Hey guys, been a while! Its been a crazy year, I bought my first house in April, got a German Shepherd Puppy shortly after, his name is Apollo. He's almost 9 months old now, let me tell you. He is a hand full. You might see him as well as my dutch shepherd mix, Athena in the story. That might be a while though. I has plans. (if you want to see them, PM me got some great Christmas pictures) Anyway, sorry for making you guys wait so long, thank you for the support. Happy Holidays everyone!

Chapter 18:

Watching the reunion brought a smile to her face, Kagome was so glad that she was able to bring back a smile on Carol's face. The older woman was so sweet and she deserved any kind of happiness she could get in these hard times. Both mother and daughter had tears of joy rolling down their faces.

Her smile quickly turned into a frown when she noticed the looks she was getting from Shane and Andrea. It quickly turned into a smug grin when she noticed the disbelief in their eyes.

Served them right, she knew from the start that they didn't have much hope in Sophia being found. She was tempted to make a face at both of them as they walked away.

A motion to her right caught her attention and she looked over to see Greg and Wade get out of the Rav. both men looked at her, however, Greg quickly adverted his gaze and went about removing some of the items they found out of the Rav and placing them around their camp.

Her mood dampened again at his reaction, remembering why he was avoiding her.

It was Sophia!

Not wanting to startle the young girl, Kagome told Remy to sit, and moved slowly to her. She could tell that she was crying, but she sensed something... off.

Getting closer, she could hear the girls soft crying.

Crouching down to seem less threatening. She called quietly. "Sophia?"

Sniffling, Sophia looked up and Kagome gasped.

"Oh no..."

Sophia had been bitten.

Hearing the intakes of breath from behind her, Kagome looked back to see the looks on Wade and Greg's faces. They had noticed her bite too.

Upon seeing the three unknown adults, Sophia's crying intensified. "Where is my mommy?" She hiccuped and stumbled towards them.

Catching the girl as she fell in her arms, Kagome looked at Wade and Greg quickly before looking back down at the wound on Sophia's neck. It looked fresh. The blood that was oozing out of it was still a bright red and the wound itself , while angry looking, didn't have any crusted blood on it yet. Which meant that the wound was fresh.

Rubbing the girl on her back, Kagome took a deep calming breath. "Sophia? How long ago were you bitten?" She asked, glancing at Greg quickly, before looking back at Sophia and feeling her forehead.

She didn't have a fever yet.

Hiccuping, Sophia looked up to the older woman and rubbed her eyes. "A few m-minutes ago. I didn't want anymore to come, s-so I didn't scream even though it h-hurt really bad." She hiccuped.

Kagome's eyes widened, that was actually good.

Looking back towards Greg and Wade, she noticed Wade glance at Greg, then back towards her and nodded. Catching Greg's look, she gave him an apologetic smile. "I know you'll have questions for me, I'm sorry."

Ignoring his confused look, she then focused back on Sophia and placed her hand on the bite. Concentrating, she felt her powers come to the surface, at Greg's startling gasp, she knew that he could see her hand glowing blue as a sign of her powers.

"What in God's name..." He gasped.

He flinched when Wade placed his hand on his shoulder. Looking at the other male, his blue eyes met Wade's calm green eyes. "Have faith in her." He whispered.

Holding back a gasp, he watched as the blood oozing out of the wound of the now unconscious girl slowed to a thin trickle, then nothing. Afterwards, he was amazed to watch as the wound slowly closed while glowing with that same soft blue light.

How was she doing it!?

Looking at Wade out of the corner of his eyes, he noted that the other male looked completely calm (as usual), and not surprised at all by the show Kagome was giving them. The man was even gently petting Remy, probably out of habit.

Turning back to watch Kagome, he saw that the wound was almost completely closed, then, it looked as if there wasn't a bite there to begin with.

He stayed still as Wade walked forward to take Sophia from Kagome. He was completely transfixed on the fading blue light from Kagome's hands. He just couldn't...

"W-what was that?"

Standing up, Kagome met his gaze. Giving him a nervous smile, she wrapped her arms around her waist in a effort for comfort herself.

"That... was my powers. I'm a priestess."

He blinked. Priestess? Powers? "How?"

She answered calmly. "I was born with them. It is believed that my powers are a gift from the Gods."

Frowning, Greg shook his head. "There is only one God, Kagome..." There was no way there was more than one.

Sighing softly to herself, Kagome looked away. She knew this was going to happen, she really didn't want to make him doubt his beliefs. He was welcome to believe in what he wanted. "You can believe that Greg, however I believe that there are more than one." She tried to explain.

Glaring at her, Greg shook his head. "No, there has only ever been one God. There can't be more than one." He replied.

She could feel a tick forming on her head. Taking a quick glance at Wade to see he was placing Sophia into the Rav. She looked back at Greg. "Look Gregory, I want you to keep believing that. I don't want you to doubt yourself or what you believe in." She tried again.

Snorting, Gregory sneered slightly. "I bet you're using some kind of witchcraft." That had to be it, there was no other explaining it.

Rearing back as if she was struck, Kagome glared at him. "Excuse me? I'm using no witchcraft. I'm trying to be really considerate of your beliefs. You can at least do the same." She couldn't believe he said that.

"No, there is no other explaining it, you must of made some deal with the Devil to have those powers." He shot back.

Low blow, that was a real low blow.

Losing all patience, Kagome could feel a growl in her throat. "Gregory, I've met some of the Gods I believe in, I've fought along with and against them. I've even freed one from her imprisonment. Tell me..." She looked right into his blue eyes, that were a few shades light than hers. "...Have you met your God? I know you've been praying too him. We all hear you at night. Asking for forgiveness, strength to get through this nightmare we live in, and wonder why this is happening. Don't you think that your God would've done something by now to fix this problem?"

She paused to let him process what she had said so far. He seemed to be stunned.

Taking a deep breath, she continued."Look, I'm not saying this to be mean, or make you doubt yourself. Like I said, keep believing in what you want to. I will not think any less of you for it. I just ask that you give me the same courtesy. Think about what I've said and once you're ready. I will answer all your questions."

By the time she was finished, he was looking away in shame.

She was about to speak again when he looked back up and met her eyes. "When did Wade find out?" He asked quietly.

Glancing at Wade, who had made his way back to them after putting Sophia and Remy into the Rav. She decided to let him answer.

"She got drunk and spilled her secret to me on accident. It wasn't until later that we found out that she could heal bites and any effects you get once bitten. I've obviously not changed into a walker and this was over a month ago when this happened." He explained.

Gasping, Greg looked at Wade's arm, and saw no sign of a bite. Looking back at Kagome, he noticed that she still looked upset though not near as much as before.

"Is this true?"

At her nod, he lost his balance and slid down the car behind him to the ground.

It was a miracle. If she could prevent someone from turning into a walker hours after they were bit... she was invaluable...

Kagome sighed and looking at her feet. "It has to be within fifteen minutes of them being bit though." She explained.

Wait, fifteen minutes?

"How do yo-"

"Scott."

Oh.

"Hold on, you tried to heal Scott?"

She nodded. "Yes, remember that he got bit protecting Chouko? I tried to heal him when no one was around about an hour after it happened. He was already getting a fever, it was too late, once you start getting hit with the fever, I'm afraid I can not revert the process..." Rubbing a tear from her eye, Kagome tried to not cry. "I couldn't save him..."

Wade placed a hand on her shoulder."You did all you could to try and save him." Giving her shoulder a small squeeze, he looked back at Greg. "Do not think ill of her because she doesn't share the same beliefs. In the end, we're all human."

After that, Gregory had nodded and made some minor fixes on the new Jeep while Wade and Kagome loaded up both vehicles with Water and supplies found in the surrounding vehicles.

"He hasn't looked me in the eye since though..." She whispered to herself.

"He'll come around."

Surprised, Kagome looked to her left to see Daryl looking in the direction Wade and Greg were.

She hadn't even noticed him walking towards her. "Sorry?"

Turning his midnight blue's to her, he motioned towards the males of her group. "Greg, its pretty apparent that he found out about your powers." He explained. "He cares about you a lot. So he'll come around eventually."

Giving Daryl a small smile, she looked back towards where Greg was. Despite only knowing him for a few months, she did see him as a bit of an obnoxious brother. "Like someone else I know..." He really reminded her of InuYasha.

"You're probably right Daryl. Its best if I give him his space for now."

Nodding, Daryl turned back towards the tents and motioned towards the one Carol and Sophia were. "Thank you for finding her. It means a lot to us all."

Following his gaze, she smiled more. "Its what I do. If I can help someone, I will."

*/*/*/*

Alright everyone, last update of the year probably. Hope you enjoyed this more serious chapter. Things are going to be getting crazy here soon. I'll let you know within the next few chapters if Kagome is going to be with just Daryl or Wade and Daryl. You guys seem to be for both evenly.

Please Review and have a good rest of the year!