Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. All rights reserved to their respective owners.
"Wha-What?" Clementine asked with a surprised look on her face. They had stopped at the entrance of the maze-like structure. "Who… Who is it? Is it Kenny?"
Molly shook her head and she said, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. That's why I need to show you this person. Just keep in mind that… he's changed since you've seen him… just like I've changed."
Clementine nodded and she said, "Okay…" She had no idea who Molly was referring to. Part of her hoped that it was Lee, but she knew that he was gone. It might have been Chuck since she had no idea what happened to the older man. It could also be Roman since she and Becca had no idea what happened to him.
Molly led Clementine and Gil toward the direction of the museum; however, Clementine's nerves were starting to become nervous and excited which combined to make an unpleasant feeling. Something in her gut didn't feel right.
"I… I can't do this." Clementine said as she came to a stop.
"What's wrong, Clem?" Molly asked.
"I don't feel good about this." Clementine said. "Thank you for trying to help me, but I don't want this." She turned and tried to walk away.
However, Molly stopped her. "Hey come on now… I can't say that I know what you're going through, but… you got to give him a chance."
"Hey Molly… What's going on?" A familiar voice was heard. Clementine felt her heart drop. It couldn't have been him… She turned around to see an African-American man standing in front of Molly. He… He looked almost the same with a few patches of grey hair in his beard. He wore a red sweatshirt with a white collared shirt underneath, a black leather jacket, a pair of blue jeans, and a pair of black shoes. He wore an adult-size backpack with a dark blue sleeping back on top of it. One of his arms was replaced with a prosthetic. His eyes widened and he said, "Clementine…" He recognized her immediately. It was Lee, but she knew he was dead.
The girl's eyes were also wide. "No…" Clementine said as she shook her head. "No… you're not real…"
"Honey… I am… It's me, Lee." Lee said.
"No…" Clementine said as she started to back away. "I got you killed… You're not real."
Lee showed a hurt face and he said, "Sweet pea, that wasn't your fault… what happened in Savannah… none of that is on you… Please… come here." He had his arms out in a gesture for her to hug him and a welcoming smile.
Clementine whimpered and she shook her head. "No… I can't…" She said before she turned and ran back to the observation deck.
"Clementine! Come back!" Lee exclaimed. He gave chase, but he was unable to catch up to her. However, he was able to keep her in sight. He would just have to wait for her to think that he was no longer behind her.
Clementine continued to cry as she stayed near the river. She didn't know what to do. Was it all really hallucinations, but why did he look so different? Shouldn't he also be mad at her? Nothing was making sense. Clementine was so lost in thought that she didn't realize that someone had sat down next to her.
She jumped when she felt an arm around her shoulders. "It's alright, sweet pea. I know this is a lot to take in, but I'm real. I'm sorry that it took me so long to find you. Truth is… I thought you were dead. I thought I was too late."
"I… I don't know if you're real." Clementine said.
"Okay… fair enough." Lee said. He hummed to himself before he continued, "Back at the motor inn, you and Duck used to prank one another, you also liked to draw, you would talk into your radio and pretend to talk to your parents which brought you comfort, and you like apples and ice cream sundaes."
Clementine's eyes widened and she looked to the man. There was no way that anyone could have guessed all that without missing a beat or making a mistake. There was only one person who knew all that. That person was… No, that person is Lee. He really was right in front of her. He was alive.
"I… I…." Clementine said as she started to tear up. She was crying again. She tried to hold back the tears, but it was no use.
Lee hugged her and he said, "It's alright, sweet pea. I'm here now… Just let it all out." Clementine did exactly that. All the pain, sadness, and anger that she put herself through came out in the form of crying. She criticized herself for what happened in Savannah; she always felt guilty that the group got torn apart and she was left on her own which was her greatest fear.
After several minutes of crying, she finally stopped, but she didn't let go of Lee. She knew what had to be done, and she knew that she was going to hate it. "I… I can't stay with you." Clementine said with a sob. "I can't let you die again. You nearly died the last time I was with you."
Lee pulled her back and he sent a comforting smile towards her. "Sweet pea, how can you not know by now that I would do anything to keep you safe? I gave up my arm and risked my life to save you in Savannah. You're my world, and I'm not just going to leave."
"But Lee…" Clementine said.
"No buts." Lee said. He stood back up and extended his good arm out to help her to get up. "Now… we better get back to that one boy and Molly. I'm sure they're worried sick about us."
"I… okay." Clementine said as she sent a small smile towards Lee. She accepted the help up and stood on her own two shaky feet. She didn't feel much of anything except for a joy that she thought she would never experience.
While she and Lee were walking back to Parker's Run, Clementine slipped her hand into his. Lee smiled at the girl and he led the way back. It rekindled what used to be painful memories, but now, they were just memories. "Lee… I never told you this, but I love you." Clementine said.
"I love you too, sweet pea. You're like a daughter to me." Lee said with a smile.
It made her whole world complete again. She didn't know why she felt more complete to have Lee back in her life as opposed to her parents, but it just did.
The two soon found their way back to Gil and Molly. "Hey, everything okay?" Molly asked.
"Yeah… we just needed some time alone." Lee said.
Molly nodded before she looked to Clementine. "So… Clem… where is Christa and Omid again?" Molly asked.
"It's a bit of a walk from here, but they're at a ski lodge in the mountains. I think it's in Virginia." Clementine said.
"Yeah… that's a bit of a walk from here… but it'll be worth it… especially if Christa and Omid are there." Lee said.
"Well… let's hop to it then." Molly said. Lee took out a compass and started walking east with his fellow group members following him.
One Week Later
Clementine, Lee, Gil, and Molly had finally made it to the ski lodge. They walked up to the mountain's summit. They were exhausted. It had been a long week to get even close to the ski lodge. It was rather chilly at the moment. Clementine could even see some snowflakes coming down from the sky.
"Damn… that was a long walk…" Lee said as he huffed.
"Yup… that was unpleasant." Molly said.
They continued to walk toward the door of the ski lodge. Lee had his handgun out while Molly pulled out the teenager's revolver. Lee turned to Clementine and Gil and he said, "We have no idea if anyone is inside; it's better to be careful." The two nodded and allowed the adults to go inside first. Lee and Molly surrounded the door. Lee made a gesture, and the two ran inside. Clementine and Gil stayed outside in the cold; they waited a few minutes for Lee's and Molly's return or even gunshots before entering. However, there was nothing.
"You think they're okay?" Gil asked. Clementine nodded in response.
Soon, the door opened. It was Alvin who was opening the door. Clementine's guess was correct. Christa, Omid, and the others had stayed at the ski lodge. "Hey you two… how about you get in here and out of the cold." Alvin said with a smile.
"Yeah… sounds good." Gil said with a smirk. "Glad to see ya again." He went inside followed by Clementine. She never would have thought that she would be happy to see Alvin, but considering that he decided to join Christa's and Omid's group, she was happy to see him.
Once inside, Clementine looked to the stocky man and she asked, "Did everyone make it?"
Alvin frowned and he said, "Well… Walter and Matthew didn't. We put them down as soon as we came back and we buried them. Besides that, we had a few close calls, but everyone's alright."
"That's good." Clementine said.
"You seem to be doing better. You seem to be acting like a kid again." Alvin said.
"Yeah… I was in a rough spot for a long time, but now… my life's changed." Clementine said.
Alvin went up the stairs with Clementine and Gil following behind him. "…Turns out I was losing too much blood. The walker's venom wasn't the thing that was killing me. I would have died if Molly hadn't been there." Lee explained. Christa and Omid were in front of him with Genevieve in Christa's arm. The toddler was looking at Lee and Molly with a curious stare. Sarita was next to Omid with Sarah next to her. The teenager looked more lively and cheery since Clementine had last seen her.
"My gosh… I should have known." Christa said with a frown. "I'm so sorry."
"You couldn't have known that was the case." Lee said.
"Well… either way… it's good to see you again." Omid said.
"Yeah… I'm glad to see you two again." Lee said. He turned to Sarita and Sarah and he said, "Hmm… you must be Sarita and Sarah. Clementine told me everything that happened."
"Yes… that's right. It's good to be meeting you." Sarita said. Sarah nodded with a nervous smile.
Lee looked over and he said, "I'm guessing that you're Alvin."
"That's right." Alvin said. "If Clementine told you everything that happened, she must have told you what my former group did."
"Yeah… I was angry at first, but when she told me about you and Sarah… well… I'm not angry at you two." Lee said.
"Clem… if it's not too much trouble… Can you tell us what happened to… the rest of our old group?" Sarah said.
Clementine sighed and she said, "They're still at Carver's. Rebecca had her baby… it was a boy… There was no way I could get him out of there. Carver watched over him like a hawk. Rebecca survived giving birth and she has been in the infirmary since. Carlos and Luke are probably in the yard still…"
"They tried to escape using me, but I betrayed them." Gil said.
"That's good… I don't really want to see my old dad again…" Sarah said.
"Your old dad?" Clementine asked.
"Yeah… I um… I kind of adopted Sarah since we escaped Luke and the rest of the group." Alvin said.
"Well… congrats…" Clementine said.
"Thanks Clem, and you'll be happy to know that I started to learn how to shoot. Sarita's been teaching me." Sarah said.
"Cwem!" Genevieve said as she had her arms out.
Clementine smile as Christa allowed her to hold the baby. "Hi… you missed me, didn't you?" Clementine said to the toddler.
Genevieve replied with laughing and giggling. She was happy to see Clementine again. Clementine smiled as well. She felt the same way as the toddler felt.
"Well… dinner should be ready soon." Sarita said as she walked back into the make-shift kitchen.
"Sounds good." Christa said. She looked to Clementine, Gil, and Sarah and she said, "Why don't you three relax and spend some time with each other?"
"Yeah… I think that would be cool." Sarah said. She walked over to the fireplace. Gil and Clementine looked to each other and shrugged. They walked over to the fireplace where Sarah was and spent the majority of the day playing several card games while the adults talked.
After dinner, the adults walked over with the classic card game Apples-to-Apples which was played for the remainder of the evening. At some point, Christa had to take Genevieve to bed but it was a very fun evening for all of them.
Clementine was happy that after a year and a half of trial and struggle that she was rewarded. She always thought that her reward would come from Wellington and somehow having a family when she was a fully grown woman, but that wasn't the case anymore. She had a home and a family.
THE END… UNLESS SEASON 3 OFFERS NEW IDEAS.
A/N: Anyway… this was a fun fic. I don't get to use Genevieve very often especially since I don't think she's even an OOC. And I know this was my first fic when using a colder version of Clementine.