It was my brother, Carl's birthday on the weekend and the whole family was going camping out of town and I really didn't want to go, I tried to get out of it by staying at my bestfriend's house but my mum wouldn't let me. After school I walked to the station, my dad wasn't on duty but I knew Shane was. I went in and found him. Me and Shane were like best friends even though he was my dad's best friend.

"Shane I need a favour" I asked, sitting down at his desk.

"It wouldn't be anything to do with the camping trip would it?" he asked, Shane was there when I tried to convince my parents to let me stay at home. I nodded showing my cheeky grin. Me and Shane had a close bond, he protected me, and sometimes he goes a little too far.

"Can I stay with you? Please?" I begged showing my big puppy dog eyes; I even got up and stood behind him with my arms around his neck.

"I'll talk to your dad" he smiled; I kissed him on the cheek while he stood, "I'll give you a ride." Shane confirmed walking out the station; we got in his squad car and started the journey home.

Shane stopped the car just round the corner of our house, there was an awkward silence until Shane said, "Madison, tell me how you truly feel about me." This was the first time we both told each other our true feelings to each other.

I quickly snapped back to reality, they were the happy times. I was sat by the quarry watching the women wash clothes, I was sat thinking about the old times, thinking about my dad, he never made it. "Hey want to catch some frogs?" Shane asked smiling, walking towards me; he sat by me on the floor, looking out onto the lake. I shook my head, "Whats up?" he asked; I shook my head not wanting to worry him. He raised his eyebrows in question.

"I think Dale knows about us" I whispered, he nodded taking in the information.

We had liked each other for a while and it was beginning to show. Sitting side by side, he peered around then slid his hand into mine. Dale wasn't sure about Shane, and he was getting worried we spent a lot of time together, but Shane was the one who kept the camp safe and he was the one who set up the camp. We heard footsteps and quickly unlinked our hands. It was Carl. My brother peered down at us with a smile on his face.

"Ready to go Shane?" Carl asked enthusiastically, Shane nodded looking deep into my eyes; he got up making his way over into the water with Carl ready to catch frogs, they had been talking about it for a while, kinda a way for them to bond. They had now ventured into the lake with a couple of buckets and nets. As they continued to get wet and fail, I stared at Shane. His perfect body, his abs showing through the drenched police shirt. With that I remembered the night of the camping trip, I drifted into my past.

Shane picked me up from school and took me to his place. Shane was pretty cool, he let me swear at his house and stay up late and drink a little. He put my bag in his room and came and sat with me, we ordered a takeaway and watched some movies, After a while I went to his bedroom to change, "Shit. I forgot my pyjamas" I shouted to him.

"Grab a shirt" he shouted back, I pulled open a drawer and pulled a dark t-shirt out with POLICE printed on it. I dressed into it. Shane mostly wore his uniform except from special occasions which weren't very often. When I went back to it with Shane he had no shirt on, just his trousers. He let me have some wine and that night was the first night we shared our first passionate kiss. It was so magical, butterflies in my stomach feeling.

Shanes POV

She was staring at me; I don't think she quite knew. She looked so beautiful, so innocent. Me and Carl were failing at this and I really wanted to talk to her alone.

I grabbed a bucket of water.

"Watch this" I whispered to Carl.

His face now beamed as I threw the water on Maddy.

She didn't look to happy and walked away.

"Go back to camp" I ordered Carl as I began to follow her.

...

I was wet and a little cold in the woods. I wasn't that deep into the woods but far enough. I wanted him alone; I was 17 and really wanted to connect with him again, it had been a week since we was last alone collecting water.

"Are you alright did I do something wrong?" Shane asked.

I turned around smiling, a big smirk spread across his face and he came closer to me.

"I think I should ask mom if I can move into your tent, for more room" I quietly said waiting for his approval, Shane nodded; he slipped his hand to the back on my neck and pulled me forward.

His soft lips pressed against mine, "I love you Madison" he whispered breaking of the kiss.

"I love you too" I replied continuing to kiss him.

One hand on his chest and the other slid down to his bottom. I squeezed playfully. We heard twigs snap, Shane pulled his gun out, he aimed it in the direction of the sound, and he now was in a protective stance, with me behind him. I peered round him, wondering who it could be or was it a walker, horrible thoughts flickered through my mind. We finally saw a glimpse of the threat.

"Is everything alright, saw you storm off" The white haired man asked, it was Dale.

I nodded, "Just stressed, but I'm fine." I smiled.

He nodded. I was relieved it was him not a foul beast. His face showed worry, he didn't like Shane so much but I couldn't see why.

"Next time can you please not sneak up on us, you really scared me?" I asked smiling. He turned away and disappeared through the woodland.

"What were you thinking about earlier?" Shane asked looking deeply into my eyes, he had noticed when I was in a world of my own, my past, the happy times, that was the world I wanted.

"The happy times, our first kiss." I smiled, he gave me another short kiss, "I need you, in bed" I smiled, walking away, he sniggered and followed me, I was teasing him.

We walked out of the woods and joined mom and Carl. Mom was giving Carl a haircut; he was nagging like normal, moaning. There was more talk of frog catching between Carl and Shane. Me and my mum wasn't close, I didn't really get on with her and I was a daddy's girl, and of course Shane's girl. This made it harder. I missed him so much; he wasn't here for my seventieth birthday and Carl's birthday.

"Madison can you start staying within my sight?" my mum nagged.

"Why?"

"Because Dale told me you stormed off today and if Shane didn't follow you, there could have been a walker, it could have been dangerous." She told me.

"I can do what I want, I'm seventeen stop treating me like a child!" I raised my voice; I stormed back to the tent.

Shanes POV

I had just finished cleaning his shotgun.

"She is seventeen you can't control her" I mumbled.

"I know but she only seems to listen to you" Lori seemed quite upset.

They hadn't got on well since the day Rick was shot on the job, Rick told me they had an argument and Lori was blaming Rick for their marriage failing. Maddy told me this by text before Rick had even got to work that morning.

"She blames me for Rick, after that morning. But Shane I am grateful that she listens to you and you can keep her safe." Lori told me.

I could hear something, a car alarm in the distance. I got up walking towards the RV.

...

"Talk to me dale" Shane shouted. I could hear him front the tent, what was going on?

I emerged from the tent and ventured to Shane's side

"Can't tell yet" he replied peering through his binoculars.

"Is it them? Are they back?" asked Amy panicking, the alarm getting closer.

Shane and I started to walk towards the entrance of the camp.

"I'll be dammed" Dale soon replied.

"What is it?" I asked Dale. I waited nervously for the answer, was it them, was it our group.

"Stolen Cars my guess" Dale answered, as a red car came to a halt. The alarm still blearing.

Shane walked over to the Car with Jim, there was a little shouting and finally Jim pulled a wire and the car fell silent and so did the crowd who had gathered, Shane was lent on the car.

"Are you crazy driving this wheeling b*st*rd up here. You trying to draw every walker for miles" Shane shouted.

The conversation was cut short when another van pulled up. Everyone went tense.

I walked over to Shane while everyone else reunited with their families; tears filled my eyes remembering my family, me, mom, Carl and dad, we were happy most of the time but I'd do anything just to see my dad again, to see all my family together.

"Are you okay?" Shane asked resting his arm across my shoulder. I nodded looking towards Carl and mom, she was crouched down in front of him, he started to cry, so did I. Shane looked at me and then at them, he knew it was hard and he did feel horrible for us.

"How'd y'all get out of there anyway?" Shane asked with his arm tightened around my shoulder.

"New Guy" Glenn announced.

"New guy?" I questioned.

"Yeah, some crazy vato just got into town" Moarles informed, "Hey, helicopter boy, come say hello!" he shouted, "Guy's a cop, like you." He told Shane.

The van door opened and slammed shut, my head spun round, the guy stumbled back surprised, his mouth wide open, his eyes tearful. It was him, my dad. We were stunned, but he was dead.

I ran to him, so did Carl and mom. I ran and slammed into him, "Dad! Dad!" Carl shouted. He hugged me and Carl tight. Mom joined us, both me and dad now crying. I looked up to Shane, his eyes filled with tears but smiling, he was happy. He collapsed to the floor with us, I didn't want to let go of him. After a long cuddle we got dad some food and water. It was so weird saying dad. We caught up on our lives, our birthdays.

After the long day we all sat beside the campfire, I was sat in between my dad's legs leaning on him while Carl and Mom did the same, while Shane who was across from us stared into my eyes. Did he really think dad was dead, or did he give up? But I couldn't think about Shane like that, he had saved and set up a safe camp.

"Disoriented. That's what comes closest. Disoriented, fear, confusion, and all those things" he explained. I had stopped listening for a while until Carl spoke.

"Mom said you died" he said looking into dad's eyes, he nodded slightly.

"She had every reason to believe that. Don't you ever doubt it" he replied. Shane looked away probably feeling guilty; he was the one who said he didn't make it. More things were said.

The rest of a night was a blur, there was one problem with Ed but it was sorted. We got back to the tent; I had been sharing with my mum for the time we had been staying here. "I'll ask Shane if I can share his tent tonight and we'll sort it out tomorrow." I smiled kissing my dad and mum on the cheek, they nodded. I grabbed my bag of clothes and things then headed to his tent.

I unzipped it and put my stuff in, Shane wasn't there and went to find him. He was the only one sat by the Fire and I joined him, "Can I stop with you tonight there's no room in the tent?" I asked, he just nodded. He wasn't really himself right now. I needed to ask an important question, I really did need to.

"Did you know he was alive?" I asked quietly. He shook his head.

"Madison you've got to believe me, I tried but he was dead. I swear" He answered, I looked in his eyes, I did believe him. I put my hand into his. When he was serious Shane always used my full name, normally he called me Maddy or if he wanted my attention he'd call me Madison.

"Shane, I love you and nothing can change that"

"I love you too"

He got to his feet and put his hand out, I took it and he helped me to my feet. We walked into the tent, in his there was only one cot so we'd have to sleep together. We both didn't have any problems with that, we liked being close.

He pulled his spare sleeping bag out and he stripped into his boxers, and I dressed into a long shirt, I slept in it every night, it used to be one of my dad's old police shirts. We lay side by side. "Thank you for everything, for saving us, keeping us safe." I whispered as everybody would be in bed.

"I should really thank you, if it wasn't for you I probably couldn't keep going." He replied, pulling me closer, he put his arm around me while my head leant on his bare chest.

"Night Madison" he continued slowly closing his eyes.

"Night Shane." I whispered me to closing my eyes, it had been a tiring day and I drifted off to sleep.