Clementine spent her life surviving. How to tell if a person was on edge. Which edge of that person would keep you alive and which edge would kill you. Lee Everett, what an angel. Nothing in this world could tarnish her the way Lee's death had. In a twisted way shooting him prepared her for the hell on earth she was going to face. And there were too many variations of hell to count.

Lee was an angel without wings, so he had no choice but to teach her to survive in a living hell. She used to wish Lee would fly them to a world without walkers. Where her parents had only died not turned. Where the apocalypse was not upon them and Lee would protect her from bullies, bad grades and bad breath. What happened to his wings? No matter, they had to fight. Now Clementine was too old for dreams and wishes. And if you were smart, you never slept that deeply anyway.

But then, AJ.

He was born. On an icy river. During a burning shootout. She knew he would be the one to live. She was elated to have rescued AJ. To have kept him alive for this many years and relatively well fed. Relieved when he caught onto killing walkers, staying silent and being perceptive, like a natural. Grateful he didn't have a soft nature like Ben. She was grateful she wasn't an idealist like Sarah's father, Carlos. Clementine became a guardian. Wouldn't Lee be proud? She was happy with herself. The few toys she had in the car, the slim rations and the small arsenal of weapons they had would keep them alive and moving for a while. But what kind of life was running?

Still basking in an area clear of walkers, car doors locked and the full moon giving them yards of sight for danger . . it wasn't as bad as it could be. AJ is peacefully asleep and spread out in the backseat. After another long day, the first ounce of weariness weighs on her eyes and all notions of a threat are obliterated . . . .

A tree limb falls to the ground and Clementine springs to life again looking for a walker, a person, a bomb, hell even a dog!

She hears his rapid breathing behind her.

"AJ?". AJ is alarmed

"AJ, AJ, it's okay". She soothes. "Nothing but a branch. We're fine, we're safe".

"But Clem" AJ protests. "Shouldn't we get outta here in case walkers are drawn to the sound?".

Clementine shakes her head "No AJ. Our car door is gonna attract more attention than any branch. You just go back to sleep. You goofball".

He looks at her, questioning her judgement. He stares at her like a hunter, looking through time and space.

AJ yawns "Clem" he closes his eyes and lays back down. "I'm not a . . . . goof-ball". He was still so childlike. Good.

"Fast asleep".

Even though she's doing well alright raising kid in the apocalypse, it's not good enough. She wishes she was an angel. An angel who could fly AJ onto another planet where he could live. This one has gone to shit. Walkers and people you can't trust. That's all AJ has ever known. Clementine wonders if this bright adorable boy could imagine a life without them. And that thought exhausts her more than anything . .

Despite everything that happened here, that's why Clementine fought for her home at the Ericson's School of Troubled Youth. For AJ.

Yes, AJ shooting Marlon was a callback to everything she taught him on how to survive. She wasn't proud. How could she fault him? At that moment Marlon was a threat, on edge and dangerous. A lowered weapon in a wild mind isn't safe and AJ knew it. She wouldn't blame AJ for killing Marlon, but the other kids certainly would. Dammit. It was heart-breaking. Clementine had only taught AJ to live with Walkers. What would he know about 'getting along' or 'playing nice'? His only link to humanity was her. AJ may have killed Marlon but the blame was all over her. AJ's feelings for being kicked out, being shot by Abel, and having to regain the trust of all the kids.

Let's just say, Clementine was elated to see her boy safe and cherished by someone other than her.

She would have given up an arm and a leg for this. Thanks to AJ's quick thinking, she only had to give up a leg and had her life to spare. What a good boy.

After the rescue mission from the ship, everyone was saved. Everyone save, Tenn. It was hard. Hard for AJ to choose between two of his new best friends. Both were rays of sunlight in a world overcrowded with walkers. Louis with his singing, his piano and forgiveness. Tenn with his illustrations, crayons and the heart of a soft child. Both were instrumental for AJ. They were helping him become a kid again. He stepped out of being a survivor and returned to the precious goofball he was always meant to be.

Clem trusted AJ. Hadn't he proved himself ten times over? He saved Louis from that woman with the butcher knife by using his teeth to dismember her. Gritty, and effective. Clementine had Louis, a knife and the intention to use it. Who knows what that prison ward would have done to Louis? AJ killed Lilly and got the vengeance for all the lives lost and enslaved for her purposes. The kids at Ericson turned away. They shouted. Their breathing stilled and their bodies dropped as is they were already corpses. Die or survive. They killed Lilly. It was hardly a choice.

"You've earned it AJ". Clem said in that cave. And her faith is AJ , is what killed Tenn. . . . .

It was spring. The sun was comely and comforting in the early morning at the Ericson's School for Troubled Youth. Only a few early birds were in the courtyard including Omar, tending to the newly functional greenhouse harvesting sprigs of who knows what to create a breakfast that would appease his high standards.

Assim pacing, pensive as always. However, his mind may have been on a certain southern red-head as much, if not more than on his musings about hunting. And AJ, on patrol: For walkers, for humans, for James. But not for raiders. Doubt they would be their problem anytime soon. This trio was up and about most mornings, passing cursory greetings and staying quiet out of respect for one another. These three tended to their thoughts better in the courtyard rather than in bed. But Clementine,

Relished the bed. She had sleep paralysis from a nightmare stemming from . . well, it could have stemmed from a myriad of experiences. So to feel the cool night air replaced by the sun kissing her skin through the window relaxed the teenager after a fitful night. She was languid and rocked by thoughts fluffier than her threadbare mattress. Gosh, was this what dreaming felt like?

"When was the last time I was able to enjoy being in the sun?". She scrunched up in the covers and sighed deeply thinking "Aaahh, this feels so nice!". Her life had been so hard, yet she hadn't become a monster like others.

Someone knocked cheerily on her door. There was a muffled male voice coming from outside of it. She couldn't make out what they were saying. But she knew it was AJ. She thought he must be practicing his manners.

"Yes~" She mewled out. "Come in".

"Good moooorning Clementine ~" Singing. Rather in key and pretty singing. The footsteps too. Unlike AJ's they're noisy. And the voice is much deeper than AJ could have. .

Louis walks in like it's a musical.

Clem holds the covers in her arms and legs, eyes closed with a contented grin plastering her face and the sun making her glow like a bar of pure gold. "Well" she half-thinks "If it's Louis I guess I should get up". Non-plussed about him seeing her in the state.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"Uhh umm oh Clem- well, Clem! Clem! . . Hey oh, wow.". Louis mutters. This is a lot to take in.

Seeing his girlfriend, a usually fierce lioness asleep in a mountain of blankets and pillows like the softest, sweetest kitten EVER! He was eager, yes always eager to see her. To be around the prettiest bad-ass survivor who incredibly thought he was cute. She had kissed him. How lucky was he?! He was a young man and he was lucky to have someone to share his eagerness with, you know? He was good at keeping spirits up. Great actually! But he rued the thought of being alone in the apocalypse. Was that so crazy? Especially since these . . wicked thoughts, had gotten more persistent since he hit puberty.

AJ was a kid but damn, could Clem be just as naive about some things. He knew she had lived out there for the better part of her childhood. At the school, they kept each other social, well-mannered and polite. And in check. Louis had long struck out with all the girls he crushed on. They knew how to tease him and how to respect him. Clementine on the other hand: the hem of her shirt rode up her waist and her pajama pants rolled down her hip. Her shirt was so low he could almost see something peeking out from the top of it. And her legs.

Here she was. Being naive. Seeing everything as a weapon except for her body. Louis really really really liked dating Clementine. And he really liked not being alone anymore so,

He stopped sputtering and stepped out of his wicked thoughts like a true gentleman.

He walked beside so he was beside the bed. Arms on his hips in his signature stance. "Feels good to sleep in for once, doesn't it?".

She's usually awake at this hour. He had expected her awake, maybe sitting on her bed. Not this. Clem may have been all clad so why did Louis feel like she was down to nothing but her skivvies? She wore her shoes in bed, like his grandparents. Who told him it was a habit from the great depression meant to keep their feet warm.

Even though that thought passed his mind, Clem wearing her shoes to sleep only made him think about how soft and small her feet could be. Her legs were twisted around the blanket and, oh wow, how hard was she gripping those sheets? Like, really really hard like constricting? Or so gently he'd wonder if she was even there- Oh god oh god wow, he's thinking like that, here? What is he gonna do . .

"Oh?" Clem sighed absently "Louis."

Louis gulped, audibly. He marched over to her bed before he could think any more dirty things about, cla- "I MEAN CLEM".

"What?" she asked.

"WHAT? What? I didn't say, I mean . . ." He took a deep breath. "Sorry".

He took a knee by the head of her bed and said, rather calmly

"Good morning Sleepy Head. Early bird gets the worm and, Omar's breakfast. We try not to eat worms unless it's really really dire".

Clementine's eyes flicker and she lightly moans. Louis was in shock and in awe and he couldn't hide it. Unwinding herself from the blanket and pillows, her body making shapes he dreamed of. His jaw too slack to say anything.

"Louis, you are so " Clementine trails off then, looking right at him. "Funny".

Louis tightened up. "Uhh yeah, that's me! Glad you can recognize it , as sleepy as you are and all".

She realizes she's still in bed. "Yeah, it's nice. Ever since I was a little girl, I spent my life on the run, surviving. Even more so with AJ. I guess, I hadn't realized how much I enjoy getting sleep in".

Louis says "Well Clem, that's a shame because you are as lovely in battle as you are in bed".

Clem quirks her eyebrow at that. Was he insinuating something?

'Oh. My. God!' Louis reprimands himself 'Did I say that out loud. Did I really really say that?".

Clementine sits up stretches her arms overhead, head back.

Louis sees she is only in her shirt and, wow, is she wearing a bra? He sees the entirety of her throat and her chest just pops out. boobs. And, they're Clem's. Get it together Louis. GAH how can a killer like her be this pretty? The faintest bit of skin at her waist exposes itself and Louis reaches his limit. He whimpers out loud.

Matching Clementine's groan, noting the end of her stretch. "Well that was nice" She says. "I owe all of this to you Louis. You and all the other kids here. AJ and I would still be scrapping by if not for you".

"We couldn't have that". Louis says "I couldn't dream of anyone else getting to wake you up in the morning".

Clem smiles, 'how did I find such a lovable hunk?'. She enjoyed being doted on. Couldn't help it. Sometimes it would get her in trouble. The kind words of a stranger had to be backed up with action. Wasn't always easy to decipher who she could trust. She could trust her boyfriend. She pats Louis's cheek "I don't think there's anything all that special about seeing my bed-head" she jokes. "but, thanks".

Electricity. Her hand burns and he is grateful for the brand. The words fall out of his mouth, "Oh Clem, you have no idea".

Clem feels a jolt course through her. "Louis" she says, shaking her head. Louis came to wake her up. He really made her feel like a girl. She cups his face and kisses him, light and chaste. But Louis was charged. His hands grab her legs. His body hot. The heat of his body catches her off guard. Clementine moaned. Her palms on his face felt like they were on fire.

Louis leans, putting his weight into the kiss. Rolling his body into new angles to claim her mouth. Clementine wobbles. Louis is throwing her off balance. Good move. If someone had told her there would be something she'd want to lay in more than her bed she wouldn't believe you! Her hands ghosted the sides of his neck. But here he was, making her imagine how soft he was.

Her moan is brief and low but to Louis it's the loudest thing in the world. He is fixated on how soft and warm her lips are. Thank you god! He said he'd be a gentleman and now look at what it's gotten him! Heaven.

His hands on her thighs and his fingers are pulsing. Clementine makes him realize there's blood coursing through his veins, not only on his shirt. Life for Clem was like, one thousand times harder than his. His biggest problem was dealing with the heartbreak of his parents' abandonment and walker bites. Clem had to deal with all of that and more 24/7. Plus, a little kid!

She breaks the kiss and it sucks. Was he the only one enjoying this. . . intimacy? He hadn't seen half of the messed up shit she had yet a glance, a touch, a kiss; anything with Clem made his heart soar. Like a symphony was bursting through his cells and itching to share the experience with her. It was such a beautiful song, he just wanted to share that with her.

Louis comes back to reality. Clementine pats his hands that are on his lap.

Clementine smiles "Louis, let's get breakfast . Hopefully there's enough food left so we won't have to eat worms". She gets up and saunters to the doorway.

Louis is totally slack. He can only watch her get up and walk out the door then he sees her behind.

"Oh my god her ass is just so awesome".

Clem was entranced by the sun but Louis was under Clementine's unbreakable spell.