The next day, I was sitting on the porch with my head down. I hate this so much. I wish they wouldn't've found out. All I wanted right now was to be alone.

Someone walked out onto the porch, I didn't need to look. I knew who it was. "Hey." Daryl said. "I'm sorry about…spyin' on you." I looked at him in surprise, I never expected an apology. "We didn't even thank about it. We just did it."

I turned my head and looked down. "It made me feel weird." I admitted. Daryl didn't say anything to that, he just put a hand on my back.

I moped around for days and didn't go to see Leon for obvious reasons, and I stayed away from the others as much as I could. I was embarrassed but also mad at them for the way they treated me. Daryl apologized for listening to our conversation, but I'm sure he still feels the same way as my dad.

Narrator's POV

Daryl Dixon went out one day by himself, he decided to go by that spot where Abby was meeting up with the savior. The man really didn't know why he was going there. Did he want to kill the savior? That might make things a lot simpler. Or it could start something else.

Daryl looked around, then started to head back. He didn't know what he was there for anyway. "Hey." A voice said and stepped out. Daryl immediately put his crossbow up. "Don't shoot." It was Leon, he put his hands up. "You saw me the other day. Remember?"

Daryl's expression hardened. "Yeah, I remember ya."

Leon hesitated. "I just…I was wondering about Abby." He looked up. "I haven't seen her in a few days and I'm worried. Is…she okay?"

Daryl stared at the young man. What he did next was one of the most immature things he's ever done. "Abby's fine." He said. "She doesn't wanna see you no more."

Leon looked surprised. "What? She said that?"

Daryl stared at him giving him a hard look. "Stay away from 'er." Then he went back to Alexandria.

The next day, Rosita opened up the gates of Alexandria for Maggie. "Hey, what's goin' on?" She asked her friend.

"I need to talk to Rick." Maggie stated.

"Rick, I need to tell you what Jesus told me the other night." Maggie said to her father figure. Michonne and Daryl were also there. "Abby met a guy out there and—

"We know." Rick Grimes said. "We found out a few days ago. He's a savior."

Maggie's eyes widened. "He's a savior?" She exclaimed. "And Abby knew?"

Rick nodded. "Yeah, she knew."

Maggie paused as she felt anger flood through her body. She couldn't comprehend how the girl could do this to them. "Where is she? Where's Abby?"

"Upstairs. In her room."

"Bring 'er down here. We need to talk." Maggie commanded.

Rick nodded, then went upstairs to get his daughter.

Abby's POV

My dad came into my room the next morning and told me that Maggie was here and that she wanted to talk. I gave him a curious look, but I know it could only mean one thing. She knows. Jesus told her.

I followed my dad down the stairs. There stood Maggie with an angry expression, next to her was Jesus. That pretty much confirmed my thoughts. "Maggie?" I said.

"You've been talkin' to a savior?" She said getting right to it.

My eyes casted over to Jesus, he gave me an apologetic look, I looked back at Maggie. "He's more than just a savior." I said back.

Maggie inhaled deeply. "How could do you this?" She scolded me. "Did you forget about the agreement? Did you forget about what they did to us?"

"No, I didn't." I said while she was talking and shook my head.

"What they did to Glenn?" She continued.

I straightened up. "Negan killed Glenn."

"And the saviors stood around and watched it happen." Jesus defended Maggie.

I sighed. "Leon had nothing to do with this." I told them. "He wasn't even a savior at the time."

"Leon?" My dad questioned. "I thought his name was Adam?"

I glanced at my dad, they must've heard us calling each other by our nicknames.

"Come to thank of it," Daryl started, "why was 'e callin' you Cathy?"

My face flushed and I looked around at all of them. I really didn't want to tell them this. "We…we came up with nicknames."

"Those are actual names. Not nicknames." Michonne said.

I hesitated. "…they're…characters from a book we like." I cleared my throat after saying it. I'm embarrassed now. I'm way younger than all of them, but I never felt that way until right now. They all shared glances. "Look," I shook my head, "I didn't…plan for any of this. For us to become friends. It just happened, okay? I don't know what else you want me to say."

"From what ya told us the other night, sounds like y'all are more than just friends." Daryl said roughly. I gave him a look. I kind of regret telling them about us now.

"Alright, she made a mistake." My dad said. Mistake? I looked at him. "But it's not too late to fix it." He looked at Maggie. "She just won't see him anymore."

My eyes winded as I looked at my dad. "No." Me and Maggie said at the same time, then I gave her a surprised look. "It's not that simple." She said. "If Abby stops seein' him, he might get mad and decide to tell Negan."

"He wouldn't." I put my arms out. "Our agreement goes both ways. That would get him in trouble too. Why would he do that?"

"He could tell Negan somethin' else." My dad said. "Make him believe him."

I glared at my dad. "He wouldn't do that to me."

"What makes you so sure?" Daryl said now. "You only just met 'im. You don't know 'im that well yet."

"Daryl's right." Said Michonne. "He might not be who you think. I know you don't wanna believe it, but some of the nicest people end up being the biggest traitors."

I paused. I listened to what they said, but I still don't think he'd do that. I trust Leon.

"So what's the plan then?" Jesus said. "Sounds like we've got a bit of a situation here."

"We could force him to become one of us." Michonne said.

Force him? I looked at her.

"I don't know if I trust him being here." My dad said.

"He ain't stayin' here." Daryl said roughly.

"Maybe he could come to The Hilltop." Jesus suggested. "We could scare him into keeping this a secret." Scare him? "We'll even lock him up if we have to." Lock him up?

"That could work." Maggie said.

"Yeah could work." My dad said. "We still don't know enough about him."

"I don't want him at The Hilltop." I voiced my opinion. "I want him here."

"That's not happening." My dad said immediately. "The Hilltop is our best bet."

"I don't want that though." I looked at my dad.

"I don't give a shit what you want." Maggie snapped. I looked at her in surprise. "You betrayed us all by befriending this guy."

I gave her a stupid look now. "I didn't betray anyone!" I put my arms out. "I didn't know he was a savior at first. We hung out for a while before he told me."

"What it have made a difference if he told ya from the start?" Daryl asked me.

I hesitated. "…I don't know." I admitted and looked down.

"It doesn't matter." Said Maggie. "You still continued to meet him even after you found out so it doesn't matter."

I sat there feeling defeated. None of them care about what I want, it doesn't matter what I say. "Well, it sounds like my opinion doesn't matter…because you guys think I betrayed you…so you go ahead and discuss things. I'm out." I got up and walked out the door without another word or glance.

I leaned over the railing on the porch and inhaled and exhaled a few times with my eyes closed. This is not how things were supposed to go. Leon and I are supposed to be together. Now everyone is in there discussing what happens to my boyfriend. My boyfriend. I was so mad I could kick something. Turning my head, I saw Max on his porch watching me. He stared at me for a few seconds, then hurriedly ran inside. That little asshole! I know he told them! I gritted my teeth angrily.

Hot tears ran down my cheeks, I wiped them away impatiently. These people are my family and I love them, but right now I hate them. I closed my eyes and breathed. I wish…nobody knew me. I wish I was a complete stranger to everyone here, even my dad. I thought he'd at least stick up for me, but I guess my happiness isn't as important to him.

"This is not my life." I whispered. I still had my eyes closed. It's time I started living my own life and stop letting other people run it for me. My eyes opened. This is the time that Leon and I usually meet.

My legs started taking me towards the gate, I followed. Once I got there, I opened it. "Where are you going?" Rosita asked in an accusing tone.

"Out." Was all I said.

"No shit." She said smartly. "Where?"

I stopped and looked at her. "Nowhere." I said. She gave me a weird look, which I ignored and left.

I saw Leon sitting under the tree and was super thankful that he was there, I wasn't sure he would be. "Leon!" I yelled.

He looked at me. "Abby?" He sounded surprised to see me and stood up quickly. I hugged him tightly and kissed him. We pulled apart and locked eyes. "I didn't know if you'd be here or not with what happened. And what that guy said."

I gave him a confused look. "What guy?"

"The one that was with your dad when they found us."

"Daryl?" I questioned. "You saw him? What'd he say to you?"

Leon seemed to hesitate. "…he said you didn't wanna see me anymore."

"He really said that?" That doesn't seem like Daryl. "It's not true."

"I figured." Leon said. "I'm happy you're here." I just stared at him. "What's wrong? What happened with your family?"

I breathed heavily while I still stared at him. "Do you care about me?" I asked ignoring his question.

"What?"

"Just answer the question."

"Yes, of course, I do. I care about you more than anyone."

I felt relieved by his answer. "You have to listen to me." I said seriously. "My family is going to force you to go live at The Hilltop. They're gonna force you to keep our secret by locking you up."

"What?" Leon looked alarmed. "They don't have to do that. I won't say anything."

"That's what I told them, but they won't believe me, which means they won't believe you." I said wide-eyed. "We have to leave. Together."

"Abby?"

"It's the only way." I nodded. "Do you have a vehicle you can take?"

"Yeah, a motorcycle but—

"Get that. Pack a bag with as much food and supplies in it as possible, then meet me back here before the sun comes up."

"Abby." Leon put both hands on my arms. "Are you serious about this? I don't care about anyone back at The Sanctuary but…can you do this? Can you really leave your family?"

"I'd do anything for you." I said. "I love you."

Leon stared at me intensely. "I love you too." We kissed passionately for a moment. He touched my face and looked at me. "Are we really doing this?" He kind of smiled.

"Yes." And I meant it.

When I got back home, Maggie and Jesus weren't there so they must have went back to The Hilltop. Good. I didn't need to say goodbye to them. Peeking through the window, I could see my dad and Michonne on the couch with Judith. Daryl was in the chair. They all looked up when I walked in.

"Where'd you go?" My dad asked me. I didn't answer and just stood there. His expression hardened. "Did you go see that guy?"

His name is Leon. I wanted to say. "You don't have to worry about him anymore." I said and headed to the stairs.

"What's that supposed to mean?" My dad asked me. I ignored him. "Abby?"

Once I was in my room, I closed the door and laid down on my bed staring at the ceiling. Am I really going to go through with this? Can I really leave my dad and everyone behind? Leon's face came into my mind. I love that smile. I'd do anything for him, which means I'm definitely doing this.

I grabbed my iPod and set the alarm for three in the morning because it would take a while to get to our spot. Plus, I needed to gather food and supplies once everyone goes to bed.

Suddenly, I got this…excited feeling in my stomach when I thought about leaving with Leon. We would finally get to be together. Alone together.

My eyes shot open as my alarm went off, I hurriedly shut it off so no one else would hear it and wake up. It's time.

I got up and and did what I usually do in the morning, like brush my teeth and fix my hair. After that, I changed my clothes and grabbed my bag packing a clean change of clothes inside.

I slung my bag on my back and carried my boots downstairs with me. Nobody was there, which was good. I quickly and quietly packed some food like peanut butter, canned soup, beans and vegetable and a few other things. Plus, I grabbed a few bottles of water.

That's it. I thought.

I slowly and quietly opened and closed the front door, then I sat down and put my boots on. After that, I was good to go. I stepped off the porch and headed for the gate. I couldn't go out the front because whoever was on guard would see me leave so I climbed up the back wall and went over it.

Narrator's POV

Max woke up from a weird dream and breathed a little heavily. His throat felt very dry so he got up out of bed and went downstairs into the kitchen to get a glass of water. The boy grabbed a glass, then filled it with water from the sink. He drank it down savoring it.

Max got himself a little more water, then walked to the kitchen window and looked out it. He stared out into the night and saw some bushes blowing in the wind. Something caught his eye as he was about to turn away to go back upstairs. It was so quick that he almost waved it off as more plants just blowing in the wind.

However, he could make out the shape of a person. Max squinted as he watched them begin to climb the fence. Is that Abby? The boy thought. Where is she going at this time of night? She's going to get herself in more trouble.

Max looked down at the floor with wide-eyes. He should just go wake up Rick and tell him what he saw. Instead, he grabbed a jacket and slipped on his shoes.

Abby's POV

By the time I reached our spot, the sun was just beginning to come up. I could see Leon walking towards me. Right on time. I thought. "Hey." I said to him with a smile. He tightly embraced me and kissed my forehead. "Abby…" He said then trailed off.

"Were you able to get some food and stuff?" I asked ignoring him.

"Yeah, I did." He nodded. "But—

"What about a vehicle? Do you have one?"

"Yeah. I got my motorcycle." Leon said. "It's behind a tree over there." He turned back to me. "But listen…are you sure you wanna do this?" He looked deep into my eyes. "I feel…guilty about you leaving your family."

"Don't." I said seriously. "It was my decision. And yes, I want to do this."

"Are you absolutely sure?"

"Yes." I looked at him. "I just wanna get outta here."

Leon stared at me. Finally, he nodded. "Okay, come on. We gotta go now then." He started over to where he left his bike, I followed him. It was still pretty dark, so I shined the flashlight for him as he pushed his bike onto the road and got on it.

"Abby." A voice said.

I spun around with my flashlight and pointed it at them. It was Max. I breathed in relief. "Max." I said. Then I got angry. "What are you doing out here?"

"What are you doing?" He said in an accusing tone.

I hesitated not sure if I should tell him the truth. "Max…" I trailed off and shook my head. "I have to get outta here."

"Is it because of me?" He looked worried. "What I did?"

"No." I put a hand on his shoulder. "This isn't your fault." I told him. "Don't think that."

"Abby, we gotta go." Leon said.

I looked back at Max. "This is the only way Leon and I can be together. You'll understand this feeling one day." I nodded. "I gotta go now." I hopped on Leon's bike and he started it. "Go back home, Max. Now."

"When will you be back?" Max asked me.

Leon and I shared a look, then I looked back at Max. "I'm not coming back." I said quickly. Max looked sad, which was making me feel bad. I didn't want to look at him anymore so I told Leon to go. He started driving. I held onto him as we drove down the road. A smile formed on my face. We did it.

Narrator's POV

By the time Max got back to Alexandria, it was fully light outside so the other residents were getting up. The boy knew he had to tell Abby's father what she did. Max peeked through the window. He could see Rick sitting there with his head down. Maybe he already knows that Abby left. Daryl was in the kitchen, it appeared that he was making coffee and Michonne just walked downstairs holding a baby.

Max nodded. He knew he had to do it. He raised his fist and knocked on the door. Michonne answered it only seconds later.

"Max?" The woman questioned.

"I need to see Rick." The boy said and walked inside without permission. "Mr. Grimes?"

Rick looked up at the boy. "What now?" He said. The last time the boy came to see him, it was to tell him that his daughter was hooking up with a savior. What could he possibly want now?

"Abby's gone." Max said. They stared at the boy. Daryl even turned and looked from his place in the kitchen.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Rick said after the boy didn't continue.

"She got on a bike with that guy." Max stated. "She said she wasn't coming back."

Rick looked up at Michonne, they shared a look then he looked over at Daryl. Daryl fixed him with a hard stare. Rick looked back at Max and stood up. "How long ago did she leave?"

"I don't know." Max shook his head. "It was like…the middle of the night." They gave him a look. "I just got back." He said before they could ask why he waited so long to tell them. Rick sighed and looked down.

"I'll grab my shit." Daryl said.

"No." Rick put up his head and said. Daryl gave his friend a surprised look. "She'll be back."

"What?" Daryl said. "We ain't gonna go look fer 'er?"

"We don't have to." Rick shook his head. "She'll realize how good she had it here."

"You sure about that?" Michonne said. "Abby goes out all the time. She's capable of taking care of herself."

"She'll be back." Rick said. "Trust me."

Daryl's eyes casted down sadly, then he put his head down. He wasn't sure Rick was right about Abby coming back. But he wanted her to come back.

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!