. Everyone else was asleep or otherwise occupied.

"Hey," Cas said. Everyone turned to her. "Even though we have our other friends and stuff back, we're all still family, right?"

No one could hide the little smiles that grew on their faces.

"Yeah, Cas," Sophie answered. "We're family. Nothin's gonna change that."

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