Abe paused outside Melanie's door. He rubbed his face. He couldn't believe his eldest daughter was alive - really alive. He tried forgetting about he last conversation he had with her when he thought she had died.
Abe walked to his truck he was dressed to go work on the base. He was leaving for 2 weeks. Ellen and the kids had went to go visit her mother during that time to make time fly while he was away. He unlocked his truck threw his bag in the back. He suddenly turned and threw Melanie to the ground not realizing who she was. He held her down, watching her. "Melanie?" He narrowed his eyes.
"D..Dad." Melanie groaned softly.
"What are you doing here?" Abe sighed letting her go. "You shouldn't be here."
"Dad."
"Abe." He said cutting her off. "I don't know you well enough for you to call me dad."
Melanie just looked at him, and sighed. "Abe." She looked down.
"Yes?" He sighed.
"I just wanted to get to know you is all. I tracked you down, because I found some old documents in mom's things."
Abe frowned "I wouldn't know anything about your mother -or her documents." He shook his head. "I have to go. I'm going to be late." He got in the truck, rolling down the window. "Forget about having me as a dad kid. Not worth the time. Look up to your step-dad as a father" He knew his ex married the mayor of town, so she was well off.
Melanie sighed and didn't say anything.
"Wish it could have been different kid. Really did. But you are in my past." He said putting on his sunglasses. "Bye kid." He pulled out of the driveway and left.
Melanie watched him, and walked to her car.
Abe put his hand on the door, and opened it slowly. He walked in. Melanie was alone. "Hey." He smiled slightly.
"Abe." Melanie said not looking up. "What's what you've always wanted to be called."
Ouch. He thought, he deserved that. He nodded walking over, and sat down. "How you feeling?"
"I'm okay." Melanie sighed slightly.
"Good." Abe smiled slightly. "Melanie…. I'm sorry." He sighed. "I'm sorry how i treated you." He reached for her hand and took it. "It wasn't fair. I was really angry at everything - Not you. Just my life in general."
Melanie let him take her hand, she sighed.
"I shouldn't have left. I wasn't ready to be a dad then." Abe shook his head. "I'm redeeming myself." He smiled slightly. "You have a little brother and sister - Carson and Keturah." He looked down at at his feet. "I'm sorry I was a shit dad to you."
"Kind of late to have a dad now." Melanie sighed. She looked at her blanket playing with it slightly. "I've...gone this long." She covered her eyes with her free hand and sighed. "I hope you do redeem yourself with those two little ones." She wiped her eyes. "I wished for a long time you would have just taken me with you. Things might of been different…." She paused. "Might have not been abused, or involved with Negan later.." She cleared her throat. "I….I can't forgive you yet." She sighed.
"I understand." Abe smiled slightly. "You are never too old to have your dad in your life." He squeezed her hand. "Never too old."
"Perhaps." Melanie sighed.
Abe sighed. "I'm sorry about everything Melanie."
Melanie nodded. "I know." She bit her lip, and looked over at him and leaned in and gave him a hug.
Abe hesitated for a second, then wrapped his arms around her, hugging her back. "I'm sorry I didn't protect you when you were younger." He rubbed her back. "I should have been there. I was a piece of shit.."
"It's okay." Melanie sighed slightly. "Shit happens." She bit her lip. "I…..I forgive you i think."
Abe sighed. "Don't force it if you are not ready to say it. I'm not worry about it."
"Okay." Melanie sighed. "So… tell me about your wife, and kids." She sat up taking a drink of water.
Abe smiled and sat back and started telling her all about them.
