The sun had already set.
Children ran around outside, their laughter and cheerful shouts filling the prison yard—a peaceful sound, and a rare one these days. From the porch, Clementine watched them with a fond smile.
"It's time to come inside! The sun's already down"
The children stopped and turned toward her.
"Can we please play a little longer?" the little blonde girl asked. The others gave Clementine the same pleading look, and she sighed, unable to resist.
"Alright. Half an hour more. Then we're all going inside—no excuses." She glanced at one of the girls. "And Lizzie... play nice with Lydia."
"Okay! I'll try!" Lizzie grinned and ran back to the others.
Clementine's attention drifted to the two newest girls Max had brought back. Unlike the rest, Diana and Sunny weren't playing. They sat off to the side, watching the yard with the alertness of people who expected trouble to show up on schedule.
"Diana, Sunny," Clementine called gently, "why don't you two go play with the others?"
Before Diana could answer, Sunny cut in. "They're a bunch of idiots making enough noise to draw walkers from a mile away. They're turning themselves into bait, and I want no part of it." She folded her arms with quiet conviction, though her eyes kept drifting toward the game.
Diana noticed. She raised her hands and signed, asking if they could join in.
"Diana... we can't. We don't know these people yet," Sunny said apologetically.
Diana's face fell, and she lowered her hands, settling for watching instead.
Clementine smiled to herself. Sunny was mature for her age. She'd spent so long protecting Diana that she'd forgotten how to just be a kid herself.
A moment later, Mariana came running over.
"Diana! Come play Encantados with us!"
She didn't wait for an answer. She grabbed Diana's hand and pulled her toward the others.
Diana glanced back uncertainly.
Sunny sighed. "Go on."
That was all it took. Diana lit up and ran off, and after only a moment's hesitation, Sunny quietly followed.
"Well," Clementine murmured, watching them go. "They're getting along better than I expected."
For a little while, they looked like ordinary kids again.
Then her hand drifted to her stomach, and the smile slipped from her face. Quiet worry settled over her as she rested her palm against her belly.
"There you are, Clem."
She quickly wiped away her tears before turning around.
"What is it, Max?" she asked, silently praying he hadn't noticed.
Max studied her for a moment.
"I was looking for my shirt. Chicken said you took it from the Humvee. Can I have it back? I'm basically walking around half-naked."
Clementine smiled sheepishly but didn't answer. She was wearing his shirt. Her own had gotten stained while picking berries, so she'd borrowed his instead.
The truth was, she liked wearing his clothes more than her own. Something about them made her feel closer to him, and the scent lingering in the fabric always helped her sleep. Even back in the treehouse days, whenever Max was away, she'd quietly borrow one of his shirts for the night. It was one of the little secrets she'd never told him.
"Sorry," she said softly. "My clothes got dirty, so I borrowed yours."
"I figured."
Max only smiled. Instead of asking for it back, he sat down beside her on the porch.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Max broke the silence.
"Are you okay? Is something bothering you?"
Clementine froze. Panic flickered across her face before she forced it down. It never worked, hiding things from Max. He always noticed. Even so, she stayed quiet, unwilling to worry him more than she already had.
Max looked out at the kids playing.
"If you're not comfortable telling me right now, that's okay. Whenever you're ready."
He started to stand.
Before he could, Clementine caught his hand and tugged gently.
He looked at her, then sat back down, slipping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. She stiffened for a second before relaxing into him, resting her head against his shoulder.
"Is this comfortable?" he asked, drawing her a little closer.
Too embarrassed to answer, she simply nodded. His scent had a way of settling her racing heart, and she leaned into him as though she wanted to disappear there. His warmth against the cool autumn air made the quiet evening feel almost peaceful.
They sat together for a long while, listening to the distant laughter of the children before Clementine finally spoke.
"Max... do you think I'd be a good mother?"
Her hand rested over her belly.
"Why are you asking that?"
She watched the children before answering quietly.
"I'm more afraid of being alone than anything, Max. You probably don't realize it, but I need you more than I care to admit."
Max didn't interrupt. He only held her a little closer, letting her continue.
"When I found out I was pregnant, I was happy... but I was even more scared." Her gaze dropped to her stomach. "When the base was attacked, I was terrified. The only thing I could think about was getting to you. I told Molly and the others I came because I didn't want to lose you, but that wasn't the whole truth."
She paused.
"It was selfish. I just wanted to be with you—where I felt safe. Somewhere I didn't have to be afraid anymore."
Her fingers tightened over her belly.
"But because I was so afraid... so selfish... I put our baby in danger."
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she made no attempt to wipe them away.
"Max... why didn't you scold me?"
He took her trembling hand in his, his thumb gently brushing over her fingers.
"Because I know you, Clem. I know how guilty you've been feeling, even when you try to hide it."
A gentle smile crossed his face.
"I know that's why you've been volunteering to watch all the kids."
She lowered her head as more tears escaped.
Max simply rubbed her shoulder and said nothing. Sometimes silence could comfort more deeply than words.
The autumn breeze carried fallen leaves across the yard beneath a sky full of stars.
After a long while, Clementine whispered,
"I don't think I'd be a good mother."
Her grip tightened around his hand.
Max didn't answer immediately.
Confused, she looked up.
He was smiling.
Before she could ask why, he leaned in and kissed her. The tension she'd been carrying melted away, and when they finally pulled apart, they simply looked at one another.
"Do you trust me, Clem?"
"More than I trust myself."
She didn't hesitate. She'd known the answer for years.
"Then listen to me."
He rested his hand over hers.
"You are going to be the greatest mother our baby could ever have."
Clementine searched his face for even the slightest trace of doubt.
There wasn't any.
Only warmth.
Only certainty.
Her heart fluttered. Too flustered to meet his eyes any longer, she buried her face against his chest.
Max laughed softly, unable to hide how endearing he found her embarrassment.
"You know, Clem..."
He looked up at the stars.
"I think I should be the one worrying about whether I'll be a good father."
She tilted her head.
"Why?"
She genuinely couldn't imagine it. Max was kind, responsible, protective. She'd never pictured him as anything less than a wonderful father.
He sat quietly for a moment before answering.
"For years, I spent so much time trying to protect you that I forgot to actually live beside you."
Quiet regret colored his voice.
"I don't want to make that mistake again. I want to spend every moment I can with you... and with our baby."
He smiled.
"That's my promise to our family."
Clementine wrapped both arms around him, holding him tightly, her forehead resting against his.
"I'll be a good mother."
A small smile touched her lips.
"And I'll be a good wife."
She closed her eyes.
"My promise to our family."