Beth awoke from a wonderful dream. She couldn't remember it, but she woke smiling, her heart pumping fast and her cheeks feeling warm. She was suddenly aware of the desperate need to go to the toilet. After doing so she was walking down the hallway back to her room when she heard a whimpering, coming from Y/N's room.

She stopped and silently opened the bedroom door. It was dark, other than the moonlight that illuminated through the bedroom window, but she could clearly make out Y/N on the bed. She heard the whimpering again, and called out softly:

"Y/N... Y/N... are you ok?"

She didn't get a response, and took another step in the room, wondering if he was crying.

"Y/N" she said again, only a little louder. She again received no response, but heard his whimper turn to words as he slept.

"No... No... don't.... don- touch her... no... no.... stop..."

Her heart began to race in panic as she took another step in and saw him trembling in the moonlight, drenched in sweat.

"Y/N" she said louder, jumping when she was touched on the shoulder. She turned quickly to see her sister standing there, rubbing her eyes, half asleep.

"Bethie, what's going on?" Maggie asked tiredly before they heard Y/N louder-

"No... stop... Stop... Stop!"

He thrashed more violently, Maggie rushing across and shaking his non injured arm.

"Y/N, Y/N wake up. Wake up!" she said worriedly as she shook him, Y/N gasping and waking up startled. He shot up, hyperventilating and drenched in sweat.

"Y/N its me, its Maggie. Its ok you were having a-"

Maggie was cut off as Y/N pushed passed her with his arm to pick up the bucket next to his bed and promptly vomited into it violently.

"It's ok. Its ok, get it up" Maggie said as she rubbed Y/N's back. She turned to Beth, who was stood wide eyed and frightened, asking:

"Maggie?"

"Its ok Bethie, can you please get the light and go wake up Daddy?"

Beth nodded, looking at Y/N momentarily with tremendous sadness before she turned the light on and rushed into her father's room. Just after Beth disappeared Patricia appeared in the doorway, squinting her eyes at the light.

"Everything ok?" she asked, blocking the light with her hand.

"Could you get some water please, Patricia?" Maggie asked as Y/N's vomiting ceased and he began to spit into the bucket, attempting to clear his throat.

Patricia nodded and left the doorway to go downstairs as Beth and Hershel arrived. He sat down in front of Y/N as Maggie gently rubbed Y/N's back and his head emerged from the bucket.

"Sorry" Y/N said weakly as Maggie took the bucket and placed it down.

"No need to be sorry. What happened?" Hershel asked as he checked Y/N's eyes and felt his clammy sweaty forehead with the back of his hand.

"Don't know just woke up and had to vomit..."

Patricia arrived at the doorway and handed Beth the water with a funny look Beth couldn't figure out. Beth walked across and handed it to Y/N. He smiled weakly and thanked her as Maggie spoke to their father:

"He was having a nightmare, a bad one. Trembling, sweating, I was worried he was having some sort of a seizure."

Y/N asked for the bucket and tried to wash his mouth out with the water as Hershel looked over to Patricia.

"Patricia can you please get sheets to change the bed?"

Patricia nodded and walked off; Beth watched Y/N grow extremely embarrassed.

"No, I didn't, I didn't have a-"

"I know son, I know. But both you and the bed are drenched in sweat, your heart rate is elevated and you're still trembling. You're in a state of post-traumatic stress, Y/N, because of those horrible things that happened. You had a flashback nightmare, and your body is still in fight or flight mode. Bethie, can you get a towel please? Maggie, can you get your mothers old shower chair, the plastic one from her fall that's in the basement?"

The two girls nodded. Hershel turned back to Y/N and smiled.

"I'm going to put waterproof wrapping over your coverings and then you have a shower while we get your bed changed. It will help ground you and stop your mind racing, and after I'll give you a sedative, it will help you sleep."

Y/N nodded, having no idea what Hershel meant but trusting him. He said quietly:

"I'm really sorry for all this Hershel."

"There's no need, son. This isn't your fault, any of it."

Y/N sighed and covered his eyes. Beth walked in as his eyes were covered, she heard him ask her father:

"How do I stop it, Hershel? Stop seeing it, stop it playing in my head over and over and over again? Every time I close my eyes I hear her scream."

"I wish I could tell you son; I really do. I wish there was some magic wand that could take these things away, but you just have to try and work through it best you can. Talking may help, when you're ready, other small things to ease the symptoms, but you just need to take it one step at a time."

Y/N showered, sitting on the plastic chair, and it was his first shower since the world fell. He and Cassie had washed in streams and the like as they hiked, but to sit under the water, feeling it cascade over him- it was a relief he didn't know he needed.

Once he had showered Patricia had come in and helped him dry, it was uncomfortable, but not being able to stand meant Y/N was reliant on other people, as much as he hated it. She helped him put on a pair of Jimmy's shorts. He and Y/N were both about the same height, Y/N 6'2" and Jimmy 6', but Y/N was a lot more solid than the skinny Jimmy was.

The clothes were a bit snug, but still fit and it was a relief to Y/N. Once dry and with shorts on Y/N was given some crutches Maggie had brought up from the basement, and he was happy and grateful to have his mobility back.

He walked into his room with the crutches and sat on the changed, soft and clean bed, and was grateful the sweaty sheets had been taken.

"Feel better?" Hershel asked, yawning as the time ticked over to 4am.

"I do. Thanks, Hershel and I'm sorry again."

"There's no need. This will help you sleep and keep your body relaxed" Hershel said with a smile as he injected Y/N in the arm. Y/N felt his eyes droop almost immediately. He laid back and his eyes closed, opening slowly as he looked up and saw Beth standing over him looking down.

"Sor... if I scare.......... you" Y/N heard himself say as his eyes fought with him, despite trying to hold them open he failed. The last thing he saw was Beth coming down towards him. He felt a soft warmth on his cheek and heard:

"I'm sorry for everything you went through. Sleep well"

The longer she spoke the further away she sounded as Y/N floated away to blackness.

--~--

Hershel woke up late for him, just after 8am, and after showering and dressing headed into Y/N's room. He was unsurprised to see his youngest daughter sitting next to their house guest's bed.

"Well morning, Doodlebug. How are you feeling today?" he asked happily. Beth turned and smiled, surprising Hershel, she was wearing a pretty dress, had a light lipstick on and had lightly painted her nails.

Hershel smiled: "Well don't you look pretty today."

"Thanks Daddy, I just felt like looking nice today."

Hershel smiled again, thinking about the 180 his daughter had done in just a couple of days. It was obvious to him that Beth had a bit of a crush on Y/N, and as obvious as it was that nothing would come of it, at least for a long time, it did make him happy to see her smiling again.

"Have you had breakfast?"

"Not yet Daddy. I haven't been up long, I just wanted to check in on Y/N. I was so worried about him after last night."

Hershel smiled again; Beth had such a loving heart. She was a carbon copy of her mother, Annette.

"He will be out for a couple more hours, I think. I gave him a strong relaxant. I wanted him to be able to fully rest. The poor lad had a severe ptsd event last night. Are you ok? It was quite frightening to witness."

"I'm ok Daddy. I just feel bad for him."

"All we can do is try and support him. Can you spend the day with him today, Doodlebug? I'd like him to try and get up for a while on the crutches, but I don't want anyone telling him about Randall. He's recovering, and I don't want him to feel unsafe, or that you girls are unsafe here. He needs to associate the farm with safety if its to be his new home as he recovers."

Beth nodded happily, overjoyed with her father's suggestion. He smiled and held his hand out.

"For now, how bout you come down with me for breakfast, and we can take it from there."

Beth smiled and stood, joining her hand with her father as they left the room and headed downstairs. Maggie and Patricia were already up, sat at the kitchen table with Rick and Lori, having a coffee.

"Morning" Rick smiled as Hershel greeted the others.

"Are you both ok? Maggie and Patricia said you had a rough night" Lori said with a forlorn expression.

"We did. That young man is suffering from terrible PTSD. What he went through..."

Hershel paused and exchanged a glance with Rick.

"Its not something he will just get over. His wounds are healing. He's strong. He's going to be up and out of bed today, on crutches. Beth will be keeping him company. I need to speak to your people about him" Hershel said calmly. Rick nodded.

"I was gonna ask for you all to come out for a meeting about Randall anyway. About twenty minutes, after y'all have your breakfast?" Rick asked and Hershel nodded.

--~--

Rick's group had just finished cooking breakfast over a campfire, camping about thirty feet from Hershel's home. Hershel, Beth, Maggie and Patricia had come over from the house.

"So, Hershel and I spoke about it, Y/N is free to stay with us, if he wants to. He's not a threat to anyone here, and if anything, he's an asset. He's been out there, really... out there. He knows what's needed to survive" Rick explained to the group.

"He's a killer" Dale said with that semi patronising tone of his. Before Rick could reply Maggie snapped angrily:

"You have no clue what he's been through. You sure as heck have no right to judge him!"

Beth rubbed her arm appreciatively as Carol spoke:

"Well maybe if you could explain to us why he did what he did, it might put us at ease."

Rick had respected Y/N's privacy. He had told only Hershel, as co leader, what Y/N had disclosed. Others had whispered from half heard conversations, but only the two men knew for certain, other than what Maggie had overheard.

"What was done by Randall's group, and it's confirmed it was Randall's group, was evil. Sick beyond words. The world's better off without them in it" Rick said harshly. Hershel nodded his head in agreement.

"How the hell can you confirm it's the same group?" Shane snapped. He received a glare from Hershel for his trouble as Rick shot back:

"When Y/N took what was left of them out they were havin' a loud drunken wake for two of their friends named Dave and Tony. The two men I killed, wanted to know about the cooch we had at the farm, were named Dave and Tony."

Rick had deliberately emphasised the word cooch to get across the perverted nature of the adversarial group. He noticed several expressions among the group, especially on the women present, and knew his point had been made. Shane though had to argue with Rick and Hershel, again:

"So, he told you a story, man. What's that prove?"

Rick chuckled and looked at Lori before looking back at Shane.

"I never told Y/N their names, Shane."

The others nodded. Glenn asked Maggie:

"You guys have spent the most time with him. You think he's trustworthy?"

She nodded, smiling at her sister and father: "we do. He's a good guy. He was pushed to do some horrible things but after what they did to his gi-"

She cut herself off mid-sentence, mentally chastising herself before closing her eyes momentarily and then continued:

"He is a good guy. I trust him."

Beth had lit up in happiness at her sister's words of acceptance as her father added:

"Even if your people rejected Y/N, he would be welcomed to stay in my home."

The group stood quietly and accepted the decision, not that they had a choice. Hershel continued:

"Y/N will be up and about today, on crutches. Beth will be keeping him company and making sure he doesn't wear himself out or have a fall. No one tells him about Randall. No one. Do I make myself clear?"

Hershel looked around and the others nodded. Lori spoke up:

"We'd all feel better if we knew the plan. Is there a plan? We gonna keep him here?"

"This guy is dangerous. His group may be gone, thanks to Y/N, but he's still dangerous. Maybe a rapist. He's too dangerous to be kept alive" Rick said calmly.

"You're just gonna kill him?" Dale exploded. "You said he could be, but you don't know for sure. What if we take him to Y/N? Ask if he recognises-"

"That boy had a terrifying PTSD episode last night. Vomiting blood at 4am. He needs to recognise this place as home, as safety, if he's going to recover. Let me make this clear. If anyone mentions Randall to Y/N they are off my farm, today. At gunpoint if necessary. I am not in the slightest bit exaggerating the seriousness of my promise. Not one word!"

Rick nodded and looked around.

"It's settled. I'll do it today" he said firmly before walking away. Dale followed him in a panic.

"You can't do this. You don't wanna do this. I know you don't."

"I've thought about this since we came across Y/N. Knowing what we know now, I don't see a way out of it."

"But you can't just decide on your own to take someone's life."

"I'm not, Dale. The group seemed supportive. After what Y/N told me we do not want this piece of shit near our people."

"The group? They didn't argue back because you didn't let 'em. There's gotta be a- a process."

"And what would that be? We can't call witnesses, go before a judge."

"So, he's automatically guilty by association and sentenced to death? He's just a kid."

Rick turned and stopped, glaring at Dale. He had had enough of this. He looked around before leaning in and whisper-shouting:

"Y/N's girlfriend was gang raped in front of him. He was tied up and forced to watch. They did the same thing to two little girls and their father. Guilty by association? Yeah, because even if he didn't participate, he still stayed with those men and defended them. He's not worthy of life."

"Gimme some time to talk to everyone, try to figure out another way"

"No, we can't drag this out!" Rick snapped. Dale though wouldn't let up:

"People are scared. - Which is why they need time to discuss this."

"No, no, no, they need to be safe. I owe 'em that." Rick said as he began to walk off before Dale exploded.

"You think about your son! The message that you're giving him-- shoot first, think later. I'm asking for one day to talk to everybody. You can give me that. Think- think about Carl."

"I am thinking about Carl. About him, and Lori, and Carol, Andrea, Beth, Maggie, Patricia, Sophia. Keeping them safe. We reconvene at sunset, then what happens, happens" Rick snarled, walking off once and for all from the good hearted but ultimately misguided old man.

Dale walked across and entered the RV. Andrea was in there rummaging around for something. He looked over to her and asked half-heartedly: "I need a favour."

Andrea answered without looking with a question of her own:

"Did you move the gun bag?"

"Yeah" Dale replied, reaching under the table and pulling it out. He continued:

"I need you to guard Randall, protect him."

"Why?" Andrea asked as she looked through the bag.

"Rick's giving me time to talk to the others, try and talk some sense into them. But if Shane finds out-"

"You think he'd just shoot the guy himself?" Andrea chuckled as she looked through the bag.

"You know killing the boy had to be his idea. Are you with him on this?" Dale asked horrified.

"He's a threat. Tell me this isn't all the ammo" Andrea said with concern. Dale couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"You're a civil rights lawyer."

"Was."

"You fight with words, the power of ideas. Using a-a gun, that's his way."

"You really want to debate about saving a guy who could rape any one of us?"

"That's what a civilized society does."

"Who says we're civilized anymore?"

"No, the world we knew is gone, but keeping our humanity? That's a choice" Dale replied as he slid a handgun towards her. Andrea sighed:

"I'll watch your prisoner. But not because I think you're right."

--~--

Y/N's eyes slowly fluttered open, he looked around momentarily disorientated before his eyes focused on the smiling face in front of him.

"Hey Beth" he smiled before grunting as he sat himself up.

"How are you feeling?" Beth asked with the smile that never seemed to leave her face.

"Bit groggy to be honest, feels like I drank half a slab last night."

"I don't know what that means" Beth giggled. Y/N replied with a smile:

"You know that feeling when you wake up hungover. Not nauseous but just seedy."

"I've never actually drank alcohol" Beth chuckled.

"Ah so you're a good girl?" Y/N chuckled, causing Beth to blush. He continued:

"Back home Paddy and me would sneak into front bar of the local from the time we were thirteen. Copped a hiding or two when we were caught by either of our Old Men, I can tell you" Y/N stated with a cheeky grin Beth adored before the look turned to sadness at the memories.

She was about to ask him a question when she was caught off guard, in a good way, by Y/N suddenly looking at her, properly looking and he said suddenly:

"You look really nice today."

Beth had blushed profusely. Y/N was still seedy and his head a little... spacey, when he noticed she had make up on for the first time, and a nice dress that looked more like a Sunday best than a country outfit. He spoke without thinking, feeling immediately bad, not just for making Beth obviously uncomfortable, but for Cassie's memory. He didn't mean anything by it, it was just an observation because she looked so different to other times he had seen her. He chastised himself before apologising.

"Sorry I didn't mean to offend you, just..."

"No, no you didn't. Just... thank you" Beth smiled happily. She blurted out:

"Do you feel well enough for breakfast?"

"I would love some breakfast. I am absolutely starved" Y/N chuckled as he answered, noticing how quickly Beth had changed the subject. Beth was still flushed as she replied:

"Daddy said you can come down now. You'll be ok to use the crutches and I'm going to stay with you today if that's OK. Just to make sure you don't get too tired and get stuck somewhere or fall or anything."

Y/N smiled. He had always been an athlete. Always active. Laying in bed all day was not something he was happy doing.

"That would be great, cheers Beth."

He stood, still just in shorts, and as he was handed the crutches stretched his back out to his full 6'2" height. Beth looked up at him, not having realised how tall he was. There was almost a foot between the pair. She then looked down at his toned and tanned physique, even half covered with bandages, and her blush intensified.

Y/N noticed Beth's cheeks redden further and asked guiltily:

"I hope this isn't making you uncomfortable, Beth. Do you know if there's any spare shirts that Jimmy had that I could put on?"

Beth looked up, realising she had been staring at his chest, his abdomen and his shoulders and felt like crawling in a hole and dying. She was mortified and stammered to him:

"Th-th-there are dr-drawers just there, but Daddy said that you should keep the top off today. He's got to check your wounds soon and he doesn't want your bandages to catch on a shirt and pull, it could really hurt you."

Y/N nodded, and the pair began the slow journey down to the kitchen. Y/N was getting his legs moving again, and getting used to using crutches. He had had enough the year before to last a lifetime.

Beth stood right next to him; her hand extended to the small of Y/N's back in case he wobbled. They slowly descended the staircase and now looked down to a small kitchen and a dining room.

"It's a beautiful house you've got here, Beth" Y/N smiled. She thanked him happily in appreciation before leading him over to the dining room table. As he sat, he saw Patricia looking over and smiling.

"Well, there you are. How are you feeling this morning?" she asked happily as she got the scrambled eggs that had been sat keeping warm for him off the stove and brought them over. Y/N smiled and thanked her before explaining:

"I was just explaining to Beth I felt a bit hungover; something she wasn't familiar with. I think we've already seen a bit of a cultural difference between Aussies and Americans."

Patricia laughed.

"Yeah, we've heard stories about Australians and their ways, but I think you'll be alright here. Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks Patricia, and I'm sorry again about last night, waking you up, and needing help in the shower."

"It's perfectly fine, Y/N. I was a veterinary assistant to Hershel, so its all just medical to me."

"I have been called an animal before" Y/N smirked as the two ladies laughed. Patricia walked off to continue her daily chores, and Y/N began eating. The scrambled eggs were amazing, but he felt guilty eating in front of Beth when she had none.

"Would you like some, Beth?" he asked

He's so hungry, he's barely eaten for weeks, yet he offers me his food. He's so caring Beth thought as she smiled.

"No thank you, Y/N. I'm full from breakfast while you were asleep."

Y/N nodded, trying to eat politely while still he wanted to scoff the lot down. After finishing breakfast, where he felt Beth smiling at him the whole time, he tried to wash his plate before Beth chastised him and did it, and then led him slowly out the front door. Y/N looked out the porch, a large smile broke out across his face.

Beth smiled as Y/N's eyes lit up, looking across the property.

"It's beautiful here Beth, absolutely beautiful. You would never guess the rest of the world was falling to pieces."

"That's why it's worth protecting" came a southern drawl from next to him. Y/N looked over to see Hershel smiling at him. Y/N leant on his crutches and reached out his hand, Hershel shaking it with a smile.

"Thank you again, for everything, Hershel."

Hershel smiled and asked:

"How are you feeling this morning?"

"I was feeling a bit seedy, but the scrambled eggs really fixed that up. Sorry for... you know."

Beth's heart broke at the look of shame on Y/N's face before her father said tenderly:

"No apologies needed, son. Take your time to look around, get your bearings with Bethie and in half an hour or so I'll come check your stitches and redress your bandages."

Beth helped Y/N to sit down on a love seat, sitting down next to him as the pair looked out over the property. Y/N noticed several people looking at him nervously from a small campsite about ten metres away.

--~--

Lori looked over at Beth and smiled. Just a few days ago the girl had been so despondent, so void of any hope prior to her suicide attempt. Now she was sat next to the Australian lad. Rick had told her what he had done, why he had done it. Lori held no ill will against him for his actions, after what he had endured. She knew Rick was a good judge of character, and he was insistent the lad would be an asset. Back to Beth, Lori couldn't help but smile at the huge smile on the girl's face. Beth was looking up at Y/N while he looked out across the farm, seemingly enjoying the wind blowing on his face. Lori had seen the look in Beth's eyes before. She smiled to herself as she prepared to walk over as soon as the dishes were done.

--~--

Y/N had enjoyed the breeze but leant down and asked Beth quietly:

"Not everyone happy I'm here?" Beth shook her head.

"No just curious about a new person, I think. It wouldn't matter if they were upset by it" Beth said defiantly. Y/N cocked his head as he looked down into her eyes with interest.

"This is my Daddy's farm, and my Daddy wants you to stay."

The defiance dropped from her voice, replaced by a nervousness as she asked:

"Have you have you thought more about what you're gonna do? When you first got here you weren't sure if you would stay on."

Y/N looked like anxiety grew in his eyes, and Beth panicked he was going to leave as he began to speak:

"Beth, can I just apologise for what I said when I first got here? When I first woke up, your dad told me what happened, after I spoke about going bush."

Y/N spoke calmly, no judgement in his voice as he reached out and placed a finger just near the bandage on her arm. Beth inhaled deeply as she felt a jolt of electricity shoot up her body. Beth thought she may have been nervous at the touch, but there was no nerves, just a sense of butterflies, a jolt of excitement at the gentleness of his fingertips.

"I never meant to bring up bad memories for you. Your dad told me how recent it was, how recent your loss was. I'm so sorry, Beth. It's heartbreaking dealing with the loss of not just one but two loved ones. If you ever need to talk I'm here."

Beth smiled as tears dripped from her eyes and down her cheeks. She instinctively leant over, laying her head against Y/N's large tattooed shoulder and whispered:

"Thank you."

They sat silently for a moment before Beth asked again:

"So you think you'll stay?"

Y/N smiled.

"It would be pretty rude to just leave. Not repay the people who saved your life by defending their home, don't you think?"

Beth lit up in joy, and hoped Y/N wouldn't notice the heat rising her cheeks. She suddenly had a thought and asked quietly:

"Maybe... maybe we could help each other work through our loss and our grief? It would be good to have a friend my own age I could talk to about things, if that's ok?"

Beth exhaled in relief when Y/N smiled and replied: "I... I would really like that Beth. Anything I can do for you and your family let me know."

Beth was overjoyed. She suddenly asked something she had wondered about:

"Who was Paddy?"

"Pardon?" Y/N asked back.

"Paddy. You mentioned a Paddy earlier."

"Did I? I didn't realise. Paddy Winmar was my best mate. I met him on the first day of prep. He was sat there alone, his head down, the only Aboriginal kid in a class full of white fellas."

"Aboriginal, is that like, Native American?" Beth asked, her nose crinkled in confusion. Y/N nodded and smiled.

"Yeah, Aboriginal People are the first people of Australia. They had a hunter gatherer way of life, hundreds of different tribes all over the country. Each mob had their own land, or Country, and the people of the Esperance area are called the Noongar. There were a lot of problems in the past, the government would push all the Aboriginal people onto missions, take away their kids to try and raise the black out of 'em, terrible stuff" Y/N replied, noticing out the corner of his eye one of Rick's group, a black man, had stopped what he was doing and was trying to be inconspicuous as he listened in.

"That's so sad" Beth said with genuine sadness. Y/N nodded.

"None of the other kids would talk to him, cos he was a black fella, but I was raised in a Samoan house remember..."

Beth nodded.

"... I was used to seeing people with different skin as family, as Mum and Dad. So I just walked over to Paddy and sat next to him. I said G'day and we were best mates ever since."

"That's so sweet" Beth smiled deeply. Y/N chuckled.

"Caused a lot of trouble over the years. The other white kids would call me horrible names, c**n lover and b**ng lover, things like that, and me and Paddy being us would retaliate, got in a lot of fights. Funny thing is whenever I got suspended, or my parents were called in for me fighting, never once did they tell me off. They knew, you know."

Beth smiled, nodding.

"The thing was, I didn't even care that they were talking shit to me, but it was Paddy's face every time the pricks said the b word or the c word. That's what got me riled up. He wasn't just my best mate. He was my brother."

Y/N smiled at the memories before looking over to Beth and saying embarrassedly:

"Sorry I've been droning on and on haven't I. You must be pretty bored."

"No not at all, it's really interesting" Beth smiled. She then asked:

"So, what did you mean by different countries in the country? Did you mean like country music country, or?"

Y/N smiled, honoured Beth was interested in his past and his family. He thought of the easiest way to explain it to her.

"Could I have your hand for a minute, Beth?"

Beth blushed, but smiled, Y/N gently taking hold of the dainty hand she offered. He extended her fingers out, not reacting when she shivered involuntarily. He drew a large, rough circular shape on her hand.

"So that is all of Australia, ok?"

Beth nodded. He drew a line straight down, separating about a third of the left of the country off.

"That's the state of Western Australia, the state I'm from. Basically, if you put an image of Australia on an image of America, think of the entire western seaboard, into Arizona, Utah and straight up, all of that is Western Australia."

"That's huge" Beth gasped.

"And only two and a half million people in the whole state, compared to about what, 100 million in the same area in the US?" Y/N chuckled as Beth nodded.

"It's a very hostile environment. Most population centres are around the coast. It's dangerous to just go to the interior without experience."

Beth nodded before Y/N drew the shape of Western Australia again.

"So just to remind you, that's Western Australia- all of this part..."

He drew a line along the bottom of the WA shape-

"... that area is Noongar Country. Within that mob there were several smaller tribes, and then other tribes were around there. Every tribe, or mob, had their own lands that were sacred to them."

He released Beth's hand, and she momentarily wished he would keep hold of it.

"Paddy's parents, Uncle Mike and Aunty Betty, they were elders of the Noongar mob. In the school holidays they would go back to their lands, they had a home up there, did their sacred business. They'd take me with them. Just me, Paddy and Uncle Mike and Aunty Betty. We would hunt while we were up there, eat bush tucker, Uncle Mike would take us both out through the bush and tell us stories of his mob, and his dreaming, and how to hunt animals, which trees were safe to eat, how to avoid snakes. It's so beautiful the bush. When you sleep under the stars, see the milky way in the night sky, all the paths the ancestors took in the dreaming, wake up to the kookaburras singing. There's nothing like it."

Beth smiled at the giant smile on his face. She could see how much love he had for those he considered his family, even if it wasn't by blood. She had to ask though:

"What's a Kookaburra?"

Y/N's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"You don't know what a kookaburra is?"

Beth giggled and shook her head.

"Ok, so they are amazing birds a type of kingfisher, very intelligent. We had two, Chuckles and Giggles-"

Y/N stopped as Beth giggled at the names.

"What? They're literally called laughing Kookaburras. Don't be busting my balls for Aunty Betty's names."

Beth giggled again as Y/N got back on track.

"So, every time we would go up to the homestead they would fly in, we'd feed them and pat them. Kookaburras mate for life, and yeah, they can form really strong bonds with people. Their warbles are amazing."

"What do they sound like?"

Y/N cleared his throat and gave his best Kookaburra imitation. It was perfect.

"So, was that good?" Beth asked, giggling at Y/N's mock hurt as a voice called out

"Sick Kookaburra dude."