Episode 1: The Fallen Rise- Welcome to Wellington

Day 1000 - Spring

A few months have passed since Kenny, Clementine, and Alvin Junior took refuge in the Bed n' Breakfast. Able to salvage and conserve their supplies for as long as possible, the three of them were able to last long enough till the snow in the area began to actually melt. Getting a good feeling on this certain day, they head out to try their luck again.

"Come on Kenny!" Clem called over to him as she jogged her way up the hill, hopeful for any new developments.

Kenny followed close behind with AJ is his arms. "I'm coming, I'm coming." He panted slightly, "Alvie ain't as light as he used to be."

The three of them finally got to the top of the hill once more, and they were met with the Wall of Wellington for a second time. High and mighty as it always was, Clementine, Kenny, and AJ stood far enough away to wait for permission to approach. They didn't need the sniper fire again.

And then the woman on the loudspeaker, who they assumed was Edith ordered them. "Approach the gate."

"Just like last time, cross your fingers Clem..." Kenny muttered as they walked towards the great wall which stood tall and strong against any threats.

As they got closer they noticed Edith was on her perch in the opening above the main door which was a large red shipping container and would serve as the entrance. That was the same, however Edith was already talking to someone else who was on the ground, another survivor... "Kenny!"

"Son of a bitch! Take him." Kenny gave AJ back to Clem as he ran towards the man. "You ain't taking our spots!"

Their competition was a man who looked like in his early 30's. He had fair but receding blonde hair and dark blue eyes. He also had an unzipped blue jacket with a white shirt underneath and some brown-faded trousers. He turned around to see a charging Kenny coming right at him. "What the-?!"

"The hell is wrong you?! You would just pass over starving kids just to save your own skin?!" He grabbed his jacket as he threatened him, and he also raised his fist. "We were here first, you ain't gonna fuck this up for us, or I'm goin' to fuck you up!"

"Get the off of me!" The man attempted to push him off, but Kenny held his jacket firmly and punched the man right in the nose. "Let me go, you don't get it!"

"Hey hey hey!" Edith spoke into her radio. "We might have a problem." Then she addressed the two men who were about to brawl. "Break up it up you two, or our sharpshooter will!"

"Kenny, let him go!" Clementine caught up to the scene as Kenny pushed the other survivor to the ground, his nose broken and bleeding.

"You think you can just cut in front of us?" He pointed to Alvin Junior still docile in Clem's arms. "This is who you're fucking over! You wanna reconsider?!"

"It doesn't work like that!" Edith shouted down at them as she rubbed her temples to relive some of the stress. "Lucas here was... talking." She gave the man known as Lucas a mean look but quickly moved on. "He's decided to not join our community."

Lucas then shot up on his feet and advanced on Kenny. "Asshole... you think you can just walk up to people and kick the shit outta them? Start accusing me as some sort of monster?" He spit some blood on the ground in front of Kenny's feet. "Maybe I should find a mirror for you..."

"You son of bitch." Kenny growled as he clenched his fists again.

"That's enough!" Clementine was ending this confrontation. This day didn't have to be spoiled with another fight. "Kenny made a mistake, but can we just put this behind us and move on?"

Lucas glared at her. "Kid's got some sense, but I'd sure feel a lot better if I wasn't the only one with a broken nose."

"Go on and try it then! See what happens." Kenny challenged.

"I'm not going to ask you again." Edith warned them. "Kenny right? Back the hell off now."

"Just listen to her Kenny." Clem added as she moved to stand by his side and pull him away. "Please."

"Yeah, 'listen to her Kenny' " Lucas mocked as he took as step back and tested his nose to see if he could clean it up or adjust it again.

"Tch... fine." Kenny stepped back from Lucas while he took Clem's hand. "No skin off my nose."

"Fucking hilarious, asshole..." Lucas grumbled as he held is breath and *crack* he realigned his nose. "Ah! ...Okay, Edith, do me a favor and don't let this guy anywhere near him." He paused and took out a folded up piece of paper from the inside of his coat. "And give this to Vaughn, should explain everything."

Edith sarcastically retorted. "Anything for you Lucas. Been real nice seeing you again."

He sighed. "Feeling's mutual." He then turned to Kenny again. "What are their names? They your kids?"

Kenny responded by crossing his arms and said. "None of your damn business."

"Why? I just want to know their names. You must have done a good job to keep them alive this far in. Can't remember the last time I've seen a baby."

[INTRODUCE YOURSELF]

[STAY QUIET]

"I'm Clementine. And this here is AJ." She introduced themselves to Lucas who turned his attention to her now.

(?) He will remember that.

"Clementine and AJ... good to meet you."

Kenny raised his eyebrow at that. "Clem, what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to show him we're not bad people. He isn't a threat to us." Clem reasoned with him and the bearded man seemingly accepted that, but he was nervous when Lucas bent down to inspect the baby, who had recently woken up from all the commotion.

Lucas held out his arms, silently asking to hold Alvin Junior. But then he peered over at a miffed Kenny and past him an impatient Edith, still watching the whole interaction. "Never mind... look Clementine, can you give this to Edith for me? Please? I need to leave."

"Sure." Clem took the note from Lucas and gave a look to Kenny who was still locked on to Lucas in case he was up to no good.

"Thank you, I really appreciate this." Lucas then walked right pass them and turned around to face them and the wall again. "You know, we all make mistakes, I've made mistakes and I'm sure you two have them as well. But sometimes we don't even notice it... and by the time we do and we realize it's too late, I always think it's better to just keep going, even if it means you hurt the people you care about. It's really for the best. You guys understand?"

"Fuck that," Kenny argued with distaste. "I don't care what fucking mistakes you made, you stick it out as long as you can. And you make every goddamn minute count with the people you care about. Now if I didn't know better, seems to me that you're abandoning this shit."

"Who were you talking about earlier? Who do you want Kenny to stay away from?" Clementine questioned Lucas to which he gave no reply.

Lucas closed his eyes and turned his back on them, and on Wellington as he walked away back towards the horizon and over the hill. Soon he was gone, just like that without another word. "Fuckin' weirdo, what was all that about?"

Clementine provided a strange but valid answer. "Maybe he just rather be alone?"

Edith then spoke up, grabbing their attention back up to her. "Well, looks like a spot opened up... as long as you're not big eaters, I think you're little family here will be quite happy."

Kenny's eye widened in amazement. "You mean...?"

"Yep. I'll meet you down there. Hold on a minute." Edith smiled as she walked out of view to open the gates.

"Oh my god... we made it!" Clementine cheered with little Alvie. "We made it AJ." Then she looked up to Kenny. "All of us!"

"We did, didn't we?" Kenny chuckled as he wiped a lone tear from his eye. "I can barely believe it."

"I know." She grinned as Edith opened up the shipping container doors to let them in. "Welcome to Wellington... now I hope you realize that you're going to have to work right?"

"Yeah, so?" Kenny responded as they made their way to the doorway. "What about it?"

When they approached her, Clementine handed Lucas's letter to Edith. She took it and unfolded the paper to skim read it. She sighed deeply when she finished and she pulled out her radio. "Vaughn, got something for you." And then she pocketed the note.

"Who's this Vaughn guy?" Kenny was getting real anxious now because he felt some similarities here compared to Howe's. "He your leader?"

Edith explained to them both. "Yes, he's a very kind man who was one of the people who helped start all of this. He was actually the one that made the offer to take the children last time you guys were here. He even set up a classroom for kids under twelve, and after that everyone will get regular work."

"Sounds too good to be true..." Kenny was still skeptical but after all this effort he wanted to get inside and check out the whole settlement. "And the baby?"

"Vaughn's daughter runs a small nursery in their tent. You'll like her too. And the girl here will probably love getting back in a classroom." Edith smiled down at her." We actually got a math teacher to join us last year."

Clem frowned. "I hate math."

A/N- And so, they all find safety in the settlement of Wellington. But how long will it last? What challenges are left ahead for the wounded warrior, a little girl, and a baby boy? Stay tuned.