Chapter: A New Life.

4 Months Later:

The screaming could be heard from the cabins. Sarah was in the farmhouse, giving birth to her baby. Ally was supporting Nathan, whilst he stood on wobbly feet. She let him go, and he took a few staggering steps forward, and fell down.

She could see Jess, Nevil, and Billy, playing with the other children, and Nevil was waving a bug in front of Jess's face. She smiled, and helped Nathan back onto his feet, and he tried to walk some more.

The door opened, and Austin walked out. He scooped Nathan up into his arms, just before he hit the wooden floor, and he giggled. Austin sat down next to Ally on the step, and she smiled at him. He put Nathan down so he could play on the grass, then he grabbed Ally's hand.

Ally brought her free hand up to her neck, where her horrible scar was. She hated looking at it, but she was happy to be alive. She couldn't believe the baby had survived and she had been going to Alice for frequent checkups, just in case something did go wrong. She was showing a lot more than she had with Nathan. Her ankles were already swollen, and she was already struggling to support her own weight.

Austin kissed the side of her head, and she turned into his side, and rested her head against his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist, resting his hand on her stomach in a protective manner.

Ever since the accident, Austin had been in full time protective mode. She couldn't go anywhere without him being able to go with her, or be able to see her from a distance, and for once, she didn't mind.

Wayne had fully recovered after a month, and Lucas happily handed over the main leadership role, but now they were both working as partners to lead the group. Gregory had recovered, but he still had problems with his injury, as it hadn't been treated straight away, but he was doing well.

Jaime…well…she's been locked up as punishment in one of the barns. Last week, there was an awful incident, and Mike pushed her too far, and she snapped, pushing him into a creeper, which was coming their way. Mimi was mourning over the loss of her husband, but Austin didn't care. He really didn't care that he was dead.

Mimi had demanded that Jaime be killed for what she'd done, but no one was willing to vote for that, so Wayne told her she was going to be locked up in the barn for a week as punishment. Ally has been to visit her every day, bringing her all the food and water she needs, and she usually took the kids with her, and Gregory.

Everything was much calmer now. There were rarely any creepers around, and they only ever saw them when they went on supply runs, which Ally wasn't even allowed to go on, not even Wayne would let her. But, Ally understood, and again, she didn't really mind.

The screaming stopped, and a smile grew on Ally's face. Her eyes landed on the farmhouse, and she squeezed Austin's knee. "She's going to be a great mom."

"Just like you," He whispered, and she looked up at him. "So, what do you want the baby to be?"

"I feel like Jess deserves a little sister, and it will be fun to see how you are with her, because Jess already has you wrapped around her little finger," Ally laughed, and Austin blushed a little.

"She does not," He grunted.

"Yes she does, what happened a few weeks ago?" She questioned. "I do believe that girl managed to persuade you to climb to the top of a very tall tree, because she saw a pretty leaf she wanted."

Austin smiled, and Ally kissed his cheek. "I think I want another boy, it's bad enough being wrapped around the little fingers of two girls."

"So, I have you wrapped around my little finger?"

"Pfft, who said I was talking about you," Ally poked his side, and he laughed.

"If it is a girl can we name her after my mom?" She asked, and Austin nodded his head.

"That sounds like a great idea."

Ally glanced back at the farmhouse, and saw a grinning Frederick step out onto the porch, Mary walked out afterwards, and they both embraced one another. Ally wanted to go and see Sarah, but she knew that the new family would want some time alone together.

"You can't let her out! She's a murderer!" Mimi was storming after Wayne and Lucas, as they walked across the field, heading towards the barn.

"Let's go," Austin helped Ally to her feet, and he picked up Nathan. They followed after the three of them, and they walked onto the other field, and over to the barn. Gregory was waiting outside by the locked door. Mimi ran ahead, and stood in front of the locked door.

"You can't let her out. She's a killer, and she deserves to die herself!" Mimi yelled.

"Last time I checked, BARNS AREN'T SOUNDPROOF!" Jaime shouted from inside, and Ally muffled the laugh that came from her mouth with her hand.

"Just because she's your daughter doesn't mean she can get away with murderer!" Mimi crossed her arms across her chest, and refused to move.

"We had a vote, and nobody wanted her dead, because no one thinks she deserves it. If you want to make up your own rules, then find your own group, and lead them. Now, move out of my way!" Wayne warned her, and when she didn't move, he nodded at Lucas. He walked over and grabbed Mimi by the waist, and dragged her away from the barn. Mimi looked at Austin, begging him to help her.

"Austin, please, do something. You can't seriously want a murderer around your children!" She pleaded, and Austin sighed.

"If you want Jaime dead, then you also want me dead, and Ally dead, because we've both killed people, and we all had are reasons for it. Jaime wouldn't have killed him without a reason. I'd bet my life that he provoked her, and she thought he was a threat. That girl has protected my family, and kept them safe. She is a respected person in our group, and it's about time you either followed our rules, or you leave!"

"You're a murderer!" She screamed, and Nathan jumped in his arms.

"We live in a world where the dead are walking, no one's exactly a saint!" Ally snapped. "Now, will you let her out?"

Wayne nodded his head, and unlocked the lock. He pulled the chain off, and opened the doors. Jaime was standing there, tapping her foot impatiently against the ground, and her arms crossed. Wayne walked in and hugged her, and Ally watched him whisper something into her ear, which made her smile.

Jaime walked out, and ignored Mimi's insults. She hugged Gregory, then she walked over to them. "If I'm not mistaken, you defended me just then," Jaime mocked, grinning at Austin.

"I think you're mistaken," Austin grumbled, narrowing his eyes at her.

"Admit it, you actually like me?" Her smile grew wider, and Ally giggled, hugging Jaime quickly.

"Sarah's had the baby," Ally said.

"Can we go and see her?" Jaime asked.

"Yes, we can go now if you want?"

"Sure."

They all left, and walked towards the farmhouse.

…

Ally sat down on the couch, and tucked her legs underneath herself. Austin walked over, having just put the kids to bed, and he grabbed a blanket. He sat down next to her, and spread the blanket across the two of them.

Ally's skin was illuminated by the fireplace, and she looked over at him to see he was gazing at her intently. "What?"

"I love you," He replied, and she smiled at him.

"I love you too."

"I'm so glad you're alive," He whispered. "I wouldn't know what to do without you," He brushed some of the hair from her face, exposing her scar.

"It's ugly, don't look at it," She muttered, pulling her hair back over it.

"There's nothing ugly about you," He said, and she nodded her head.

"It's hideous, and now I have to live with it," She whimpered, her bottom lip trembling. "Every time I look in the mirror, I'm always reminded of what happened…I don't like thinking about it…"

"You're beautiful, so goddamn gorgeous," He pulled her onto his lap, and she rested her forehead against the side of his head. He wrapped his arm around her stomach, and rubbed comforting circles over her bump. "I promise you. I promise you from the bottom of my heart that nothing's ever going to happen to you ever again, nothing like that. I'm meant to keep you safe, and I didn't, but I promise you that I will. I always will."

Silence fell, and Ally gazed at him. She wrapped locks of his hair around her fingers, and stroked the back of his neck. "Austin."

"Hm?"

"You're beautiful too," He smiled, and blushed a pink shade. He looked at her, and she smiled, pressing a tender kiss to his lips.

"It's all going to be okay now," He whispered. "We deserve it."

AN: Hi! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and the next one, sadly, will be the last one :( Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last one, and please review this one :)

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