Duck looked between the two tables, wanting to find the familiar face of his partner but coming up empty handed as he let his face fall. He didn't see Clementine anywhere but he was sure that maybe if he waited a little bit, she'd show up to choose with him. He was about to try and hide behind a wall to wait for her but Kenny's eyes caught Duck's before he could move, a grin forming as he looked at his son, calling him over.

Duck smiled back, a little uncomfortable now that he knew he had an expectation and he wasn't so sure Clementine would sit with him. It depended on what she felt was more important: Luke's group's feelings or her desire to be with him.

Duck knew what she would usually choose. She'd reason that Luke's group should at least have one of them. He wouldn't be mad or even sad, he knew but he didn't know if his dad would take some sort of offense or not. Duck wanted to stand his ground to wait for Clementine a little longer but the look his dad gave him forced his feet to move to his table, taking a seat as he did. Walter slid a bowl in his direction, as if it were already reserved for him over there.

He didn't really want to search for it, but he wondered if Clem had her own bowl sat aside at the table. He sure hoped not, since he was sure Clementine would choose the other table. He hoped it didn't sting Kenny too much. After all, Duck knew Clem wanted to sit with them just as much.

"Hey, Duckie, we were just talkin'. What's the deal with that kid? What's his name?....Luke? He in charge? You trust him?" Kenny asked, bombarding Duck with questions faster than he could respond. Duck spared a glance at Luke behind him, surveying him even though he knew that the man in question didn't need to be studied anymore than he had been.

Luke was someone Duck trusted, despite the rocky start Clem and him had with the man. He was a man that gave off a nice vibe to be around, like Walter. He was trustworthy and had his respect. He knew that, no matter what, Luke would put his life on the line for everyone there. Even those he didn't much care for. He was a man that Duck trusted, liked and respected.

"Yeah, I trust him," Duck said, seeing an attitude change in Kenny as he said that.

"Do you trust him with your life?" Kenny asked, his voice going a bit lower as he did. It threw Duck a back a little bit but he answered regardless.

"Yes. I trust him with mine and Clem's. He's a real good guy. I mean, we didn't trust each other at first but I know he feels bad for our rocky start and..." Duck trailed off, stopping his rambling before it got bad and letting his eyes trail to the doorway, relief flooding when he saw Clementine enter the kitchen. Thank god, he was stumbling over himself. He quickly averted his eyes off of her before she realized he saw her and felt obligated like he had when Kenny looked at him.

He stared at her from the corner of his eyes, keeping track of her as she made her way to Luke's table. He could almost smile at the predictability of his friend, taking a spoonful of his food and eating it. However, a smile that played on his lips over her was not shared by Kenny as he noticed her choice. Still, he didn't seem to comment like Duck thought he would and instead focused his mind to another topic.

"That guy, Big Al. He said they were on the run..." Kenny brought to light. It was something Duck knew he was interested in but, due to the tone of his voice, he also knew it was not the main thing he wanted to talk about.

"Some people are after them," Duck said, leaving out any additional information he had gathered with that group in favor of not sullying their names just in case. He didn't really find it as his place to spill any secrets they may want to keep to themselves.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that no more. They'll leave tomorrow and you and Clem can stay here!" Kenny said, his eyes shining at his own proposal and with the knowledge that Duck would wholeheartedly agree.

...If he were alone. But he had a partner. They decided everything together.

"Absolutely! You can stay here as long as you want, Duck. You're family now," Sarita said, making Duck's heart tighten as he looked at her. It was almost as if his brain short circuited, his desire for a mother almost completely taking over his decision. Family family family. It was the one thing he wanted.

He wanted to say yes so much. He didn't want to think about it at all. He wanted Sarita and Kenny. He wanted a mom again. He wanted his dad again.

...He also wanted Clementine.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to talk to Clem. She's my partner, we decide everything together and I don't wanna agree to something for her without her actual opinion,"

"We understand, Duck. She's an important part of your life, right Kenny?" Sarita said, forever the diffuser before Kenny's disappointment showed obviously. Duck couldn't help but admire her patience and understanding.

"Yeah. Still, she kinda decided on somethin' without you just now," Kenny said as he gestured to her seat at the other table. Duck looked at Clem, seeing her laughing along with Sarah as they played around. Despite whatever bad feelings Kenny held for her choice, Duck held none. In fact, he felt fantastic over her choice.

"No. I sat here because I knew exactly where she'd sit. No matter what, she would've done my opposite,"

"Yin and yang kinda deal?" Walter asked, his tone lighthearted with a kind smile on his face and his eyes showing those happy marks.

"Well... we just know how we work and how to work together. She found it fair to split us up between tables, like I knew she would. Kinda like splitting a cookie up between toddlers,"

"Seems you know her every move, son," Kenny said, making Duck chuckle in embarrassment.

"Well, I mean, we kinda just-"

"No need to ramble. Workin well with people is good," Kenny said. I think I only work this good with Clem... Duck thought, making sure he didn't speak it as he's pretty sure he'd only embarrass himself further.

Walter looked at Sarita's empty bowl, smiling as he stood. "Wanna help me with dishes, Sarita?" He asked, having the woman nod as she followed him with her empty dish. Duck knew that that was only an excuse to leave Kenny alone with him again. He wasn't exactly sure whether or not to be appreciative since now there wasn't much to talk about.

Luckily Duck didn't have to wait very long, the familiar faces of Luke and Nick coming to sit in the now empty spots of Sarita and Walter. Unluckily, they didn't say anything and only added to the silence at that table. Even worse, Duck felt sudden guilt for not sitting with them.

"Hey there," Kenny said first, hoping a strike of conversation would ease things forward.

"Hey," Luke responded.

"Hope you like the food,"

"Oh... Yeah, yeah, it's great. Thank you," Luke said politely.

"Peaches and beans. Great for nutrition. Not too great for the way out, I tell ya," Kenny said, bursting out laughing as he did and making a smile appear on Duck's face, even as he found the joke disgusting just as much. Living with those kinda jokes was something he was used to, though. He briefly wondered if he could slip over to the girls for a moment before thinking better of it. The girls were probably having more fun without him. "So it's Luke and Nick. Luke and Nick. You guys sure do look like a match,"

Oh god.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nick asked, that defensive tone coming back. Alright, maybe Clem and Sarah is actually a viable option right now.

"I'm just sayin' y'all look like good friends is all. Duck always calls Clem his partner. He seems pretty comfortable sayin that, even if partner could mean something entirely different," Kenny said, putting Duck on the spotlight and his face flushed at the embarrassment of the moment. A small chuckle made its way out his throat, one that anyone could tell was forced.

"I think that might be a little different," Nick said as he stirred whatever remained in his bowl. Different how? How was it different? Did he think they were actually together?

Duck was honestly very curious of what he thought now. Or, even more horrifying, what the whole group might think.

"So, what's your plan? Hold out here for the winter?" Luke asked, seeing no business in staying on that track of conversation any longer and getting down to what he really wanted to talk about.

"Actually we were thinking about moving on. Heading up North. Ever heard of a place called Wellington?" Kenny asked, his question pointed more to Duck than anyone else.

"Yeah. Crista wanted to take us there before the accident," Duck said, recalling the name being uttered more than a couple times from her mouth.

"Supposed to be a big camp up near Michigan,"

"Michigan?"

"You got a hearing problem, kid? Yeah, Michigan. Think about it. Fresh water, lots of land, and cold ass winters so the walkers get slow," Kenny said, his excitement short lived as Nick opened his mouth once again.

"Sounds like bullshit,"

"Listen, Vanilla Ice, I don't know what your deal is but you're more than welcome to take off in the morning," Kenny said angrily.

"That'd be just fine with me," Luke said, making Duck sigh internally. It's apparent whatever patience Luke had had run its course too.

"Whats the deal with these guys, Duck?"

"Hey, fuck you, buddy," Nick said, making Duck shake his head at the interaction. It seemed Nick didn't like Duck being dragged into the conversation.

"Please don't fight. We don't need to be hating each other," Duck said.

"He's right. Gentlemen should not even think to fight with guests or hosts," Walter said, calmness to his voice and not taking one side over the other. "We've all had a long day. Please eat," Walter said, something on his face telling him things still weren't right. "Hey, Duck, you wanna help me outside for a bit? Or maybe hang out with your friend? Your choice!" Walter said as Duck wordlessly got out of his seat, relieved to be out of that situation. He looked over to the table Clementine was at, seeing her having a lively conversation with Sarah and Carlos.

He decided it'd probably be easier helping Walter than it would be weaseling his way into her conversation. He didn't really think Carlos liked him either. "I'll help you,"

"Great. I'd love it,"

"Stay safe, Duck," Kenny said as he watched Duck and Walter exit the cabin. When they were out if earshot, Walter finally spoke.

"I used to be a teacher. I remember what it was like to be caught in between two cliques. Students always came to me for advice. I'm sure they'll find common ground soon enough. Might take a little time but that's just how these things work. Everything will be fine," Walter said, counseling Duck and hoping to help him out. He sighed and smiled at Walter.

"Thanks," Duck said and Walter started walking, knowing Duck would follow.

"Relationships are like any machine. You don't throw them out when they break down. You get your hands dirty and you grease the wheels," Walter said, smiling at Duck and waiting for a reaction.

"...Who exactly are you talking about? Clementine? Luke? My dad? Sarah? Sarita? Rebecca?" Duck asked, rather confused about Walter's sudden topic of relationships. Granted, Duck needed to be spoken to about a couple certain relationships he was confused about and didn't exactly know how to rebuild or even begin to build.

"Anyone. Anyone that first came to your mind when I said relationship. Which one needs the most help? Or even the least? You've got relationships with everyone,"

"That's true..." Duck said, thinking about who he needed to focus on the most. It'd be nice to get close to Sarita. But he really wanted to be close to Sarah too. And repatch things with Kenny. "What if I have too many relationships to attend to?"

"Well then, you take it one step at a time. Don't eat all your chocolate in one setting, it'll just make you sick even if all the chocolate is sweet in it's own way," Walter said. Duck nodded, finding that to be good advice and understanding what he was trying to say. "You know, they say the world is over. I'll tell you a secret; Its not. People are more political now than they ever were before. They focus more on what's important. In the end, we can't change the world. All we can do is continue to to learn from each other; to emphathise and use our heads. As long as we have our wits about us, we can always make the right choice. Right?" He said.

Duck nodded, trying to catch up with all that Walter had said. His attention drifted off somewhere in the middle without him meaning to and felt kinda bad. Walter seemed to tell from his face he felt guilt and knelt down. "You okay, Duck? You know you can tell me anything," He said, his kind eyes meeting Duck's complicated ones. It made Duck almost trust him more, it made him feel that he really could tell him anything.

While not originally having anything to confess, a flood of worries entered his mind. Where was Matthew? Who was the people chasing them? Was Matthew shot by Nick? Is that strange man that pulled a gun on him in the cabin the one chasing them? How many people were coming here? An army? Did he help kill Matthew? Was Nick right? Should he have been watching in the first place? Was Clementine just protecting him all the time?

Walter seemed to have noticed the change in demeanor from the boy and the increasing conflicting emotions crossing his face as he kept thinking because he put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't have to tell me. Just know that I'll listen no matter what," Walter said, standing when Kenny's voice cut through the air like a knife, snapping Duck out of his muddled and worried thoughts.

"Hey, kids! What're you two talkin' about?" Kenny asked, coming towards them with his gun resting in his hands.

"Politics,"

"The hell?" Kenny said, a laugh in his voice.

"Seeing you being from Flordia, I thought you'd know a lot about politics. Your son would probably be good on the debate team at school,"

"I don't think so. Don't think he'd be too into that stuff, probably be too busy doin anything else if this damn apocalypse weren't in the way," Kenny said as he smiled at his son. "Wonder if you'd of been any good at sports. We were gonna sign you up for baseball your next school year; Katjia and I,"

"Really?"

"Too bad this apocalypse happened. Kinda sucks you couldn't find a hobby or something normal,"

"That's okay. Clem and I draw a lot, if that counts. We sometimes carve our initials into trees if we don't have paper but wanna mark something," Duck said, thinking he said something wrong when a laugh escaped Kenny.

"Sorry, that's just kinda cute. You're tellin' me if I see D and C on a tree, it's you and Clem,"

"Yeah, probably," Duck said, not thinking of any other reason why those letters would be carved on a tree.

"Alright. I was just gonna check the windows out back. Wanna help, Duckie?" Kenny asked.

"Sure," Duck said, following his father and noticing Walter do the same. When they turned the corner, however, they noticed a woman looking in through the side windows. Kenny almost called out to her but was stopped by Walter before he could.

"...Miss?" Walter called instead, making the woman jump back from the window by maybe four or five feet.

"... Please, do you have any food?" She asked. Her hands were in surrender, more than likely noticing Kenny's gun. Duck had half a mind to grab his own but remembered he had left it in the lodge.

"Are you okay?" Walter asked. Duck studied her face, afraid if she was part of the people chasing them. Should he get Luke? Surely, he'd recognize her then. It'd be a good call but maybe she'd bolt if she saw him getting a familiar person of his group. He decided to sit still and just try to find cues of a lie. So far, if she were lying, she was good.

"I saw the house. We have a family, were starving. We live down there," She said. Duck was curious though. How long had her family been staying there? If it was long, they'd of noticed the ski lodge already, probably would've tried to stay there like Luke's group was trying to do. Why now? It was... convenient.

"Of course. Why don't you come in, Miss..." Walter trailed off, looking for a name.

"Bonnie," She responded.

"Walt, I don't know. You're just gonna let her in like that?" Kenny asked with his gun a little more in aim as his suspicions grew. Duck looked at the gun from the side, not feeling right as Kenny slowly aimed the gun more and more but not trusting her any more than he did. Was he just not as careful? Or was Nick shooting that man on the bridge getting through to him?

What if Kenny shot the woman? Like Nick shot the man? Granted, the man didn't read suspicious like this woman had but it still didn't feel right to point a gun to her skull.

"It's fine, Kenny,"

"We don't know this girl,"

"Then we'll get to know her, right, Duck?" Water asked, pulling Duck in the conversation.

"...I don't know, Walter. It doesn't feel right. We should just give her what we can spare and send her on her way. I don't like her knowing where we are but there's no helping that anymore," Duck said, trailing his eyes up and down over her as his mind kept telling him about danger and giving him warning signs.

Something wasn't quite right. She was suspicious. Something didn't add up. How long had she been stalking Walter's group? Why not contact them and just keep stalking?

More and more questions kept rising as he looked at Bonnie. She didn't read innocent at all.

"Thank you, little boy. But please, I don't wanna force you to give what you've got," Bonnie said, making her situation make less sense. She had come here looking for food, after all. He was only offering what she had asked.

"It's fine,"

"What about your people?"

"We've got plenty. Stay here, I'll go get something," Walter said as he made his way inside. There was a pregnant silence before the woman spoke again.

"You remind me of my little girl," She said, looking at Duck. "What's your name?"

"Duck,"

"..Wierd name..." She responded, hesitating as she did.

"A nickname. Got it by talking an awful lot when he was younger," Kenny said, providing a little more information about his son's name.

"Father?"

"Yeah,"

"He... seems to not be too talkative anymore..." Bonnie said as she looked at Duck, seeming to note his stand offish look, his arms being crossed and glare as he looked at her.

"I think he's scared of what you could do. Just defensive, is all," Kenny said.

"Sorry,"

"If you could, try not to come back here. I've got a promise to keep and you seem to be capable of more than you're letting on," Duck said, wanting nothing more than to see her going off to where ever the hell she came from and go back inside. Walter finally came back out, carrying a rectangular box that seemed bigger that the woman.

"This is too much," She said.

"Don't mention it,"

"I don't know how to thank you,"

"Just help someone else down the line,"

"Thank you so much. I'll be going now,"

"Stay safe,"

"You too," She said, and with that, she was off. There was another silence before Kenny spoke.

"Duck, go on inside. Walt and I gotta talk," Kenny said, sending Duck inside early. He didn't hesitate, picking up his pace to get inside as fast as possible without looking too entirely eager.

As soon as he opened the door, he knew something was off in there. It didn't hit him until he was dragged into a dark part of the lodge roughly by his shirt and pushed to the wall, a hand over his mouth so he didn't scream. "Shut up," A familiar female said to him, making him relax as a look of annoyance took over his face instead of his original alarmed one. He licked her hand once, making her pull back in disgust. "Ugh, this is serious!" She said with hushed urgency. She took out a photo from her back pocket, handing it to him to study.

Duck's mouth dropped as his eyes widened, his eyebrows knitting together in worry. He had not seen the man that Nick had shot, just a bloody blur as he fell off of the bridge. However, it was still enough for Duck to connect the dots as he studied the man in the photo who was currently hugging up on Walter.

"The man.... That was Matthew. We shot Matthew," Clementine said, her mouth real close to his ear as she pressed closer to him, knowing that if she stepped any further, someone could overhear. Duck stayed silent, wiggling his arms around her to look at the picture again and effectively trapping her there in the meantime. He turned his head to speak in her ear.

"We didn't. Nick did," As soon as he said those words, Clementine pushed him into the wall behind him again, pulling her head back from where it was resting on his shoulder.

"We can't let Nick take the blame. He could get killed,"

"I wasn't saying that. Just correcting you, was all. We didn't pull the trigger. We told him not to," Duck said, seeing Clementine visibly relax at his response. "Look, we don't have to tell anyone,"

"No, Luke and Nick already know. Nick already feels guilty. He wanted to tell Walter but we got him to chill..." Clementine said, trailing off as she stared somewhere else, letting her eyes drift from his eyes or anywhere too close to his face.

"Do you wanna tell me anything else?" Duck asked, knowing all too well that she was having a heated debate inside her mind. She hasn't let him go yet, which means one side was already winning.

"....I... tried to find that knife you gave me. The letters W and M were on it,"

"Good thinking. If Walter found it, he'd know,"

"Listen to me. Walter has already found it. It's gone," Clementine said, making Duck blink a couple times in surprise. He stayed silent as Clementine stepped back from him, letting go of his jacket and looking to the ground. "He knows, Duck,"

It was silent, neither one knowing what to do afterwards. Clementine made the first move, walking to the front door before Duck caught her by the wrist. "Hey, you're not really going out there?"

"We have to. We can't stand by," She said, pulling her wrist free and leaving him standing there, being faced with the choice to follow her or not. He gave a frustrated grunt before following her out the door, being face to face with Walter, his smiling gone as he twirled Matthew's knife, a cigarette between his lips. Duck's brain went blank, no words coming to mind that would be appropriate enough to diffuse the tense situation.

"...Are you okay...?" Clementine asked, carefully taking two small steps forward.

"I always liked this knife, Clementine," Walter said, taking it out to half heartedly swing it around, slicing the air. Despite knowing that Walter wouldn't think to hurt a child, Duck took two steps forward, his survival habit telling him he needed to grab Clementine and run as he tugged on her shit slightly but letting it go just as fast. "I gave it to Matthew when all this started... I know he's dead,"

They couldn't hear anything but the wind in their ears for a good moment.

"Who did it? Was it that kid? What's his name.... Nick? I heard him talking about shooting a man," Walter said, his tone growing steadily angrier and sadder, barely noticeable until his voice slightly shook.

Clementine and Duck stayed silent, each giving the other a look.

"I could see it. I could see it on his face. I wasn't sure then, but now..?" Walter said. Duck took a few calming breaths before he spoke.

"I'm so sorry, Walter. We all are. Nick... Nick did shoot but he didn't know any better, honest!"

"Yeah, Nick thought he was holding Luke and me up," Clementine joined into his defense. It was silent as Walter took a drag of his cigarette.

"Is... Is Nick a good man? Was it really an accident?" Walter asked as he turned to the children. Clementine gave Duck a pleading look, a look that said to forgive Nick of anything he might hold to save his life. Time almost stood still as he looked at her, her eyes holding a promise he couldn't read. One more thing he couldn't read. Duck looked to the ground and then up at Walter.

"He is. He really is. He's a good guy, Walter. He just made a mistake. A very big mistake. One that can never be taken back and we gave him hell for it! He's just a kid, like us. I'm sorry, I'm sorry for your loss. It's horrible but Nick is still a good man," Duck said, trying his best to convince the man in front of him and help Nick out of this situation.

"Clementine?" Walter urged her opinion.

"He's good. Again, it was a mistake. It's a horrible fate and I apologize to you too. Nick will give you his apologies, I assure you. Just don't do anything hasty. He's a really good guy, he really is," Clementine said, pausing before she said the next thing. "He saved Duck's life. I'll never forget that," Clementine said, her voice shaking as desperation reared its ugly head. Duck glanced at her, wondering just how long she's been thinking about that.

"Did he?"

"Yeah. I'm glad he was there," Duck said, vouching for Nick, his head turning as the door opened and the man in question came out.

"He was always going out alone. I told him something like this would happen but he never listened. He wouldn't listen to me. No, Matt always knew best," Walter said, in his own world as he reminisced perhaps the last memory he had of his friend alive. Perhaps even the last conversation.

"What's going on?" Nick questioned, his voice a low whisper to either child who would pay attention.

"You need to tell him," Clementine whispered back.

"Tell him what?"

"What happened on the bridge," She said. Walter turned fully around to look at Nick, looking on the verge of a breakdown as he did.

"Tell me what you did. Just tell me, son. Tell me what happened," Walter said, his voice becoming more and more shakey with every word.

"...I thought he was gonna shoot my friends. I was just being careful, you know? I had lost my Uncle Pete and was still sore and the thought of loosing my best friend, Luke, to a shooter wasn't ideal and I'm really sorry! I took away your best friend trying to protect mine and I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry. I feel so bad and if I could sound sincerer I would!" Nick said, his hands up in pre meditated defense.

"Do you know what you've done to me? Do you have any idea?" Walter said, rubbing the knife's blade with a saddened look. Almost in consideration. Then he tossed it to the ground, making Clementine sigh in relief. It seemed the diffused situation was a trigger for Kenny to come out with the others. He looked at Walter, a hand on his shoulder.

"Walt, what's goin on?" Kenny asked but Walter kept quiet, indirectly telling him to leave him alone for now. The sound of the windmill picked up, drawing Duck's attention to it and pointing it out to Clementine. "Shit! Good thinkin, son! That windmills gonna draw Walker attention! We gotta shut it down! Everyone follow me!" Kenny said as he overheard what Duck had said to Clementine.

"Nick, help me carry the guns!" Carlos said, making Nick follow him back inside to grab their weapons.

"Guns?!" Sarita exclaimed, Duck smiling at her as he passed her.

"Don't worry, ma. They're needed to kill walkers," He said, calming whatever nerves she held and trying out giving her the title 'ma'. It wasn't what he called his mom, it was what he settled was a good option for her. Nick ran back out, handing Duck his handgun and Clementine another gun. Nick must've borrowed someone else's gun to give to Clementine. Pretty smart.

The windmill sound only got louder with each second, Kenny's worries increasing as he gave the group a fleeting look. "That things a damn dinner bell!" He yelled, rushing forward to the windmill with everyone running behind him. There was a 'boom' behind them, making them all turn with Luke questioning what it was. The lights then flickered and gave up. "Damnit! Transformer must've gone! Gotta check it! I could use a hand!" Kenny said.

"I'll go with you," Luke volunteered.

"I'll go too!" Sarita shouted over the windmill.

"No! Too risky! The rest of you stay here and get this thing shut down!" Kenny said, running to the direction of the transformer and leaving the windmill to the care of everyone else. Sarita stepped forward, opening the compartment only to be greeted with something she didn't know how to do.

"...Does anyone know how to do this?" Carlos asked and, when greeted with confused stares, sighed. "Great..."

"I can do it," Clementine said, being met with a doubtful look on Duck's face but everyone seemed to ignore it as they trusted Clementine.

"Alright, we'll watch your back. Nick, scan the trees with me," Carlos said as he turned. Duck and Sarita stayed on either side of Clementine, shooting any and all walkers that might get too close.

"You sure about this, Clem?" Duck asked as he aimed his gun into the dark trees, anxiety over not being able to see showing itself.

"Yeah, it shouldn't be too hard," She said as she looked at the work in front of her. She took her lighter, lighting it and taking a key that was hanging up, inserting it into a keyhole and turning it. To her surprise, the windmill stilled, quieting the area around them. She turned slowly, knowing that it was too quiet, like everyone else had.

She looked at Duck, noticing his grip on the gun tighten and his aim get stiffer, shuffling his feet back into a better stance. "Somethin' ain't right," Nick said. Duck turned his attention to Clementine, a look of worry before his eyes darted back in front of him at the sound of a walker. She looked ahead too, seeing the inevitable horde coming to their dinner bell.

"We don't have much ammunition," Carlos commented. Duck instinctively reached behind him, his hand grabbing at nothing as he realized his knife was still in the lodge, hopefully with Sarah or Rebecca, who were inside. He readjusted the grip on his gun.

"We'll have to get back to the lodge," Nick said, turning as he heard walkers behind him. "Shit! Watch your back!" He said, shooting at the walkers behind with Clementine. Duck shot at walkers in front with Carlos, looking to clear a path to get through.

"Alright, come on!" Duck said as he ran forward, stopping after a little while as he came face to face with another horde. The lodge was just a few steps behind them. Before he could even aim at them, bullets took out five of them, Clementine's voice accompanying them.

"Alright, Duck, you know you can't just charge forward!" Clementine said as she kept shooting beside him, his bullets joining hers when her gun ran out.

"Thanks,"

"Yeah, yeah!" She said, running up to the front of the lodge with Duck hot on her trail, covering her until his weapon lost its ammunition too.

"I'm out!"

"And what timing!" Clementine said, looking for any weapon at all as she noticed Nick's problem. He was currently struggling with a zombie, Duck's eyes widening as he picked up a rock to throw but was beaten by a bullet. He looked to the source, pleasantly surprised when he saw Walter at the end of the gun.

"Children inside now!" Carlos shouted at the top of his lungs, shooting at the walkers surrounding them and trying to orally herd Clementine and Duck inside the lodge. They didn't need anymore convincing, Clementine grabbing Duck's wrist and jerking him along and inside the lodge as fast as she could. When they entered, Rebecca was the first to greet them.

"Clem! Duck! Are you guys okay?!" She said, looking at Duck's face for injuries first before checking Clementine's.

"Where's Sarah?" Clementine asked, voicing a question Duck was thinking.

"Upstairs," Rebecca said. "And she's gonna stay there until it's over," The sound of machine guns cut through the air, surprising everyone inside.

"What the hell?" Alvin said, looking outside the window. Carver's face escaped the crowd as the last walker dropped, his group following suit with a certain red head beside him. Duck gasped before he grunted. He knew it.

He watched as Carver surrounded Sarita, Nick, Walter, and Carlos. Luke and Kenny were nowhere to be found, which worried him immensely. Carver had said something to Carlos, which seem to grant a spit in the face from the Spanish man. In return, Carver issued a punch to the face.

"Dad..!" Sarah cried from upstairs, hurrying out to go to her father's aid.

"Sarah!" Duck tried to catch her before she ran out but was too late as she exited and ran to her father. Duck turned to the trio, seeing Clementine already hurrying Rebecca and Alvin upstairs. Duck did the same, climbing up the stairs just in time as Carver burst through the doors with his group, making his friends kneel and cuffing them as he did. He took a long time cuffing Sarah and Duck finally saw why, his eyes widening as Carver pulled back with Duck's knife in his hands.

"Who'd you get this from, girlie?" Sarah kept quiet, looking from the knife to Carver's face. "I'm not gonna ask again. Your daddy ain't gonna give you this. Was it the boy, or the girl?" He asked but Sarah shook her head.

"I....I didn't get it from either of them. Nick gave it to me when the monsters were coming,"

"Do you know who owns this knife?" It was quiet as Sarah thought of her answer. Perhaps to consider who would get a lesser punishment between him and Clem? Duck was hoping so.

"Not really. They could share a knife,"

"You're bullshitting me. You've been with them long enough to see them fight. You know who uses this knife, you're just protecting them. I'm assuming you know where they are? And where they are, Rebecca is, right?" Carver said, figuring it all out as he threw the knife to the ground in front of Sarah, making her flinch. "Alright, little girl, keep your yap shut all you want,"

Carver looked around the lodge, staring along the entire upstairs from where he stood before he shook his head and grunted. "You know, Sarah, nobody has to get hurt," He said before he jerked Carlos up by his shirt, relishing in Sarah's horrified look before pushing him to the middle of the cabin and punching him in the stomach, making him double over in pain and fall to his knees. "I'm gonna ask this one more time! Where's Rebecca?"

Duck studied Sarah's face, seeing that her resolve was faltering quickly and was about to tattle before Carlos addressed his daughter. "Sarah, if you know where they are, don't tell him! Everything's gonna be okay. Don't tell him where Duck is, don't tell him where Clementine is and don't tell him where-" Carlos was interrupted as Carver took a hold of his hand, bending Carlos' fingers back until a snap sounded and a scream emerged from the Spanish man, making his daughter sob and scream out as well but keeping the information to herself.

"Rebecca!" Carver screamed out as he let go of Carlos' broken hand. "Rebecca, our baby deserves to be raised in a place of safety! I know you're in here! And Alvin! And Luke! The boy and the girl! I want them too! Listen, this is real simple! You want this over, then play nice and show your faces!!" He shouted. Duck listened to Sarah's screams and cries and plea with Carver, almost making him want to close his eyes and cover his ears.

She didn't deserve this. She was only protecting them but she had to watch her father get tortured in return. Considering how she was acting, she must've noticed Duck as he ran upstairs when she walked back into the cabin. Luckily, it seemed she was the only one. She knew where he was, which meant she knew where everyone was. He actually did close his eyes this time, sitting as far back as he could so it felt like there was a little more space between them.

"He's gonna kill him. We have to go down there!" Alvin whispered to Rebecca, making Duck open his eyes and look at him.

"No, Alvin," She responded firmly.

"Bec... The baby..."

"Listen, we have four people. Duck or Clem could go find Luke and Kenny! And maybe if we take one of them, Carver will be so busy questioning them that he'll give the other time to hatch a saving plan,"

"That's nonsense. I'm not sacrificing one of them. You saw what he did, what if he hurts Duck or Clem?"

"He won't. I'm pretty sure he's not gonna hurt a child,"

"And if he has no choice? He's unpredictable, Alvin,"

Clementine's voice stopped the argument, effectively silencing them as she spoke. "I'll go get Kenny and Luke. Duck, you stay here and play with Carver until I get to you," Her eyes looked worried as he looked at her and she got closer as she glared at him. "But don't you dare play with him too much. I don't want you hurt,"

"Got it," Duck said, not knowing what was too much for the man below but knowing that, as long as he survived the ordeal, it was good enough for him. He watched as Alvin lifted up a window, helping her out before he came back and formed a circle with Duck and Rebecca.

"We surrender on three, okay?" Duck said, taking charge of the plan as he closed his eyes and let himself listen to the cries once again. Maybe they'll stop once he gives up. "One..."

He saw Rebecca put her hands in a pray position.

"Two...."

Alvin stared ahead, trying to look resolved but knowing that, once they gave up, someone's gonna get hurt.

"Three..." Duck stood up fast, putting up his hands before he screamed. "We're here! Leave the man alone!" Carver looked up at them and smiled. Rebecca met him first, him caressing her face before she cursed him. He restrained her, then restrained Alvin, then Duck. Instead of letting the child go, however, he pulled him up by his shirt, bringing him to the spot Carlos once was.

"Bill, no!" He heard Rebecca shout before he took a punch to the face. His hearing was destorted after that, but he heard another female shout at him when it came back. Was it Sarah? Sarita?

"Where's your girl?! And Luke? What about that daddy of yours, where's he?!" Carver questioned but Duck only stared as he tried to get back up.

"My.... girl?...Luke?.....Dad? Sorry, I don't know,"

"Fucking liar!" Carver shouted as he kicked Duck back down. Duck stayed down this time, thinking it easier to stay to the ground than try and stand.

"Bill, leave the child alone!" Rebecca said once more.

"Please! He doesn't deserve it!" Sarita said, horror showing in her voice as she watched the scene play.

"You women stay outta this. I need my answers and he has 'em!" Carver said, stuck on how he thought Duck knew where they were when, in reality, he only had a semblance of a clue where one was. Still, he took the beatings, knowing that he had to keep Carver stuck for whatever Clementine was thinking of. "Get up, boy!" He demanded and Duck obeyed, getting up only to be hit in the stomach multiple times, much more than what Carver did to Carlos.

"Stop!" He heard Sarah shout but that didn't stop anything as Carver pushed him to the ground.

"Surrender now and we don't have a problem!" Carver shouted into the air, hoping the people he was looking for would come out from their hiding.

"This is illogical! You don't even know if Clem and Kenny and Luke can even hear you, never mind see what you're doin' to Duck!" Walter shouted, Duck hearing anger bubble up in his voice.

"He's right, this is insane!" Sarita said, backing up Walter's stance as she felt defenseless in the situation and rather helpless as she looked at how Kenny's son was treated.

"Yeah, leave him alone!" Duck heard Nick holler, finally looking at his friends, noticing the angered or sad expressions on everyone. He saw tears on certain people while the rest looked pissed that they couldn't do anything about whatever Carver wished to do.

"Enough! I'm in power right now and I just want this boy to tell me! Plain and simple! He don't have to get hurt if he don't want to! But lookie here, he's not sayin' a goddamn word!" Carver said as he socked Duck in the face, making him hold onto the right side of his face in pain. He was sure he either had a broken nose or a black eye. "He's takin' all of this for what?! The girl? She makin' you take it?! If she cared, she'd be savin' your hide right now but no!"

A gunshot rang out as Carver said the last word of his sentence, dropping a man that was surveying the windows. That couldn't of been Clementine, she should have a better plan than that! Was it his dad? It sounded like something he'd do, as sad as the thought was. Duck spit out the blood that was forming in his mouth as he stared at the scene.

Carver growled as he looked down at Duck. "You're lucky I still need ya as a bargaining chip," He said and Duck didn't understand until Carver pulled Walter up roughly, using him as a shield while walking up to the now shot through window and offing him right there, to Duck's utter horror and then hiding behind a pillar. "Now, I didn't want to do that! Maybe hurt someone or two, but killin' wasn't my plan! We can do things the easy way or the hard way! Reveal yourselves and we won't have a problem!" Carver shouted and, when he was met with another round of bullets attempting to get to him, he stormed over to Duck.

"No! Please, leave him alone!" Sarita screamed, Duck hearing three more variations of that same sentence as he was pulled up to Carver's height, being used as a shield same as Walter with a gun pointed to his head.

"Any last words, boy?" Carver asked but he couldn't hear. His heart was beating in his ears as he focused on the cool tip of the gun against his head. "Open your eyes and look out there. I want you to know that that girl and your daddy see you, they just don't care. I want you to know that-"

"We surrender!" Duck heard, his eyes darting to where Clementine stood behind a structure he didn't know what to call, heaving a sigh of relief as he was let down. His father stood shortly after, throwing his gun to the floor. "We surrender..." Clementine said once more, a bit clearer as she lowered her scream of words to simply yelling enough for them to hear.

Despite being caught, Duck was rather surprised when he saw her almost at peace as she was restrained. She was staring at him when they entered. She looked upset, worried, relaxed, and insanely happy all at the same time. It was strange to him. She looked like she wanted to say a million things to him but was quiet as they were added to the line, Duck finally being added as well.

"Where's Luke?" Carver asked, and when nobody provided an answer, he sighed. "Whatever, don't tell me,"

"We got split up. He ain't come back," Kenny said and Carver hummed.

"Cut and run, huh? Not surprised. I warned you, I warned you not to follow him and look where he's lead you! But you're safe now, the lot of you! We're goin home, as a family," Carver said, looking at all of their reactions, disappointed when he saw scared, angry, upset ones instead of happy. Especially from the main one he wanted to be happy. "All right, round them up. We're headin back to camp," He said, turning and letting his two goons handle the rest of them.

Bonnie picked up Duck's knife, putting it in her pocket before gathering the people she was supposed to. Clementine gave Duck a look before she was gathered up, him being pulled by his shirt shortly after and pushed into the back of a truck like live stock. "Y'all behave back here and Carver won't have to mess anyone else up," Bonnie said as she gave both Duck and Carlos a look. "Maybe a medic can look at y'all," She said, giving Duck an apologetic look before closing the back and putting the group into darkness.

A/N: Very long chapter! I'm literally supposed to be working on something else.... but I was excited to write this part so..!!