Clementine was taken aback by Lee's revelation. She couldn't believe that he had kept such a significant secret from her. The boxcar they were standing in felt confined, the train's rhythmic movement adding to the tension in the air. She locked eyes with Lee, waiting for an explanation. The silence was only broken by the steady rumble of the train as it sped along the tracks. After a few minutes, Lee gathered his thoughts and finally spoke up.

LEE: I never mentioned him, Clementine, because I wasn't ready to confront the loss. If I'd have acknowledged the possibility that he was still out there, alive, it would have consumed me. I would have done anything to find him, to bring him back

CLEMENTINE: Then just tell me what happened Lee, start from the very beginning... before you met me

Eight years earlier

Lee Everett awoke to sight of his bedroom ceiling, he ran a hand down his face as he mentally prepared himself for the day. Peering over to his right, he spotted the digital clock atop his nightstand that was only minutes away from sounding off, he woken up early...

LEE: Baby, what time do you head off for work again? Layla?

Silence

Turning to his left, he then realized his wife was already gone, had he actually overslept? No, maybe she was just downstairs or something. Lee sat up before heading towards his bathroom to get ready. He slipped into his usual get up. a nice form fitting long-sleeved shirt, his favorite blue blazer, a pair of jeans, and his loafers. Once he'd gotten dressed he was off to the races. Making his way downstairs, he made a slick turn to his left, entering the kitchen. When he entered, he was met with the sight of his seven-year-old son, Shawn Everett. The young boys hair was curly, and his skin was a lighter tone due in large part to his mother's Asian heritage, his expressive green eyes also a trait given to him from his mother. In fact, the only physical trait he had in common with his son was the nose and facial structure

LEE: Oh, hey Shawn, you're up pretty early. I'm guessing your mother already left for work?

SHAWN: Morning dad, and yeah, mom left an hour ago

LEE: I see...

Lee then observed the book the boy was reading

LEE: Is that my book?

Shawn blushed a bit before sheepishly replying

SHAWN: O-Oh, um, yeah. I mean, I can't exactly play outside or anything since I'm on punishment and so I just grabbed one the books from your study... you aren't mad at me, are you?

Having prepared himself a cup of coffee, Lee sat down near his son before speaking

LEE: Mad? about you reading? No, I could never be, so what story did we pick?

SHAWN: The book thief!

Lee chuckled at his son's enthusiasm, the young boy's thirst for knowledge was something Lee took a great amount of pride in as a father. A teacher, of all the careers his son could have picked, it was Lee's very own profession that interested his child. Though, Lee's smile then faded when he remembered why his son was suspended in the first place. Of all the traits Shawn had gotten from both his mother and father, it was that classic Everett propensity toward anger that was passed onto him as well, something every Everett had to deal with at some point in their life. Shawn was a smart boy for his age, but like all children, he was quick to act on his emotions...

LEE: An entire weeks worth of suspension huh? That's a long time away from school you know?

He watched as Shawn slumped down into his chair, burying his face into the book, not wanting to face his father out of shame.

LEE: You knew this talk was coming at some point didn't you? part of being a man is owning up to your mistakes, you've got to face them head on

Shawn mulled over Lee's words before sitting up in his seat and reluctantly setting the book on the kitchen table. The child took a deep breath and spoke, still not making eye contact as he did so...

SHAWN: I didn't mean to- I mean *Sigh* Yeah, I did mean to but Mitch deserved it dad, he really did have it coming

Lee shook his head, this time he was disappointed in his son's answer

LEE: You broke the poor boy's nose Shawn. They nearly sent you to a school for troubled youth... I had to pull a couple strings to keep that from happening. Do you know how stressful that would have been on me and your mother? you've got to control that part of you Shawn, or it'll tear you apart

SHAWN: I'm sorry, I'd take it back if I could... I didn't mean to make you and mom mad

Lee's heart ached at his son's now downcast expression, and he only ever used the word "Momma" when he was truly sad. Yeah, the whole "Tough love" part of being a father was always the hardest for Lee. He wasn't going to let Shawn off the hook necessarily, but he would try and ease up a bit

LEE: You want to be a history professor, like me, right?

Shawn nodded slowly

LEE: Do you know why we teach history? I mean the exact reason?

Shawn shook his head

LEE: It's so that we aren't doomed to make the same mistakes over, and over, and over again. History has a way of keeping us from repeating self destructive behavior, and in a way... history can give us life lessons as well 

Shawn looked up to his father as Lee continued...

LEE: Take right now for example, you made a mistake, a big one, but... a mistake nonetheless. Instead of getting sad about it, take your time to learn from it son. What can you do next time that will prevent this outcome?

The boys thought for a moment

SHAWN: Don't get angry?

Lee shook his head which confused the boy until his father began to elaborate

LEE: Nope, getting angry isn't the problem. We all get angry, it's a natural emotion. Controlling that anger, is the answer you're looking for.

SHAWN: I think I get it... well, kind of. I'm still really sorry for making you and mom worry

Lee nodded, his son's apology sounding genuinely remorseful

LEE: I accept your apology, but only if you promise it won't happen again

SHAWN: It won't!

LEE: So... you ready to give me the details?

Shawn took another deep breath before recalling the incident that lead to his suspension...

A few days ago...

TEACHER: Okay children, lets settle down now alright? turn your books to page three and begin the assignment, I'll be collecting them In thirty minutes.

The various children began flipping through their workbooks as they started the assignment given. An eager Shawn Everett sat up front and began tearing through his assignment, completing one question after the other. Setting out to be a teacher like his father meant that Shawn usually took things a step further than the other children, opting to complete work ahead of the others, not satisfied with completing just one page. It had only taken Shawn a few minutes before he was off to the next page of his workbook...

SHAWN: This one is easy, eighty-eight is greater than... twenty-two

TEACHER: Quiet down mister Everett

SHAWN: Yes ma'am. Sorry!

A few snickers could be heard around the room, but none of them irked the boy more than the boy who sat right behind him, Mitch. Him and his two lackeys would constantly give Shawn trouble over his verbal ticks. Shawn was Bi-lingual, being able to speak both English and Japanese. Though as of late, he'd set that talent to the side, kids were cruel, and while most others would find the ability of speaking two languages cool, it was kids like mitch that made life just that much harder. It's not like every kid in the class was out to get him though, the kids only made fun of him in fear of Mitch making fun of them instead. nonetheless, Shawn pressed on trying to ignore Mitch and the other two boys that continued to bully him...

MITCH: Hey, Everett

Shawn ignored him

MITCH: hey, I'm talking to you, you big loser

Shawn only continued

MITCH: Guys, how do you say loser In Japanese?

Seeing that he wasn't getting the reaction he wanted, Mitch decided to try something new...

MITCH: I heard you're mom's been really quiet lately. every time her and your dad come to pick you up, she looks so sad. Maybe its because she made a loser

SHAWN: Shut up

MITCH: Make me

Shawn attempted to ignore Mitch once more and continue with his own task, until...

MITCH: Oh boy, I bet they're going to get a divorce. then you'll really be the biggest loser in the class. No mommy, and no daddy either, and if you don't have mommy around, who are you gonna speak to, no body that's who-

*WHACK!*

Mitch's antagonizing was cut short when Shawn delivered a clean jab to the other boy's face, sending him flying out of his chair and unto his butt

SHAWN: I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE HELL UP YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!

MITCH: My nose! he broke my nose!

Shawn was ready to rail on the boy further until Mitches other two friends stepped in and began jumping him. Though he was taking a beating, Shawn put up as much as he got as best he could before the teacher broke up the fight

TEACHER: That's enough! all four of you, to the office, now!

Later

Shawn and his bullies sat on opposite ends of the hallway outside the principles office. Shawn staring down at the ground as he kicked his feet back and forth. Across the way sat Mitch, with a broken nose, both his friends with matching black eyes. Shawn was no better however, a swollen cheek and a black eye of his own. Shawn looked up occasionally at Mitch and the other who were staring daggers at him, if looks could kill...

After a few more agonizing moments of tension filled silence, Lee stepped out of the office having talked to the principle for a whopping three hours. Walking up to his son, Lee spoke

LEE: Come on, let's head home

Shawn pushed himself up off the seat, he could feel Mitch and his crew burning holes in the back of his head as he and his father made their exit

Now...

SHAWN: And it wasn't just that, Mitch made fun of me all the time. I tried telling the other teachers but nothing ever happened, sometimes, it would get worse. It was the one time I fought back and I got suspended...

Lee would be lying if he said he didn't know what that felt like

LEE: You know something? you really did choose the right time to get suspended. I took today off, your mother and I have our anniversary coming up in a few days and I want to do something special for the occasion

SHAWN: Seriously!?

Lee smiled

LEE: Yup, and I'm also heading to the mall to pick her out a gift and as it so happens I'll need an extra set of eyes to pick her out something good

Lee stated as he took a swig of his coffee

SHAWN: AM I GETTING A SIBLING FINALLY!?

Lee then choke up a bit of his morning brew

LEE: Slow down there, kid's don't grow on trees you know? I was thinking more along the lines of... jewelry

SHAWN: Like a necklace?

LEE: Yeah, like a necklace, you up for it?

SHAWN: I'll pick the best necklace ever! hold on, I'm gonna go get ready!

Soon enough, both Everett's step foot out of the household in search of "The. Best. Necklace. Ever" Hopping into the car, Lee adjusted the rear view mirror and gave Shawn a look the boy was all to familiar with...

LEE: What are the rules?

SHAWN: Stay close, don't wander off, and... keep my toys close

LEE: That's about the gist of it, In and out...

Lee pulled out of the drive way and made a B-line toward the mall

Present...

LEE: Clementine, there's something I need to confess to you. Life doesn't always follow our plans, and sometimes we find ourselves in impossible situations. When you were younger, I mentioned that I had taken someone's life. It's time for me to reveal the full truth.

CLEMENTINE: What are you trying to tell me, Lee?

LEE: It's about time I told you, how my family was torn apart, and how I played a roll in it

A/N: First off, thank you all for taking the time to read the first chapter of my book. To my older readers, a very special thanks for re-reading this rebooted version of the first chapter. There were a lot of things that were sloppy about the beginning of this story and I'm just glad to have had the time to sit down, and deliver to you all the story you truly deserve. Once again, I'd like to thank herbalmite97 as his story, in a sense "Planted a seed" and inspired me to take a crack at writing my own TWDG fic. So for any new readers, I sincerely hope that you'll stick around to see what I have in store