Chapter 30: Forgiveness.

Ally froze. Shock nothing, but shock. Jess was fully awake on her hip and a small whimper escaped her lips. Ally's whole body began to tremble and Cassidy turned on her heel and left. Ally put Jess down and Jess sat down on the floor, bringing her knees up to her chest.

Ally stared at the spot Cassidy once stood. Ally's hands twitched and gradually folded into fists. Her eyes lit up in anger, in hatred. She gritted her teeth and she let out a loud cry. She spun around and with all her might she flipped the table over, crying out at the top of her lungs. She ran forwards on a war path flipping and smashing everything in her way.

"NO!" She screamed and the door to the cafeteria opened again and she spun around, her eyes landing on Austin. His eyes were wide and they fell on Jess who was rocking backwards and forwards.

"Your scaring her!" He snapped and he went to go towards Jess, but she let out a cry and ran into Ally's arms.

"No...she's scared of you!" Ally spat back through gritted teeth. "I know your little secret!"

"W-What," He stammered.

"When were you going to tell me!" She cried.

"T-Tell you what?"

"That your married! You have another wife!?" Ally screamed and Jess wiggled out of her hold and ran out of the cafeteria crying.

"Ally," He whispered. "I-I-"

"Your what, sorry?" Ally laughed. "Wow, I actually can't believe I thought we were okay! Do I mean nothing to you? Huh? C'mon tell me does our son mean anything to you!? Huh? DOES OUR FAMILY MEAN JACK SHIT TO YOU!? When I almost died, were you thinking about how you didn't have to carry the burden of not telling me you had a wife!? God! How could I be so stupid! How could I have actually thought we could be normal for once!? Normal, heck what's normal anymore!?"

Austin ran forward and grabbed her waving arms. She let out a scream and thrashed in his hold. "STOP IT!" Austin yelled and Ally pulled her arms away from him and she pushed him hard, but he didn't budge. "LISTEN TO ME!"

"I thought you cared about me," She whimpered. "I actually thought you cared about me."

"Ally, please just listen to me-"

"I'm done listening to your lies!" She spat, getting in his face.

"Your getting it all wrong!" He shouted back in her face and she shook her head.

"Is she your wife?"

"Yes, no...kind of."

"So she is!" Ally snapped back and silence fell. Ally stepped away from him and she turned to walk away, but she only made it a few steps, and her legs gave out on her. She crashed to the ground a rack of sobs escaping her mouth. She screamed loudly and punched the ground hard.

Austin ran over, falling to his knees in front of her. He grabbed her arms, but she cried out, pulling them out of his grasp.

"Ally look at me," He whispered and his eyes began to fill with tears, seeing the pain she was in. "Ally."

"I don't wanna' look at you, you make me sick!" She spat, still hunched over, her hands shaking violently.

"Ally please," He cried and Ally's sobs stopped at the sound of him crying. She slowly sat up straight and she looked at him. Her expression unreadable. "She's a psychopath...I'm not lying...before the world went to shit I just went to her for sex...all I did was have sex with her, then leave. She meant absolutely nothing to me...she means absolutely nothing to me, I swear...b-but one night I got too drunk we were out at night, then the next morning I woke up and we were married, apparently we just went to the town hall and got married...I told her that it wasn't okay, that I wanted a divorce, but she lost it, she pulled a gun and completely lost it...she took off never saw her again until now. When I was looking for Cal, she just came out of the woods, I didn't even recognize her, didn't want too, but she remembered me...I never even considered myself a married man, it was just a mistake, one that I don't even remember...Ally your my wife not her, I swear...I swear I never wanted you to find out like this...I disappeared with her today, because she had that look in her eyes, the same look she had when she'd pulled a gun on me. I needed to get her away from everyone. I've been trying to get her to leave all day, but she won't...Nothing Ally...she means nothing to me...please...Ally I love you so much, your my wife...your my wife...your my wife, not her...she never has, never will be. Ally I need you, please don't let this ruin things between us...I can't lose you...I-I can't lose you, please Ally...please..."

Ally closed her eyes and she took in his words. She sighed, opening her eyes again. She stared into his deep brown eyes. She reached out her shaking hand and placed her palm over his heart. She felt how fast it was beating and she looked back into his tear filled eyes.

"Austin," Ally whispered. "You could've told me...you could've just told me."

"I forgot...that's how much she means to me...I was just so caught up in you...I love you so much Ally," Austin stared back into her eyes. Her fingers curled around his top and she let her tears fall.

"But the thing is...we're not officially married, but you are to her," Ally pulled the ring from her finger and placed it on the floor.

"N-No," His grip tightened on her wrists. "Ally...please."

"I need to check on Nathan," Ally whispered and she got to her feet.

"ALLY! DON'T DO THIS!" Austin got to his feet and Ally turned around to look at him. "Ally, I need you."

Ally stared back at him blankly and she blinked back her tears. She sniffled, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Her arms fell to her sides and she saw the tears falling from his eyes.

"I-I can't lose you," He whispered. "Ally, she means nothing to me...you mean the world to me...Ally, please don't do this."

Ally blinked, but she didn't move, not a single muscle. Her whole body was tingling, a hurting pain of emotion shooting all the way to her fingertips.

Austin took a few steps towards her and she took in a sharp intake of breath, but again she didn't move. He got closer, until he was standing in front of her. She let her silent tears fall and she watched him closely as he slowly dropped to his knees in front of her. His face became level with her stomach and he leaned forward, resting his forehead against the flat of her stomach.

"Ally, I'm begging you, p-please don't do this," Ally heard the masculine whimper escape his lips and her legs gave out underneath her at the sound. She landed on her knees in front of him, his hot breath plastering her face.

"Austin," She whimpered. "My hearts hurting..."

"I'm so sorry...I'm so so sorry," He breathed. "Ally, I can't lose you and I'm not going to give you up, but I want you to be happy and if you want to go, go...but I'm never going to stop loving you, never."

Ally stared into his eyes and she reached up her hand and wiped away his tears with her thumbs. Slowly, she pulled away and got up to her feet. Austin watched her as she began to walk away. He froze in shock, in fear. She was going to leave.

Ally stopped suddenly and she pushed the cafeteria door closed and turned the lock. She turned back around and stood there waiting. Waiting for him to do something, say something. He stayed on his knees his chest panting for air. Ally sat down on the floor, crossing her legs. She stared right into his eyes.

"Do you have any other secrets?" She asked.

"N-No...I swear," He panted and she nodded her head.

"Okay, I believe you."

"Ally, please put the ring back on...I need to know the we're okay," He whispered. She didn't make any movement and Austin got to his feet, and walked over to the ring and picked it up. He made his way over and sat down in front of her.

"Is this what you felt like when I left?" She asked.

"Yeah, felt like someone had reached inside my chest and ripped my heart out," He explained and she sniffled.

"She means nothing?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing. She isn't staying."

"Promise?"

"I promise, from the bottom of my heart Ally," He grabbed her hand and placed it over his heart. She looked up at him with a glint of happiness in her eyes.

"I shouldn't forgive you for this, but I can't stay mad at you...I need you," Ally whispered.

"I need you too...more than I need oxygen," He whispered back.

Ally looked down at the ring in his hand and she looked back up at him. He pulled her hand away from his chest, then placed the ring on her finger. Ally dropped her hands into her lap and Austin reached out and cupped her cheek.

"I love you," He said.

"Love you too," She whimpered and she looked back up at him. She bit her bottom lip and slowly leaned forward kissing him softly. He reciprocated instantly, wrapping his arms around her body. He pulled her closer and she straddled his lap. Her body towered over his, but his fingers curled into her skin.

She couldn't be mad at him. She knew that he never meant to hurt her, that he never meant to lie to her, and she couldn't just shut him out, she couldn't leave him. He was everything to her.

Ally buried her fingers in his hair and Austin pulled her body closer to his, needing to feel her body against his. She pulled away staring lovingly into his eyes.

"Never lie to me again," She panted.

"I wouldn't dream of it," He crashed his lips against hers and he pushed her backwards and onto the floor. He straddled her waist and ran his hands up her sides.

"Austin, not now," She whispered, staring up at him.

"I just wanna' show you how much you mean to me," He whispered back.

"Later," She sat up and got out from underneath him. "Nothing else you wanna tell me?" Ally sighed, sitting down on the chair. Austin slowly got to his feet and walked over to the table and sat down opposite Ally.

"Ally, it was a big mistake...I don't want this to ruin us," He whispered.

"The day I found out that my dad was an alcoholic, reminds me a lot of this moment. I looked at him when I was younger, and I thought nothing could go wrong, that he was nothing, but strong and joyful, though I was young and naive. I never knew what was going on when I wasn't around. Then there was the day I found he drank...a lot...I just wanted to see my daddy, and I remember running home from school, excited to be home and I ran inside and I found him passed out on the floor, a bottle of whiskey in his hand...then my mom walked out, stepped over his sleeping form...just like it was a regular occurrence. Turns out it was, and my dad wasn't who he appeared to be...funny how the truth manages to wriggle its way out."

Ally tilted her head slightly, tapping her fingers against the table. Austin knew he deserved it, every last word. He shouldn't have kept this from her.

"Ally...I don't know what else to say...I'll beg for your forgiveness."

"Forgiveness? It's just a mistake you made years ago, before you even met me...I-It's just...why didn't you tell me, Austin? It's not like you didn't have the time, we're around each other near enough 24/7?"

"It never even crossed my mind...Ally you mean the world to me, I only just remembered her when she turned up in the woods," He explained. "Your my everything."

"As you are mine," Ally whispered and small tear fell from her eye. "Like someone told me years ago. Sometimes we don't forgive someone because they deserve it, but merely because we need them to move on."

Austin paused. His breathing hitched in the back of his throat. Ally smiled, then her smile fell. It hit her. She knew she recognized him. Austin's eyes. His smile. His voice.

"It was you," Ally whispered, her smile reappearing on her face. "I remember now...I was so young, but I remember."

"T-That's not possible."

"The night I found out my dad was an alcoholic, and I ran off...you were the one that saved me when I stepped out into the road."

They both stared at one another. Austin still in shock, but Ally couldn't stop smiling. He'd saved her life so many times during the apocalypse, and apparently he's been doing it long before the world had gone to shit.

Ally stared at her dads drunken form on the floor. Her mom stood in the kitchen having stepped over his body. She was only fifteen. Alone in her thoughts confident that her family was perfect. But everything came crashing down on her in this moment.

Her bag fell from her hold. The daddy's little girl facade, fell. She blinked once, twice, three times, trying to remove the image she was seeing from her mind, but it wasn't working.

Ally took a few staggering steps back, until her back collided with the door. Her whole body began to tremble and she pulled open the door, running out of her house.

She took off running in her worn-out sneakers. Her breathing hitched in the back of her throat and tears began to stream down her face.

It was a winters evening and the sun was setting early. The cold breeze pounded against her face and she sprinted around the corner. She collided into someone and they let out a yelp.

Ally ignored them and carried on running down the sidewalk. She ran through the trees and over the bridge, which ran over the small stream. She ran along the dusty road and she pushed the branches out of her way.

She stumbled out of the tree line and out onto the road. She staggered forward a few steps and let out a cry, resting her hands on her knees, heaving for air. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders and covered her face, she stood up straight and rubbed her sore eyes.

Suddenly, the sound of screeching tires filled her ears. Ally looked to her right and saw the headlights of the car, hurdling towards her. She froze in fear. Her legs not listening to her brain.

Ally was knocked from her feet and she was tackled onto the sidewalk. Another body landing on top of hers. The car zoomed past not fazed by what happened. Ally let out a cry and the person got to their feet.

She looked up and saw he had a deep pair of brown eyes and blond hair. He looked to be in his early twenties, but he looked mature, like he'd seen the world.

He outstretched his hand and she was momentarily stunned, but she soon came to her senses. She took his offered hand and he pulled her up.

"What were you doing standing in the road for!?" He snapped and her eyes widened.

"I-I was j-just..." She whimpered. "It d-doesn't m-matter."

"Your shivering," He whispered and he took off his jacket and slipped it over her shoulders.

"Thank you," She whispered, then she rubbed her eyes.

"It's not good to be running around whilst your sad," He explained and he nodded over to the bench nearby and they both sat down.

"I got full marks on my history test...my daddy said he'd treat me if I managed to do it, but I knew that if I didn't, he'd still treat me anyway. That was the type of guy he was-"

"Was?"

"He's not dead...I just don't know who he is anymore, he's been lying to me. I ran home from school, wanting to tell him the good news about my test, and I walked into my house...saw him lying on the floor, passed out with a bottle of whiskey in his hand...my mom walked out of the lounge, stepped over his body and went into the kitchen. That's when I knew this was a regular occurrence, but I was to blind to see what was staring me right in the face. I can't believe he lied to me, could've got him help. He's too far gone now, I don't know if I can forgive him."

Ally looked at the mysterious man who'd just saved her life and he looked at her with a curious look. She released a staggering breath and slipped off his jacket.

"Here, I'll be fine. I think I've calmed down now, thank you for...you know saving my life," She stammered.

"You know before my grandpa died. He told me. Sometimes we don't forgive someone because they deserve it, but merely because we need them to move on."

"He really said that?" She asked.

"Sure did, don't ever forget that kid," He got to his feet as did Ally. "You head home now girl, and stay away from the road."

Ally smirked and she turned away, and began to walk off. She paused and looked over her shoulder to see if he was still there, but he was gone. She never even got to ask him, his name.

"You know I forgave my dad, but he got worse," She explained. "At least I found out your name."

"I can't believe it was you," He whispered.

"I went home and forgave him, even though he threw it back in my face," She muttered.

"Ally you forgive me, don't you?"

"I do...but like you said to me when I came back, I trust you, but it's a new type of trust, we need to work on it," She bit the side of her thumb. "I want her to go."

"She will. I ain't gonna' let her stay," He reached over the table and grabbed her fidgeting hands. "I love you."

"I love you too."

Suddenly, someone began to bang on the door. They both got to their feet and walked over. Austin unlocked it and opened it up a little bit to see a panting Harriet on the other side.

"He's g-gone," She heaved for air. "C-Cassidy's taken Nathan."

...

Cassidy walked through the woods and she hushed Nathan, who was screaming in her arms. She rocked him roughly and clenched her teeth in anger.

"Shut up!" She snapped, but Nathan cried louder.

She walked through the trees and into the little clearing and she saw Rufus and Eric standing there. Both of them smiled at the sight of Nathan in Cassidy's arms. Rufus turned to look at Kira was was sitting on the grass, her hands tide behind her back and her face beaten.

"Told you I'd get Nathan," He smirked evilly.

"He's just a baby, he's only a few weeks old. You can't do this," Kira said and Eric backhanded her. She gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes at him.

Cassidy walked over and handed Nathan to Rufus. Nathan cried louder and Rufus frowned.

"Make him stop crying," He growled at Cassidy.

"He misses his mom and dad. He senses that something's wrong," Kira murmured.

"Eric, shut her up," Rufus scowled at her and Eric wrapped the gag around her mouth and pulled it into a tight knot.

"What happens now?" Cassidy asked.

"We wait. They'll come and then they'll hand the prison over. Wayne will agree, because Nathan's his nephew. Then obviously Austin and Ally agree, therefore everyone else we agree, because their leaders will do anything to get little Nathan back."

AN: :O Hey! Thanks for all the reviews for the last chapter, you guys light up my world :) Now, I know things look bad, but it will all work out soon. Also, I'm off school for a week, so I'm going to be positing a few chapters this week, hopefully. So, Kira's going to play a big part in this and things may not go as you think. Austin and Ally aren't going to go in guns a blazing, because they don't want Nathan in anymore danger then he already is. They'll be playing Rufus at his own game.

Please review, the response for last chapter was amazing. Review me any questions you have and I'll answer them in the next chapter. You guys rock!

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