Night came quick, dousing the community in darkness. It's that time of year again where the days grow shorter and the nights longer. Although, I'll argue that today will never end.

Between coming home from my morning hunt and finding Aria, talking, and then waiting for the others to gather, it feels like days compared to hours. The group sits inside unaware of what awaits them. For them, it's any typical night. Carol will make dinner, everyone will talk about their day, dishes will be done, and then everyone will go their own way for the rest of the night.

Drawing in a deep breath, I follow the Winchesters up the porch steps, Aria behind me.

Anxiety clouds my head, an endless sea of questions consuming my thoughts. Every time I tried to voice them, though, the brothers shot me down. Though, to be honest, most of my thoughts have revolved around the fact that Aria is back, and not exactly how she got back. Either way, the sooner this gets over with, the quicker I can sort through the shit going on in my head.

I step through the threshold of the house, keeping to the shadows as the brothers head straight for the living room. The group's easy voices fill the large home, talking about the day's events per usual.

The scratch of silverware and the scent of rabbit stew let me know they've already started dinner. I chew at the worn cuticles of my thumb as Aria and I hang back in the entrance of the home, letting Sam and Dean address the group first.

A split second of silence rings out before cheers and curses are hollered at the two brothers. I fight to hide my smirk as I listen to Tara give Dean an earful.

They deserve the lashing too. The guys were supposed to be back some time ago, and long before that we lost radio contact. None of us knew what happened, whether they had finally bit the bullet or had done the impossible.

Turns out the Winchesters are pretty good at making the impossible a possibility.

"Where's Daryl?" Rosita asks and I know that's my cue.

Glancing to my left, I note the pale color of Aria's cheeks and the slight tremble of her hands. I bite my lip, wanting to reassure her, but I ain't got a clue how the others will react to seeing her back.

So, I give her a moment, knowing she'll be in right behind me, and make my way into the room. Warm smiles greet me, Rosita teasing as she takes a bite of stew.

"Figured you weren't that far. I can smell the man on you a mile away."

I roll my eyes and lean back against the wall beside Sam and Dean. My gaze travels over each individual wondering how tonight will alter our lives. We've all changed so much in this last year and I know Aria has too. Spending the afternoon with her made me realize that the woman I knew is not the same that left. Then again, the Aria I met that day in the woods is a distant memory.

Everyone sits in their usual places - Rosita, Tara, and Denise at the dining room table with Eugene and Morgan. Sasha and Abraham share the couch, the Sergeant's arm slung around her shoulders keeping her close to his side.

I ain't sure what happened, but not long after we met the Hilltop, Abraham moved on from Rosita to Sasha. The others worried about a rift in the group, and there was for a while. At some point though, the three worked it out and moved passed it. Plus they ain't the only new budding relationship either.

A smile paints my face watching Michonne comb her fingers through Judith's growing curls. Rick's hand rests on the small of her back as he listens to Carl talk about some new comic book find he had on his run today.

Maggie and Glenn are settled beside the Grimes family with Carol, whose busy helping the new mother with the baby boy, Hershel. He's got his father's dark eyes but his mother's face. Even at five months, Hershel already has his own personality; one that I know is going to result in a little Hell Raiser. Maggie hates the nickname, but Glenn loves it. Actually, she's the only one who gives me any shit when I use it. Everybody else seems to get a free pass. It just makes me smirk. The kids of this new world are gonna live up to these nicknames. I'll make sure of it.

"So, what the hell took you two so damn long?" Tara asks, drawing all the attention back to the brothers and where they've been missing.

Dean rubs the back of his neck, glancing at Sam for help. Neither gets to say a word, though, the help they need coming in a different form. I catch movement on my left, tensing as all eyes shift to the entrance.

Aria enters with hesitation, her evergreen gaze down, arms coiled tightly around her chest. Slowly, her head lifts and her eyes meet the awestruck ones of the group.

"Fuck me," Abraham's gasped words ringing in the sudden silence.

Nobody moves, frozen in shock at the sight before them. Slacked jawed, they stare.

Chewing on her bottom lip, Aria waves and forces a tiny grin. "Hey."

With the pause button clicked, time sits suspended. Thoughts grind to a halt, brains trying to process the image in front of them. It's comical, except the dragging silence has anxiety curling around my lungs with apprehension.

The moment shatters as Carl stands, crossing the room in a few short strides before connecting his fist with Aria's face. That snaps everybody out of the daze, the room erupting in disapproving and panicked shouts as Aria stumbles back.

Sam and Dean start to move towards her while I jump to Carl's side, yanking him back. My eyes never leave Aria who works her jaw, straightening to her full height. The brothers stop their approach when she holds up a hand, eyeing her as she recovers. Rick hangs behind me, a hand resting protectively on his son's shoulder.

Her gaze stays lowered, rubbing her jaw with a pained wince before sucking in a sharp breath. Those evergreen eyes lock with Carl, a storm of emotions too intense to comprehend brewing in their depths.

"All right," her worn voice accepting. "I deserved that."

Carl bites his lip white before pushing me aside to lunge at her again. This time Aria tenses, ready for the hit. Instead, his arms wrap around her, squeezing her with everything he has.

Not a little boy anymore, Carl stands taller than Aria by an inch or two. The baby fat now replaced with muscle and the beginning of facial hair. He looks every bit the mature survivor that made it in this world.

The boy's hands fist in the back of her shirt with his face tucked into her neck. Nobody acknowledges the shudder of his shoulders or the shaky breaths. Aria, on the other hand, stands stock still in confusion for a moment, like she never expected a hug and only rejection. It's short-lived before she too hugs Carl back in fervor, hiding a relieved smile in the mop of hair hastily tied in a ponytail.

Any apprehension dies with the reciprocation, tension bleeding out of the group's bodies as tears pool in their gazes.

They hug for another few seconds before Carl pulls away, hands gripping her shoulders. A mess of emotions fight for control on his youthful face, but anger wins out.

"Where the hell have you been?!"

Dropping her head, Aria hides her face, nerves tightening relaxed muscles. The room waits with eagerness to hear her answer. My heart pounds in my chest at the prospect of finally getting some damn answers. Sooner or later, the truth will come out.

"I...it's-I don't...it's just." She stumbles over her words, a faint tremble in her hands that hang at her sides.

"It's complicated and we'll explain it soon," Sam interrupts, coming to her rescue. His words leave no room for debate, and Carl steps away with a silent sigh.

"The real question is whether or not she's still Jekyll and Hyde?" Abraham asks, effectively breaking the short silence.

My gaze cuts to her right arm, knowing I won't see anything. Long sleeves cover her arms, perpetually tugged down over her hands all day whenever she got anxious.

With a wan grin, Aria answers, trying for a bit of humor. "Sorry to disappoint, Sarge, but there won't be any surprise throw downs anytime soon."

Uncertainty clings to the walls, not believing the meaning behind the joking answer. Carol's silvery voice cuts through the silence - hesitant, yet holding all the hope in the world.

"The Mark is gone?"

Aria nods before rolling up her sleeve to reveal bare skin of her right forearm, quelling the lingering doubt. Not a hint of the hideous cursed Mark shows. A weight lifts from the room, the air easier to breathe. With relief, my eyes burn with tears. I force them back, though, knowing that whatever they did to make this possible will cost us.

Removing that monstrosity was supposed to be impossible, but the Winchesters managed. Yet, what I've learned from their past, stuff like this never comes without a load of bad shit.

"Well, shave me smooth and rub me with baby oil, you boys fucking did it!"

I shake my head at Abraham's words, the group groaning or snorting in amusement. Whenever he opens his mouth, I never know if I'm gonna cringe or laugh.

Aria drops her eyes to the floor, swallowing hard. Nobody else catches the small change, but I do because I haven't been able to take my eyes off her since this afternoon.

I'm terrified that this is all a damn dream. This, Aria back and cured of the Mark, it's too good to be true. After a year of her missing, it can't be this simple of a fix.

"Where's Castiel?" Maggie asks, bouncing Hershel on her lap.

"We ran into some angels on the way back. He'll be back in a couple of weeks, maybe longer," Dean explains, eyeing the bowls of food around. "I'm gonna get some grub," he grins, leaving the room but not before squeezing Aria's arm subtly in support.

The group stares like she's a ghost. Silence takes over again, awkward, and Aria shifts her weight from foot to foot. Her attention stays glued to the dark hardwood floor.

Who she is now, it's a stark contrast from the woman I remember. Her confidence doesn't exist. Shoulders aren't pulled back instead they are curled inwards, hiding away. She's shy, her once unwavering words now unsure.

Then with the flip of a switch, she's grinning, eyeing Carl. "So, is anybody gonna tell me what you've been feeding this kid?"

Her crafted facade doesn't fool anyone, but they play along. Soft laughs ease some of the awkward air and Aria goes on, teasing.

"Seriously, have they been showering you with Miracle Grow or something?"

"No," Carl laughs and she shakes her head, playfully shoving him.

"Liar," she jokes.

Evergreen eyes trace over the group slowly, noting the changes that come with a year of absence.

Her shifting attention stops on the Rhee family, a grin splitting her face. My heart stutters at the sight, longing making those fissures ache. Baby Hershel sits in Maggie's lap, looking around with wide-eyed fascination. The three of them are so happy with the permanent smile on Glenn's lips and the adoring love they both share when they look at their boy. It's what we all fought so hard for.

"I've missed a lot," she murmurs, staring at the newborn child. There's longing in her words and my heart clenches.

You ain't got a clue, darling.

Glenn gets up, grinning wide as he bends down and takes his son into his arms before approaching her without hesitation. Actually, nobody seems to be afraid anymore except for Aria. Tension keeps her on edge, shoulders tight and hands balled up at her sides.

Without warning, Glenn pulls her into a hug, squeezing tight as he whispers a few quiet words. I can't see his face, but I can see Aria. Those mauve lips curl up into a blinding smile. Too bad it ain't real because that smile doesn't reach her haunted eyes.

Hershel squirms in Glenn's hold, babbling nonsense. That garners a genuine reaction out of her, a tenderness easing her anxious features.

"Hey, buddy, this is your aunt Aria," the new father introduces, trying to get his son to cooperate. Those big brown eyes land on Aria for a moment, halting to take in the stranger before he continues struggling in Glenn's grasp.

Aria laughs, shaking her head. "Looks like a little Hell Raiser to me."

"Seriously!?" Maggie snaps, the rest of the group roaring with laughter.

I snort, trying to hide my laugh, but it's useless. Not once did I mention the baby to Aria. She wanted to surprise the others and I figured I should let them surprise her. After all, it's their stories to share, not mine.

"What?" Aria asks, utterly confused about what is so funny.

Maggie continues shaking her head in exasperation, explaining. "Daryl decided our child needed a nickname. So he's been calling Hershel, 'Hell Raiser' ever since he was born. Now you are too!"

Evergreen eyes meet my ocean blue, the faintest hint of pink dusting her cheeks before we both drop our gaze. My teeth sink into my bottom lip in frustration. Why do things have to be so damn complicated?

"Sorry," she apologizes, but Glenn brushes her off, reassuring her.

"Don't worry about it. Everybody here loves it except, Maggie."

Dean wanders back into the room with two bowls of stew. He heads toward his brother beside me, handing the younger his serving.

"Dean, I've got a question for you," Carol starts, taking the attention away from Aria for a moment.

He slurps up his food, nodding.

"You wouldn't happen to know where my apple pie went, would you?"

I cover my mouth, trying to hide my grin as my words from earlier this afternoon come back. Without missing a beat, Dean points his spoon at Aria.

"She ate it."

Appalled, she stares wide-eyed at the brother, garnering a deep laugh from both Sam and I. The statement is complete bullshit, and not a single person in the room buys it. Especially Carol.

"Don't lie to me, Winchester. Aria might have been gone for a while but I know she's not the one who scarfed it down."

Dean grins, the guilt written all over his face. "I plead the fifth, Carol."

The group shakes their heads, laughing at the familiar scene. Prior to the two leaving, this was a typical night with the constant ribbing of each other. Having this back feels good despite the questions burning in the back of my mind.

"Better lawyer up then, Dean."

"Already did."

"Dude, I'm not defending you. I told you not to." Sam fires back, ratting his brother out. Carol smirks in pride while the rest of us chuckle at the two brothers now arguing. Although, the bickering doesn't last long as Rosita's voice rings out over them.

"Sorry to be the buzzkill here, but can we get back to what the hell is going on? I mean no offense, Aria, I'm happy as hell to see you, but a year ago you were a psycho killer and now what? You're all better? I mean do you have any idea the hell we went through when you left? The shit Daryl and the guys suffered?"

The impending silence weighs like a brewing storm. It crackles, setting the room on edge as wandering eyes land on Aria and me.

Their gazes probe with unspoken questions, but I remain stone faced. Aria stares at the ground again, one arm hugging her chest. But those searching looks won't get shit. I ain't got anything to say. Not here in front of everyone, that's for sure.

Sam sets his bowl down clearing his throat, but Aria speaks up. "No, I don't know. And even if I say sorry, I know that's not going to make up for how badly I hurt some of you." Words wavering, throat bobbing with a tight swallow, she continues. "I'm not asking you guys to give me a free pass and just accept me with open arms. How we got rid of the Mark is a long and complicated story-"

"One that we'll explain tomorrow," Dean interrupts, words firm and unyielding. Clearly, there's no room for debate on that topic with the intensity of the older brother's tone.

I catch Rick's stare from across the room. A storm brews there, wondering just like me. The guys have been tight-lipped about the Mark ever since they showed up. It's got me anxious.

What the hell did they do?

Rick sighs, standing up from his spot beside Michonne. "All right. Then tomorrow first thing we'll meet. Things have changed Aria. I hate to say it but we don't know you anymore."

"I know, Rick. I wouldn't trust me either. A lot can happen in a year," she admits, nothing but understanding.

He runs a hand over his trimmed beard, deep in thought before agreeing. "Yeah, it can. Look, typically we keep newcomers in-"

"Ain't no reason for her to stay in the cells, man. She ain't a threat and she ain't going to run. Let her take a couch. Winchesters and I will hear if she tries to go anywhere." I defend straight away, cutting off Rick's suggestion.

Putting her in the rooms Morgan built has my stomach turning inside out. It ain't right. I see where Rick is coming from, but no matter what, Aria is one of us. She ain't being treated any less.

Those ice blue eyes cut to me, surprised by my reaction. I nod in reassurance to the question in his gaze. After everything, Rick doesn't trust easily. Me neither, but when it comes to Aria, even after everything, my heart rules over my brain.

"I don't…" Aria trails off as I fix her with a glare, halting the rest of her speech.

"You telling me you'd rather sleep on a straw mattress instead of a couch? What's the best you had outside those walls, huh? A tree? Take the damn couch, woman."

She relents, shoulders drooping, "Okay."

My jaw clenches, hating how accepting she is of everything. Where's the damn fire in her that I loved so much? It's the final straw, too many questions in my head to handle anymore. I huff, leaving the room.

"See ya'll in the morning."

Heading to my room, I shut the door behind me before flopping down on the mattress. The room consumed by darkness, and the blankets cool beneath me, a long breath rushes from me before my fingers automatically play with the wedding band around my neck.

I shut my eyes and grip the ring tight. My life just got turned upside down all over again. This is what I've wanted. I've wanted Aria back for so damn long. Now she's here and I ain't got a clue what to do now.

So much for happy endings.

A/N:

Hey! Sorry for the late update. Honestly, the time just slipped away from me. I didn't even realize a month had passed since the last update. My bad! Anyway, here is the new chapter. Wonder what those three are so tight-lipped about, huh? :) Answers are coming soon, my friends.

Reviews are wonderful if you can. Thanks and see you soon with another update!