When I wake, I'm slow to emerge from the cocoon of blankets. Once I wrestle out of them, I stretch my arms up, hitting the wooden headboard and letting out a groan. I do my business in the adjoining bathroom and splash my face with water before working up the courage to leave the room.

Downstairs is a bustle of activity, numerous people moving varying objects that belonged to the Enforcers outside. I can smell the bonfire from in here. Productive.

Some of the ex-workers are in the kitchen, cooking up a flurry as they sing and laugh together. I try to assure them that working in here isn't expected anymore, but they assure me that they want to. They want to help us here. To feed us as we continue battling to better the nation.

I leave them with a smile, introducing myself to five new supporters in the hallway as they carry out an old, bulky looking chest of drawers. One of them wants to have it in his room in the stables. I smile again, letting them head on their way.

There are three ladies digging in the garden and I insist on helping them, having had plenty of experience back in Nottingham under Mrs Engleberry. God, I hope that bitch is dead by now...

We laugh as we dig and plant, and by the time I leave an hour later, we're on first name bases.

Finally, I find Carl in the stable yard, directing various people to do various jobs. His eyes fall on me and he laughs.

"You been playing in the mud?" He points to my cheek.

I smile, lifting my hand and rubbing it against my skin. "I was helping them in the garden," I tell him.

He smiles again and nods before gesturing for me to follow him. We step through the huge archway, and he points down the gravel road to an array of vehicles that lie beyond.

"They had four trucks here."

My eyes gleam. "Four?"

He nods his head. "Pete, Pippa and Jesse have gone to get two more from the farm."

"We're still leaving two there, yes?"

Carl nods once more. "Yes."

I bite my lip, glancing over at the pristine green trucks. "Maybe I should head back there."

"You? Why?"

"Because... it isn't fair to expect others to be there while everyone else is here." I gesture around us at the grand, luxurious estate.

Carl shakes his head. "They'll be rotating every four days. It's hardly like the farm is a punishment."

"Still—"

"Kayla, you're our leader," Carl mutters. "You're needed here."

I grumble at him under my breath before heaving a sigh and reluctantly nodding my head. "Alright. What do you need me to do?"

He seems amused by my attitude as he gestures to the building behind me. "You need to decide how much of the stables you wish to keep for the animals, and how many to convert into places for people to stay."

My eyes fall on the brown horse in the end stall and I walk over, reaching up and letting my hand trail down his soft, velvet nose. A smile spreads across my face as I take in the six others, all in separate stalls.

This place is crazy. It's Heaven.

*~*~*

Later that night, I sit, cross armed, directly in front of the two men who are shooting one another uncertain glances across the table.

"I don't need five rooms," I insist. Pippa looks amused by the exchange, dipping her head to take notes at the other end of the extravagant dining table. Apparently, this first floor dining room is now the official meeting room.

"You're the leader," Carl argues.

"Only until the others get back!"

"So, we can reassess the situation then," Jesse pipes up, leaning over the table towards me.

"This is ridiculous," I huff.

"People need to see that you have your own space, Kayla. They need to see you as someone to look up to, someone who's leading all of us."

"I disagree."

"Do what you want," Carl mutters. "Everyone who's here already is happy with it."

My head snaps to him. "They are?"

"We are," Pippa assures me from the end of the table.

"And where are you staying then, Pippa?" I counter, crossing my arms across my chest.

"Middle Lodge. It's one of the gatehouses."

"Carl?"

"I've claimed two rooms on the top floor. East wing if you will." He shrugs. "Not far from you."

Blinking at him, I turn to Jesse. "You?"

"This floor. Two rooms. North side."

"And yet you think I need five?" I scoff.

"For now, you're having them," Carl argues. I shake my head and open my mouth to protest before he says, "Just think about when the others get back. Riley will definitely want his pick of top floor options. And you... you have five."

"He... I..." I splutter, unable to come up with an answer.

"Everyone's happy, Kayla," Jesse assures me, reaching out and curling his hand around my arm.

"He's right," Pippa pipes up. "Even Pete."

"Pete?"

"He's claimed two rooms in the stables," she confirms.

I exhale, a splutter leaving my lips as I shake my head in disbelief. I'm surprised.

But also... not entirely. 

After all, we've spent so many years all alone out there, none of us having a sense of community, and all of a sudden, that's what we're providing to everyone here. Safety, security, a fight for this to last forever.

It's not unreasonable to assume that they wouldn't bat an eyelid by their leader having the most rooms in the house.

But that doesn't mean that I see myself as being entirely worthy of that position. Not yet, anyway.

Although... imagining Riley's bewildered face as I show him each and every option, giving him five rooms to choose from... that's enough to have my heart warming inside my chest, my cheeks burning.

Maybe he'll even choose to just share them with me...

Slowly, I nod my head, allowing Carl, Jesse and Pippa to win.

*~*~*

Folding up a map of the North a few days later, I yawn and shove it to the edge of the desk. I can't keep looking at it. The lines are moving with every passing minute. I'll assess the situation tomorrow instead.

Carl will be back from his four day stint at the farm in the morning, and yet I haven't got a single new plan to run by him.

Standing, I step around the table and head for the sofa, collapsing onto the end of it with a groan.

"Is now a bad time?" Jesse asks from the door.

Opening my eyes, I smile at him and gesture for him to enter. "Not at all. Please, feel free to enter my absurdly large quarters."

Jesse laughs, stepping forward and taking a seat beside me. "They're lovely quarters."

I hum. "I'm thinking of making some changes."

"Oh, yeah?"

I nod. "It's missing a pool."

He chuckles once more before pointing through the double doors into the next room — a kitchen/diner. "It'll look good in there."

"You're right," I reply. "Although, if I get rid of the kitchen, I'll have to go downstairs and eat with the likes of you."

He smirks before crossing his arms over his chest and nodding. "Knowing you, I think you'd do it for that very reason."

I smile. "Don't tempt me."

"So..." He trails off before shifting back in his seat and relaxing. "This Riley that keeps getting mentioned. Is he your husband?"

I smile before shaking my head. "My husband was killed by Enforcers." His spine goes rigid. "I don't even know which Enforcers. I was too distracted by the sight of Jace. On the floor, beaten and... bloody."

"I'm so sorry, Kayla," Jesse breathes out.

I shake my head. "You don't have to apologise for every act an Enforcer has ever committed, Jesse."

He clenches his jaw. "I do. It's not like I ever did anything."

I scoff. "If you had, you would have been killed," I pause before adding, "Riley was only able to get out after he was caught tattooing people. Sent to Killmoor for four months and then ran away the minute he got out."

Jesse nods his head. "I could have ran away."

I shrug, lifting my legs up and curling them under me. "If you had, we wouldn't have the in that we do now."

He blinks before sitting forward and resting his elbows on his legs. "I suppose."

It falls silent and I reach out, picking up the pillow that separates us, playing with the corners of the fabric. I haven't actually given him any answers.

Heaving a sigh, I let a cotton tassel run through my fingers before opening my mouth and explaining, "Riley and I... we weren't actually ever a... thing. He's part of the Resistance — long before I turned up — and was part of the group to go South," I pause. "Before he left... we'd started getting to know one another. I'd... started falling." I smile at the memories. "He gave me a kiss and promised that he'll be back. For more. So..." I trail off and shrug.

Jesse smiles at me. "It sounds to me like you like him more than you're letting on."

I bite my lip before pushing it away from my tongue. "I used to always fall hard and fast for boys. Apparently I haven't grown out of that."

Jesse laughs, a low gruff chuckle.

"What about you? Did you love your wife?"

His brow furrows. "Sarah? No." His hands writhe together. "We were just friends."

"In this day and age, it's good to have a friend."

"It is," he agrees, turning his head and smiling at me. "You're doing good here, Kayla. Uniting everyone together."

"I don't know." I wave my hand at him dismissively.

He shakes his head. "You're too modest. I have more friends now than I've had since before the war."

I smile at his words. "Me too."

"And, Kayla?"

"Yeah?"

His eyes twinkle as they meet mine. "There's no need to doubt anything. We're going to win."

I smile, settling back against the couch and nodding my head. "I appreciate your trust in me."

He grins before stretching his legs out, forwards. "Say... how do you think Riley will like me?"

My brow hikes up at the words. "What?"

"It's just..." He trails off before starting once more. "He seems to be so admired here. It's clear that alongside you, and the apparent Zac and Emilia, he's the one who holds the most sway over everything, and every one. What if he isn't happy with any of us Enforcers being here?" He looks nervous.

I sit forward, reaching my hand out and curling it around his, giving him a reassuring smile and shaking my head. "You've heard everything that's been said. Riley was an Enforcer. And he was always more trusting of them than I."

My mind whirls back to Anna's friendly Enforcer, Conrad. Riley was all too keen to listen to him. Only now can I understand why.

I purse my lips. "I truly believe that the minute he's told about you, he'll greet you like an old friend."

Jesse's shoulders drop, relaxing. "You think?"

I nod, squeezing his hand. "The one you need to watch out for is Emilia." My brow furrows. "She has the same experience with Enforcers as I. And Zac's not much better."

Jesse grimaces.

"Don't worry," I mutter, nudging his shoulder with mine as I shift closer. "Carl and I will keep you safe. They trust what I'm doing here. They won't act irrationally."

I hope at least. I have no idea what they've experienced down in the South. I cannot dare to understand how their mentalities will be upon their return. 

But I know that I'll fight for Jesse. I'll fight for everyone here. Even Pete.

Because that's what leaders do.