Shifting imperceptibly in the back seat, Elyza took care not to jostle the sleeping girl leaning against her shoulder and turned her face towards the window.

Only darkness could be seen beyond the shimmering reach of the headlights, hiding danger and death in the veil of shadows. Walkers could be lurching within a stones throw of the vehicle and its inhabitants would be oblivious, but it was best not to let the mind imagine these possibilities.

Elyza tapped her fingers mindlessly against her leg to a silent melody that only she could hear, letting her head fall back against the headrest. It was a strange sensation to be confined to the role of a passenger, stranger still to have her girlfriends mother driving them through the night.

The three of them had settled into a lengthy silence ever since Alicia had fallen asleep thirty minutes earlier, her soft breaths ruffling Elyza's hair as the world bled past them in a blur, unseen by the sleeping girl.

Nick and Strand had predictably chosen to obtain their own vehicle for the long return journey, preferring their own space rather than being crammed together into one car. Elyza had been secretly relieved by the decision, still adjusting to her new reality in the company of Alicia's family.

It was an odd situation to find herself in, confined with her girlfriends mother only days after meeting them. So far she had managed to avoid any potentially disastrous topics of conversation that might cast her in an unfavourable light, but it was only a matter of time before questions were asked that she would rather not answer.

In a regrettable action, Elyza managed to catch Madison's eye in the rear view mirror, quickly pretending not to have noticed as she let her eyes drift shut in hopes of avoiding unnecessary conversation.

She was not so fortunate.

"We should be able to make it back to the Abigail without any more stops," Madison chimed, keeping her voice low in consideration of the sleeping passenger.

Not at the speed you're driving, Elyza thought to herself but quickly discarded the thought. There was no need to be rude about the well meaning gesture.

Madison had insisted on driving the last stretch, claiming that Elyza had done more than enough for them without exhausting herself on the return journey. In truth, she would have much preferred to remain in control of the vehicle, less reluctant than the older woman to reach speeds exceeding 60 mph which would've guaranteed their timely arrival at the ship.

With some reluctance Elyza had been left with no other option but to clamber into the back with Alicia, arguably the most enjoyable part of the agreement, even if she did feel unusually helpless contained to the role of a passenger.

For so long it had just been her and Alicia taking on the world together, but events were changing as a new journey began.

Nothing stayed the same for long these days.

"It's been a long journey," Elyza noted, referring not just to the last few weeks but rather the span of time since she had first met the brunette girl. It went without saying that she could no longer imagine this life without her. Alicia stirred briefly against the blonde's shoulder, only to resume her steady breaths a moment later as the gentle thrum of the engine filled the lull in conversation.

Elyza released a soft exhalation once she was certain the girl hadn't been disturbed, not even realising that she had been holding her breath. She slowly let herself relax again and took care not to continue the restless motion of her leg.

"I never thought I'd be so excited to see that damn boat again," Madison confessed, tapping her hands against the steering wheel as the road stretched endlessly before them.

Elyza maintained silent contemplation and considered what life would be like for them aboard the Abigail. She had never considered herself to be a boat person as such, but they would soon find out.

Almost half an hour later, when Elyza's eyelids were drooping heavily and sleep was fast approaching, a hushed whisper from Madison brought the girl back to full clarity in a matter of seconds.

"What the hell are they doing?" the older woman uttered to herself, leaning closer to the wheel as she peered through the cracked windscreen.

Arching her neck to see past the front seat, Elyza could just make out the reflective shine of a motionless vehicle up ahead. Nick and Strand had been leading their small procession through the states, charging away now and again as they made use of abandoned roads to fly ahead of their companions.

Madison gently pulled to a stop behind the old car, leaving the headlights on before she threw open the door to assess the situation. Even Alicia lifted her head in confusion and squinted blearily into the darkness. "What's going on?"

"I don't know yet," Elyza admitted, carefully extracting herself from her girlfriend before ducking out of the car.

Strand was partially hidden beneath the car hood, bent double over the engine as he peered closely at the compartments. It didn't take a genius to guess what was happening.

"We don't have time to waste, can you fix it or not?" Madison was questioning her son who had appointed himself as a diplomatic figure between the two individuals.

"It will work," Strand insisted firmly, wiping a hand across his forehead as he chose to ignore the sceptical gaze he received from the impatient woman. "My baby isn't going to give up here, not when we're so close to the end."

Madison rolled her eyes but Elyza had a touch more sympathy for the distraught man, approaching the old car to assess the damage and hopefully offer her assistance. That was until she glimpsed the steaming mess otherwise known as the engine. She had recovered a handful of her own beloved vehicles in the past, but this was a lost cause.

"Oh dear," she said quietly, whistling through her teeth at the impossible task that lay before them. "No way is that salvageable."

Strand side eyed her with detached irritation. "Your input is always so insightful."

Elyza grinned and shrugged loosely, only voicing what they both already knew. She had an arsenal of witty comments for her new acquaintance but remained silent when Madison hushed them both.

"Shhh, listen..."

An abrupt end to conversation amplified the light groan that was barely audible in the dead of night, a concerning sound in any situation let alone from such close proximity.

"Shit," Nick uttered, pushing away from the lifeless car when he glimpsed the walker clambering onto the concrete with unsettling determination. One leg dragged along the ground sickeningly as it lurched towards the illuminated vehicle behind the onlookers.

A flash of concern for the girl remaining inside the car hit the group simultaneously and everyone reached for their weapons without pause, Elyza for her trusted gun and even Strand abandoned his dying car to grasp the crowbar lying discarded on the ground.

Elyza barely had time to unholster her weapon before the car door swung open without warning and her girlfriend stepped forwards to send a forceful kick into the creatures chest. The motion sent it tumbling back with a distorted growl, unable to regain it's advance with only one functioning leg and a swift thrust of Alicia's knife through the skull silenced it's gurgling protests. Alicia turned to look at her family with a raised eyebrow as she wiped the blade clean.

"Are we going to wait here to get ambushed by a horde?" she stressed, gesturing with both arms to express her bewilderment. Headlights in the dead of night was something of a moth and flame situation when it came to walkers. They would have to move soon if they were to avoid being overrun by the undead.

Elyza felt herself staring for longer than was appropriate and snapped herself out of the trance as Madison's surprise dissolved into clarity, spinning on her heel to give her friend a final warning.

"You can stay with your wreck or come with us, but make your mind up quickly because we're leaving."

A disappointed scowl formed on the man's face, already imagining the discomfort of being crammed into a single car with everyone. He looked ready to argue but Madison was already striding back to her own vehicle, waving for Alicia to return to her seat without even looking back.

Strand looked hopefully towards his partner in crime, but his support was running empty.

"Sorry man, but she's got a point," Nick said regretfully, offering a sympathetic pat on the arm before retreating after his family.

A harsh bang accentuated Madison's closure of the car door and she glanced over her shoulder once seated to hide a smile from the disgruntled man.

"He would hold a funeral for every fallen vehicle if we gave him the chance."

Alicia shook her head in exasperation, used to her girlfriends unhealthy adoration for their adopted vehicles. She didn't understand how someone could become so attached to a heap of metal.

"When we get him back to his beloved Abigail I'm sure he'll forget all about this one," Alicia noted, craning her neck to watch the interaction taking place on the exposed road in front of them.

Strand finally flicked his eyes towards the newest member of the group with resigned acceptance, aware that he had only one choice in this situation.

"Its a lost cause, what more can I say?" she concluded, smiling sympathetically even as she turned on her heel, shoving hands deep into her pockets as she followed Nick's retreat.

"I give it ten seconds," Madison was debating as everyone piled into the car, all eyes fixed on the conflicted man as he gazed heavily down at the ruined engine and visibly sighed. This was a man of independence and pride, but he was no fool.

Nick huffed and wriggled to find a comfortable position in the seat next to his sister. "He'll need at least a minute to say his farewells."

Madison smiled with brief amusement at the prospect and watched with mild curiosity as her friend fixed the once reliable vehicle with a final, lingering stare and reluctantly left it behind.

"If that man's not obsessing with his boat then he's talking to damn cars," Madison observed with a shake of her head and she wasn't the only one smiling when the man dropped into the front seat with a flat expression.

"Do I hear my ears burning Madison?" he quipped, pulling the seatbelt across his chest with unnecessary force.

"I would never dishonour you like that Victor."

Strand rolled his eyes at the obvious sarcasm and gestured to the road ahead. "Just drive."

The car surged back onto the wide road, Strands eyes fixed on the mirror as they left the broken vehicle far behind in the darkness.

Elyza bit her lip at his forlorn expression, understanding his disappointment at finding himself trapped in this vehicle and glanced across at Alicia with a subtle arch of her eyebrow. The girl stared back with a shine of warning in her eyes, a smile playing on her lips as she ducked her head to avoid laughing at the uncomfortable situation.

The blonde slipped her hand along the girls leg instead and subtly grasped for her hand, glad that they could experience this together. No matter how uncomfortable or strange it was to be thrown into this family gathering, Elyza would not change it for the world.

They drove through the night and into much of the morning before they even came close to their destination - a long beach that stretched along a portion of Oregon's coastline - but they eventually caught sight of the sparkling blue ocean on the horizon, glinting tantalisingly between the dotted array of buildings.

It came not a moment too soon. Long, gruelling hours of being trapped in car with four other people was quickly becoming unbearable and it was a relief when they could finally leave the cramped metal vehicle behind and breathe the fresh sea air.

A light breeze ruffled Elyza's hair as she scooped her rucksack out of the trunk and joined the rest of her group on the sidewalk. A handful of walkers had been dealt with upon their immediate arrival but had been taken care of with ease, their corpses littering a three metre radius around the car.

"I'll be very disappointed if this boat doesn't live up to expectations," she warned in good humour, shielding her eyes from the harsh sunlight that streamed around them as she carefully picked her way through the littered bodies. It was not an easy task to clean blood from shoes, she had learnt that the hard way.

Alicia was wiping her blade on a scrap of material and returned it to the sheath, glancing up at her girlfriends approach with a warm smile.

"Her name is Abigail," Strand interjected passionately, heaving his own bag over one shoulder as they prepared to advance towards the beach on foot. "And she has only ever exceeded expectation. Nothing less."

"We'll soon find out," Madison chimed in, weaving through the huddled group as she ensured they had retrieved all of their belongings. "This should be the place."

Before the family had split up, an arrangement had been put in place to allow the rescuers to relocate the boat if their mission was successful. It was agreed that every week, those remaining at sea would advance along the coast to avoid unwanted attention. If Madison's calculations were correct then the boat would be near Oceanside beach for at least another day.

A fretful search along the beach and coastline provided no sight of the vessel in question and tensions were running high until Nick waved his hands in the air, alerting the group to his discovery. A headland had been obscuring the Abigail but the boys vantage point on the outcrop of rock allowed a clear view of its location.

The survivors hurried over uneven terrain towards the next stretch of beach and it was at Cape Meares where they finally located their rescue. Within minutes of frantic gestures and attempts to gain attention, a speedboat was soon rushing across the cresting waves towards them.

"We made it," Alicia breathed softly, one hand sheltering her eyes from the sun as she gazed across the open water with a mixture of excitement and anticipation. "We really did it."

"I told you we would." Elyza squeezed the girls hand and followed her gaze, although she remained preoccupied with the memory of the promise she had made what felt like a lifetime ago.

At times, the possibility of keeping her promise had been almost non existent, but they had managed against all odds. Together they had survived the perilous dangers of these dark times and rediscovered the hope that was all too absent.

Relief was contagious within the group of survivors as they waited for their rescuers to approach and take them to safety. The distance closed rapidly until it was finally possible to glimpse the dark haired man at the boats helm. He leapt out of the small craft even when the waves rolled against his thighs and hauled it ashore, almost forgetting about its existence when he abandoned it on the ground without thought and extended his hands towards the group.

"It's so good to see you," he admitted, his gaze instantly focused on the woman he had watched leave in search of her daughter what felt like years ago, the emotion clear to see as it seeped between them. "It's been so long."

He embraced Madison tightly, holding her close for a long moment before he finally focused on the remaining individuals, clapping Strand heartily on the arm before greeting Alicia and Nick. He was grateful to be back in their company and his welcoming demeanour didn't crumble for a second when his gaze fell to the stranger amongst them.

"You must be Elyza."

The blonde nodded in confirmation, noting the kind, brown eyes that held no judgement or suspicion for her existence. Whatever had been broadcast on the radio must have placed her in a good light, at least she hoped so.

The spell was broken when he clapped his hands together and addressed the group.

"Come on, we can talk properly when we're aboard the Abigail," he insisted, ushering them towards the vessel that would carry them back across the water.

"I hope you've taken good care of her," Strand added in mild warning as he settled into the speed boat, eager to be reunited with his pride and joy after such a long time.

Travis was quick to assure him that she was in pristine condition and everyone piled into the craft, weary from their journey and more than ready to leave life on the road far behind them.

The speed boat seemed to fly over the waves and it felt like only a matter of moments before they were surging alongside the boat and eventually disembarking onto the deck.

Strand certainly hadn't been exaggerating the luxurious setting and Elyza was pleasantly surprised by the new transport. It was a stunning vessel even on the very surface and she could already imagine the utilities that would be available to its passengers.

There wasn't a welcome party as such waiting aboard the Abigail, rather two lone silhouettes visible on the deck to greet them. An air of hesitation was notable when the survivors stepped foot on the gently tipping vessel, an unexpected contrast with the previous sensation of relief and excitement that had been present.

Ofelia couldn't contain herself any longer, the final member of their group stepping aboard when she swept forwards and hugged Alicia tightly, hardly able to believe that they had finally returned.

She clung to the girl like a lifeline, as if the world might crumble away if she loosened her grip even the slightest. Alicia was initially taken aback at the motion but automatically returned the gesture with only a hint of hesitation.

Madison was clinging tightly to Travis' hand, lost in her own world of content at being reunited with her family again. The long imagined dream was finally becoming a reality and she was overjoyed to see her family together onboard the Abigail, just like it had always been.

Avoiding any emotional scenes, Strand was more than happy to secure the speed boat and proceed to inspect his vessel with an intensity that few could muster for the occasion. His reunion was not with a person but with Abigail herself and Nick accompanied him with a knowing grin.

That left Elyza to hover awkwardly in the background as she contemplated whether to introduce herself or wait patiently for someone to save her the trouble. It was easy enough to put names to the remaining faces around her but she soon noticed that one of them was missing.

It was as she mused over this absence that she noticed the quiet boy mirroring her stance on the opposite side of the deck and her attention shifted towards him. Chris. He was just as Alicia had described; dark hair framing a narrow face as his eyes flitted over the huddled family members in keen observation.

He did not appear to share the joy and relief that was palpable within the group, rather adopting a cool and calculating assessment of the situation. Elyza's breath caught for a moment when his eyes swept away the gathering to rest on her, dark eyes that unsettled her like nothing she had felt before.

The boy scrutinised her with unspoken intensity and she was only shaken from the trance when a voice called her name and she turned suddenly to find herself the object of everyone's attention.

"This is Elyza, my girlfriend."

Alicia's face was stricken when she received no response but the blonde soon returned to her senses and surged forwards to address the family.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all, I've heard many good things."

"Likewise," Travis assured her, offering a friendly smile as he maintained his grip on Madison's hand.

"Come on, let's get inside and settle in," the older woman insisted, aware of the tiredness that she herself was feeling after the expedition. "We can catch up properly over some food."

There was a mutual agreement for this decision and everyone slowly began to stream below deck. Alicia was swept alongside her friend in a rush of conversation as her family followed close behind.

Elyza smiled reassuringly when the girl peered questioningly over her shoulder, waving her on confidently before scanning the deck briefly to conclude that Chris had already disappeared in the moment of distraction.

Alone on the upper deck in a brief illusion of peace, she allowed herself a deep breath and cast her gaze out across the glinting ocean, a beautiful sight. She wasted no more time dwelling on the strange boy and instead readied herself for what was to become her new life.

It wasn't going to be easy, nothing ever was, but she would do her best by Alicia and her family no matter what happened. She was drawn back to her present situation when a light stream of laughter and muted conversation reached her ears as Strand announced his reluctant congratulations to Travis for maintaining the boat to his exceptionally high standards.

She was running out of time to be absent without suspicion and braced herself for the event, pushing a smile onto her face so as not to alert Alicia to the uncharacteristic uncertainty that had crept into existence. It was bound to be strange at first, but she would learn to adapt to this new life.

Concerns momentarily discarded, the blonde girl began her descent to the lower deck to join her new family and start the next chapter of her survival.

Welcome to the new FTWD AU Clexa story!

I hope you enjoy it as much as the last story! Thank you for your continued support and wonderful comments! They inspired me to write another story so thank you for keeping me motivated!

Let me know what you thought of this chapter or if you have any predictions for the future! I really hope you enjoyed it and I look forward to releasing more chapters soon! :D

As a side note, quite a few people have been looking for smut in my other stories and sadly I haven't got any in them which has been a disappointment for a few people XD I wasn't planning on including any on this story but if you'd like that content or to see more romantic scenes then I'm sure I could write some in! Just let me know and I'll see what I can do before anyone gets to the end and is in for a disappointment haha