AT LAST, their mission was complete. They had finally had all the supplies they needed and were all on their way back. Only with one less man who was left behind, and three new ones who have joined them.

Two were injured, which were the ones they ran into on the way out. They couldn't say no, the man was with a child, around ten. He was looking for a mother and sister, which sounded all so familiar.

Aria sat with Carl, teaching him how to play a hand game which she was obsessed with when she was his age. She adored Carl. So pure. Aria was determined to make him feel like he had a friend, and his mother could see that, smiling at the scene infront of her.

"I don't get it." Carl giggled, putting his hands back in his lap, "Okay, it's simple. Slide your hands against mine, and go one, then two— it's really fun once you get the hang of it." Aria flashed him a sweet smile whilst he nodded, putting up his hands to try again before he was interrupted by a car.

"They're back," she said with enthusiasm, helping the little boy up, waving the Lori as they walked away.

Aria walked to the scene, opening her arms for Viktoria. Unfortunately, Aria had never met somebody like Vicky. So compassionate and fierce. The day they met was hell, but somehow she managed to make it better with her heart.

"How was the trip with those idiots?" Aria joked, making her laugh, "It was crazy, I need to tell you everything. We even brought back three people. And we are minus one." At her words, she felt her heart drop, placing a hand on her shoulder as she walked closer to the scene. "What's wrong?"

Her mother wasn't paying any attention, to busy trying to start back up the fire she didn't even hear them come back. Erin Cameron walked out the truck with a bruised body, keeping his brother close as they cautiously looked around.

Aria, was taken aback, feeling like she was hallucinating. Her hand flew to her heart, waiting till they noticed her. She was frozen, her lungs beginning to feel like they were closing in with anxiety, staring at them closely.

Tobey was the first to notice the girl, making her hand fly to her mouth as he ran to here with a yelp, getting on his level to hug him. She wept, squeezing him with shaking arms as she screamed out, "Mom!" Erin didn't know what to do, he didn't believe it. He found them.

GiGi stood up from her spot in confusion, hearing her daughters voice. She didn't hesitate to run over the scene, hearing her cry's. But, she didn't expect to see her eldest son walking towards her with teary eyes. "Oh my god."

A mother should never have to be without her children. And a child should never be without their mother. She hoped she would see them again, and here they were, standing infront of her, holding each other. "My son."

Tobey pulled away to get a better look at his big sister, "Hi." Aria smiled, moving the curls out his face before locked eyes with her big brother, standing up to embrace him.

"Hi loser." He teased for the first time in weeks. Usually, she would get mad and probably start an argument, but all she wanted to do was hug him. She let out a choked laugh, jumping into his arms.

He took these moments with his sister for granted, and he would never do that again, as he sunk his head into her arms, letting out a soft cry.

Atlas walked past the family, shaking his head whilst passing Viktoria, "Don't be such a sour face." She teased. "Im not being a sour face, I just don't particularly like her." He shrugged walking past the gurl as she followed slowly behind, also passing Carl and his father who had also reunited.

Aria pulled back, letting her mother touch both of their faces, wiping their tears. "My babies." She cried, now holding them both in her arms. She couldn't imagine her life without any of them, even in times like this.

They each hold a special part in her life that no one has ever had. She liked to say she was incomplete when they weren't around, and here they were all together. She was complete.

Atlas now sat silently as the others talked amongst themselves, occasionally taking a quick glare at the blonde infront of him who smiled so bright. He couldn't help but feel so bitter as he stared at her and her family.

She noticed this, giving him a small smile which he ignored, immediately getting up at her actions. Her face slowly fell, wondering what she had done to the stranger. But, Aria tried to ignore it, going back to the conversation.

I guess you could say, she was sensitive. Or stupid. But, her heart was pure. Her mother had no idea where she got her personality from as her father was an asshole. Her and Tobey, unsurprisingly, had the same traits. That's why they were so close. Erin was a mama's boy, and Tobey was neither. The physical differences in the siblings where mild, but the flaws they all carried were like knifes that dug deep.

Victoria smiled, making her way towards her friend and her family, "Oh, this is my friend, Victoria. She is a nurse." The young girl waved, locking eyes with the eldest brother, "Im Erin."

She softly mumbled a hello, making her mother chuckle. "Can I steal her for a minute?" Erin nodded, mesmerized by the women's beauty infront of him.

Aria grabbed her hand as she was lifted off the ground, walking with her. "I thought we could talk, you looked upset."

Aria smiled, "It's just surreal is all. One moment I'm crying about where my family is the next I'm crying cause their back. I miss my old life." Victoria slowly let go of the girls hand, taking a seat on the ground, "Don't we all?"

Aria looked at her from above, giving her a slight smile before sitting down. She began to realize the same quiet boy was Victoria's friend. She couldn't fathom how that worked. "Hey, who's that boy your always with?"

"Who? Atlas?" Aria shrugged, "He's like my brother. Atlas was the first person who helped me after the outbreak and you were the first person I helped." Victoria smiled, slightly leaning against the girl through her words.

"Why? You think he's cute?" She teased, making her laugh. "He's not unbearable." The girl lied, making Victoria shrug. "But, he's so distant. I feel bad for him. He won't even look at me."

"He's the grinch, literally." Victoria shook her head, "Don't mind him. He doesn't mean it."

But, Aria had to know him. He was interesting to her. His brown hair that curled at the ends and his pretty blue eyes that always laid low.

She could tell she was gonna hate him.

          THE MORNING SUN glistened against his pale skin as he made his way through the crowd, looking towards Victoria who was currently flirting with the new boy. A slight grin fell to his face before he let it fall.

The arguments held between the three men brought him joy until he saw Aria and making there way to the woods, both talking amongst themselves.

Carl chuckled, "So, you did all of that just to get fired?" Aria shook her head, "To be fair, I did start a fire."

Carl stood close to her, looking at the blonde hair that laid on her shoulders. Carl was growing a connection with the older girl, seeing her as family. His head leaded against her arm as they walked, making her smile.

"Do you ever miss your friends?" Carl asked, making her slow down her pace, "I try not to think about it. But, I do wonder where they are or if they're okay." Carl began to stop in his tracks making her turn around in confusion.

"I never had the chance to make many friends." As she glared at the boy, her heart begun to break. It wasn't fair. Aria crouched down to his level, trying to put a smile on her face, "You have me."

Carl didn't hesitate to throw his arms around the girl, catching her off guard. She had never thought she would have another brother, but as the boy rested into her arms, the thoughts in her head shifted.

But, they were interrupted by the shuffling in the branches. They were both taken by surprise as they were met with a walker. "Go." Carl didn't move, still staring at the sight infront of him. "Go!"

As it eased closer, she wasn't to far behind him, not even seeing the dead deer that laid infront of her. "Shit!" She groaned, holding her ankle in pain. The boy stopped, turning around at her words, letting out a harsh scream as the walker fell on top of her.

She let out a yelp, pushing it away from her face, trying to feel for her knife with her free hand. "Erin!" She cried out, before finally pulling the knife out her pocket. Aria stabbed the walker on the neck, staring in confusion once it didn't stop moving. Footsteps raced over to her, immediately pulling it off of her.

Erin held her body in fear, her mother checking her body for bites. "Your okay." Erin wiped the blood off her cheek, watching her body language. Her eyes were clung to the scene whilst they killed the walker.

Atlas stabbed it in the eye before Darryl had the chance to, angrily walking over to the girl, "What the hell were you thinking!" Atlas scolded, watching her eyes flicker between him and the dead body. Erin stared at the boy angrily, trying to stay focused on his sister and not the man who shouted. Victoria ran over the scene with Tobey by her side, the boy immediately crouching down to his sister.

"I didn't know." She whispered, "Yeah? Well, next time pay fucking attention." He yelled, walking away.

Aria laid on the ground, looking at the ground in shame as Victoria went to grab her things. She should've known better. Coming down here with no sense of protection was stupid, but the innocence in the action was all she thought about at first.

Atlas didn't feel bad for yelling at her, but he couldn't stop thinking about the consequences of the innocent girl. His eyes were turned as she limped out the tent spotting his eye as she walked over to him.

"I just wanted to," he cut her off, turning his back to her almost immediately, "Not interested."

She scoffed, "I'm sorry?"

"I'm not interested." His cold voice didn't shock her, but she chose to ignore him as she spoke. "I was gonna say I'm sorry for scaring you all earlier. It wasn't my intention." He rolled his eyes at her, turning around swiftly, "I don't care, wouldn't be my fault if you would've dropped dead." Atlas commented whilst walking away.

"Okay, what is your problem? You don't even know me and your being a dick!" Aria tried to keep up behind him, limping as she did. "I don't like you. Your weak and pathetic." His words were hurtful but, she tried to tell herself it all wasn't true, shaking her head with ease. "Your mirroring, asshole." She said, watching as he took a step closer.

"Wanna say that again?" He towered over her like she was simply gum on his shoe, making her anger only worsen as she waited for his next words, "I don't care about any of you," he laughed degradingly, "frankly, I wouldn't blink twice if any one of you died."

Aria lifted her hand, landing a harsh slap on his face. He didn't do anything but stay in that position as she walked away. She groaned as she walked back into her tent, flopping on the blanket next to her brother.

She didn't understand what she had done. Why he hated her. Maybe he was just insufferable— miserable. But, she couldn't say she didn't get why.

"What's wrong with you?" Tobey turned over, handing her one of the water bottles in his bag. She sent him a glare before she smiled, "Nothing, just wanted to sit with you."

Tobey smiled widely, scooting closer to his sister before her brother had walked in. "Hey." He sighed, taking a seat. "Whats with you and my Viktoria? Already got a new girlfriend, player." She raised her eyebrows, making him roll his eyes. "Shut up. About that,"

"Im are going back to Atlanta city to help find that man they left." His words brought immediate confusion to her body as she looked at Tobey who had more of a disappointed expression. "Your serious? You just got here, Er'." Aria stated, watching as he scooted closer to the two of them, placing a hand on top of hers.

"I know, but I have to make myself useful. You two will stay here with mom." Aria shook her head, letting go of his hand, "Mom knows about this?" He only nodded as she bowed her head, "Don't be stupid." Tobey muffled, nodding softly at him, still waiting for his sister's approval.

"If my mom loses you again, she will never recover. I need you to be careful," she knew her own words were hypocritical, sighing softly, "Please." Erin nodded, letting her throw her arms over himself, hugging her with ease.

Erin thought it was stupid for the promises he would make to himself about protecting his family when he was younger. Watching his dad leave through the window was traumatizing. He couldn't bare to lose anyone, so, he lost himself trying to save them all.

He used to hate being the only boy in the house before Tobey was born. He hated the long nights of listening to his sisters stories or when she would force him to play dolls. But, the second he saw a boy push her down the slide, he had never beat somebody worse than that day, along with being expelled from his school. He was the male figure she always needed and that's what he had to be.

He pulled back from her arms, wiping the single tear that fell from her eyes, placing a kiss on Tobey's forehead.

She sat there with nothing to say, feeling a pair of arms wrap around her side. Their heads laid together as they listened to the chatter from outside.

"Is this how it's always gonna be?" Tobey wondered, lifting up from her shoulder.

"We're just getting started."

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