Wishes for Family

The door opens.

"Zo?"

She doesn't respond.

Ma sighs, stepping in. Zoey hears her moving around, cleaning the little bit of mess from the last time she tried. "You didn't eat again," Ma says softly, sadly. A soft tink and then another sigh.

The door closes.

Zoey hasn't moved from her bed in days. Her stomach hurts from lack of food but every time she even thinks about eating, she gets nauseated. She doesn't want to eat. She doesn't want to move from this bed. She just wants to lay here, forever.

She hasn't had the energy to do anything. Once she heard the news, she just… gave up. How can Harry escape the military? The helicopter crashed the last time… even if it did this time… Zoey knows miracles only happen once.

Harry is gone.

Just thinking about it makes her tear up and her chest hurt. She won't ever see or hear him ever again. She won't feel his hugs or his comfort. And even though she's got her adoptive parents… she feels so alone.

The door opens again.

"Get up," Dad's firm voice tells her, the blanket being ripped from her body.

"Dad!" Zoey yelps, shivering from the abrupt cold and sitting up. She looks up at him miserably and moans, "Go away."

"No," Dad denies, bunching the blanket up and throwing it into the corner. "I said get up."

Zoey scoffs, flopping back on the bed, "Why bother?"

"You're not wallowing any longer, Zoey. Get your teenage ass out of that bed before I toss a bucket of water on you."

"Yeah, okay," Zoey rolls her eyes, not bothering to sit back up.

Dad shrugs and half steps out. Zoey is entirely unprepared for the surge of water that splashes over her. She, and her bed, are instantly soaked. Zoey gasps and freezes, turning disbelieving eyes on her Dad.

"I warned you. It's not my fault you didn't believe me," Dad says, no hint of regret on his face. "Get up and get in the shower."

Cowed, Zoey whips her arms free of excess water and nods. She slides off the soaked bed and drips all the way to the bathroom with her head low.

"Don't you think that was a little harsh?"

"Harry is missing, not dead."

"Well, Mister Obvious, you can haul that mattress to the roof to dry."

Zoey feels a little vindicated as she closes the door behind her.

She has to admit though, she feels much better leaving the bathroom than she had going in. Freshly dressed, she quietly pads into the kitchen, finding her parents talking excitedly. Ma glances at her and then Dad is turning, "Come on, kiddo. Get your shit on, we're heading out."

Zoey goes to her shoes, "Where are we going?"

"Out. Come on, let's go! We got someplace to be!"

Zoey looks at Ma but she just smiles and shrugs. Finding no help there, Zoey sighs and pulls her shoes on. Dad hands her her jacket and then they are on their way down. Her concern grows when he stops to grab Annie.

"Dad, what's going on?" Zoey asks, pausing as she takes in the three trucks and ten men and women standing around.

Dad glances over his shoulder, "Keep up. I'll explain on the way."

Questions buzz under her skin. Curiosity has her jogging to catch up. She hesitates at the truck, uncertain and anxious. She hasn't been in one since-but she squares her shoulders and gets in. She buckles up automatically, frowning at her Dad when he doesn't. When he starts the truck up, Zoey yelps, "Wait!"

Dad slams the brakes and looks at her, "What?"

Zoey shrinks back and says meekly, "Seatbelt."

Dad hesitates and then sighs, moving to put the belt on. Zoey relaxes when she hears the click and when Dad looks at her with raised hands, she nods.

"Good," He says, pulling out of Sanctuary. The two other trucks follow behind. Zoey clenches her pants, trying to control her breathing.

When Dad turns onto the road, Zoey can't keep quiet anymore, "Dad, will you tell me what's going on? Where are we going?"

Dad glances at her, "A bike with two riders was spotted in the area this morning."

Zoey's mind races, fear momentarily forgotten, "You mean-?"

"I suspect it's our old friends," Dad says meaningfully. "If it is, I'm getting some answers. I figured you'd want some of your own."

Zoey's heart starts racing. Dad had never found them before and the thought of getting some real, concrete answers is making her itchy in anticipation.

"If we do find them, this is what you are going to do, okay? You listening?"

"Yeah, Dad."

"We're going to run them down and surround them. You will stay in the truck until I say so."

"But you won't question them without me, will you?"

Dad doesn't answer for a long moment, "If I need to, I will. Ah!" She snaps her mouth shut. "No arguing. I'm the boss here. Get me?"

Zoey slumps back in her seat, "Yes, sir."

Dad heaves a sigh, "Don't start. I'm bringing you with me because I think you need this but don't confuse things. If they need a little persuading, I don't want you watching. That's why I brought Annie Rection with."

Zoey rolls her eyes at the frankly stupid name, "Why do you call it that?"

"To quote a beautiful girl of mine; 'cause I can."

Zoey can't help the grin, "Okay, Dad."

He sends her a quick grin but sobers, "Understand?"

"I'm not a kid," Zoey tells him seriously, crossing her arms and pouting.

Dad scoffs, "Stop acting like one, then."

Zoey straightens and moodily stares out the window.

"Do you understand, Zoey?"

"Yes? Okay?" Zoey bursts out, flopping her arms out. "I get it. Jeez."

Dad looks like he's going to say something but decides not to. He just keeps driving. It's not a long drive at all, maybe another five minutes. The damaged city comes into view, stagnant in death even now. Zoey eyes the skyline with growing hope.

She needs some answers.

The walkie flares to life, "Negan, come in."

Dad grabs the walkie and speaks into it, "Negan here."

"Target spotted near the Krispy Kreme, heading east."

Dad curses and turns hard, tires screeching on the road. Zoey yelps as she's thrown into the door from the abrupt turn, fear returning with a vengeance. "Stay on them. Update me."

"They just turned north on Medi-Center Drive."

Dad drops the walkie, pressing down on the gas and white knuckling the steering wheel. Zoey feels her heart trying to thud out of her chest, growing more and more anxious at the speed they are going. Memories threaten to burst open but Zoey pushes it back, not now!

"We're on them!" Dad suddenly grins, speeding up more. Zoey sees the bike and riders far ahead of them, the distance being gobbled up by the trucks. The hooded figure on the back looks over their shoulder and pats the driver's side. The bike's roar is heard even in the truck and the driver does a short wheelie before turning, nearly touching the ground, into a side road. Dad curses, stepping on the break and turning after them, tossing Zoey first forward and then into him. "Sorry, Zo! Hang on!"

Zoey grabs the handle above her with a tight, tight grip. She can only nod, her heart threatening to leap right from her chest.

Dad speeds up on the straightaway, not noticing her dilemma. The driver is good, though, just managing to stay ahead and taking a hard turn onto another street. Dad turns after, grasping at the walkie, "Go around! Cut him off!"

Zoey turns, seeing the other two trucks turning down a different street.

"Sit straight!" Dad snaps and Zoey whips back around, pressing into the seat. She grabs the handle again. She can barely breathe through the sharp terror overwhelming her.

The driver takes another hard turn into an alley, forcing them to stop harshly. Dad barks into the walkie, "In the first alley! Cut them off!" He snaps his seatbelt off and opens his door, "Stay here!"

He slams the door shut before she can respond. She shakily unlatches her own seatbelt, trembling so hard she has to press twice. She climbs over the seat and watches through the driver's side window. Dad walks confidently down the alley towards the now trapped bikers. He takes out Annie and holds it in both hands. She hears him talking but can't make out the words.

Then, something weird happens. Dad drops his sledgehammer and… hugs someone? Zoey is so confused. Her nose fogs up the window as she stares out intently, trying to make out what's happening. Dad pulls back and half turns, waving at her.

Zoey opens the door and she hears Dad call out, "Zo! Come here!"

"Zo's here?"

Zoey falls out of the truck, not expecting to hear that voice, "Harry?"

The hooded figure they were chasing peeks around Dad, hood now down. Short, black hair and smooth face. Wide green eyes. Though he looks much different, Zoey has no problem recognizing him. Elation sweeps through her.

"Harry!!" Zoey screams, joy leaping in her chest.

At the exact same time, they bolt towards each other. Harry shoves Dad out of the way and Zoey opens her arms. They collide, hard and painful, landing on the ground harshly. Zoey cries, burying her face in his shoulder, feeling him do the same.

"Zo, Zo, Zo, Zo…" Harry chants into her neck, hand coming up to the back of her head. Fingers dig into her braided hair, firm but not painful. She squeezes him as hard as she possibly can, feeling him to the same. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," Zoey sobs into his shoulder, muffled. "You can't leave me anymore."

"I'll try my best, Zo," Harry promises.

Zoey doesn't want to let go. But they can't stay here. Even with Harry, they shouldn't test their luck in the city any more than they need to. However, every time she tries to pull away, she just ends up pulling him back.

"Pup, we need to go."

Harry pulls back a bit, glancing up over his shoulder. Zoey peeks up as well. The man from Atlanta, the one that had beaten Harry into submission, who had touched him weirdly and spoke about him so callously, stands there. He's going to take Harry! Zoey screams, bolting up and trying to attack him, "You won't have Harry!"

Harry catches her around her legs before she can get far and pulls her down into his lap forcefully. He's trying to say something to her but all she can hear is the man's mocking laugh and grating voice in her ears. She tries to climb over Harry, to defend him, anything but then Dad is in her face, shocking her out of her struggling.

"Zoey," Dad barks, making her startle. "Calm down. Harry is trying to talk to you."

"But Dad-! It's him! From Atlanta!"

"Zoey!" Harry snaps. "Listen!" Zoey stops, Harry's hand on her head forcing her to look at him, "It's okay. That's Sirius, he's my Godfather. He's not going to hurt either of us."

Confused, Zoey glances at the man, "But…"

Sirius smiles at her sadly and crouches down to her level. It makes him far less scary, "Hey, I'm sorry for our first meeting. I know I was…" He looks down at his hands. "Not very nice. Will you forgive me?" He peeks back up at her, his smile now hesitant.

Zoey slowly relaxes, glancing between Harry, Dad and the man - Sirius. At Harry's small nod, she settles down, "Um… I guess?"

Sirius' smile grows, his whole face transforming, "Thank you, Zoey."

"Okay, now that that's fucking settled, let's get the fuck out of here," Dad orders firmly. "Harry, you riding with us?"

"Yes, he is," Zoey nods, standing and tugging on Harry's arm. His wrist and arm are far smaller than she remembers. "Come on."

"There's Miss Bossy," Harry grins in fond amusement, making her chest warm. He obligingly lets her tug him to his feet and then he turns to Sirius, "You'll follow?"

Sirius nods, "You bet, Pup."

"Great!" Dad claps as he turns and shouts, "Move out!" He bends to grab Annie.

Zoey takes Harry's hand and leads him to the truck. Only, he stops and pulls her back. "Wait, he brought you in a bloody truck?!"

Zoey's hand tightens on Harry's from the thought of having to go back in the truck. Her heart, just having calmed down, begins to pick back up. He turns and snarls, "Negan, you dumb ponce! What the hell are you thinking?!"

The Saviors shift uneasily; no one insulted their leader. Zoey's not worried, Dad is more afraid of Harry than Harry is of him. Dad spreads his hands in confusion, "What?"

Harry points to the truck, "You fucking brought my sister in a fucking truck! What the fuck?" Zoey stares at Harry in confused awe; he rarely swore. He must be so mad. "I know she told you what happened!"

Understanding slowly crawls over Dad’s face and he looks at Zoey with wet eyes, "Oh, my girl. I-I completely forgot. I'm so sorry, Zo." Dad looks so heartbroken over it.

"It-it was worth it," Zoey replies, hugging Harry's arm.

"We're going to be talking when we get there," Harry promises darkly, making Dad gulp nervously. Zoey doesn't know what to feel. Harry turns to her, "Hey, can you trust me?"

Zoey eyes him warily; why is he asking? "Of course I do."

Harry smiles, looking so relieved, "This might be a bit hard for you but Sirius," he turns his head to look at his Godfather. And wow, isn't that weird? Finding his Godfather, here? How did they not recognize each other? Sirius, now sitting on the bike, perks up. "I trust him with my life, okay? You can ride on the bike with him, you saw how good he is, hm?"

Zoey nods slowly, she did notice, even through her fear.

"Wait just a minute-" Dad tries to interrupt.

Harry whips his head up and Dad instantly turns on his heel, "Okay, nevermind. I'll wait for you in the truck."

Despite herself, Zoey giggles. Only Ma had the power to cow Dad like that. Harry looks back at her, smiling fondly, "Anyway, before we were so rudely interrupted-" she giggles some more. "-Sirius will never let anything bad happen to you, okay? Can you trust me when I say that?"

Sobering, Zoey glances at Sirius again. He gives a small grin and wink, waving cheekily. She gives him a small smile, barely seeing the cruel man she met in Atlanta. She looks back up at Harry and nods, "Okay."

Harry smiles proudly, "Thank you, Zo. I'll see you as soon as we get there, okay?"

Fresh anxiety racks up but she pushes it down, knowing she definitely doesn't want to go back into the truck. She nods again and hugs him tightly. Harry presses a kiss to her head.

Finally, she pulls away and sniffs, giving Harry a shaky smile. Then she walks over to Sirius, who smiles mischievously, "Your chariot awaits, your Majesty!" Zoey shakes her head but smiles, climbing on behind him. "Hold on, okay? Around my waist, if you please. Tight until you're comfortable, okay?"

"Okay," Zoey replies, her heart now thudding in excitement. She's never ridden a motorbike before. She wraps her arms around him firmly and sends Harry an excited grin. He's slowly walking backwards, grinning back at her with both thumbs up.

Sirius starts the engine and revs it. Zoey feels the vibrations throughout her entire body. She grins, elated, squealing and laughing as the bike jerks forward a bit. Then, they start going slowly. The rumble of the bike is loud, echoing off the walls of the alley. Up ahead, Harry is climbing into the truck and it backs out of the way.

As Sirius steers out of the alley, Zoey sees the truck finish turning around and then drive back up the street at a more sedate pace. Sirius revs the engine again, bursting forward with a roar. Zoey yelps again, squealing with laughter from the invigorating whoop in her stomach.

The wind picks at her hair, threatening to undo the quick braid she put in. Slowly, she opens her eyes - when did she close them? - and is instantly riveted to the view of the city from the back of a bike. The paralyzing fear she felt in the truck is entirely absent, wonder and awe taking its place. She relaxes and sits back a bit, enjoying the ride.

All too soon, it's over. Sirius steers through the fence, pulling up next to the truck. Ma is hugging Harry tightly and as the bike engine silences, Zoey can hear her crying. Harry is clinging to her, his face hidden in her shoulder, arms tight.

Zoey climbs off quietly, not wanting to interrupt them. She looks at Sirius and grins, "That was fun!"

Sirius huffs a laugh, "Yeah? How'd you like it?

Zoey examines the motorbike more thoroughly, "Can we go again some time?"

"By that response, you loved it," Sirius grins at her cheekily. "We sure can, Zoey."

It's strangely refreshing to not have to correct someone on shortening her name. Did Harry tell him about her? He must really trust Sirius if so. By now, the cruel man is barely a memory; Sirius' entire countenance is the polar opposite. Zoey can barely even believe that both are the same person.

"How come you and Harry didn't recognise each other?" Zoey asks bluntly.

Sirius pauses, glancing at Harry, "Would you believe me when I say I had amnesia?"

Zoey crosses her arms, "Does that make you an asshole at the same time?"

"Ah…" Sirius' sits back on the bike and rests his hands in his lap. "It can, I guess. If I don't remember what makes me a good person, how can I be one?"

Zoey turns that over in her mind. She wouldn't know one way or another but what he says makes sense. She slowly backs down, "You… have a point."

"I am sorry," Sirius says again, looking contrite. "Even if I didn't know Harry, I'm not normally like that. I would never have done any of that to anyone who doesn't deserve it."

"How did you lose your memory?" Zoey asks, now curious.

Sirius shrugs, "That I can't remember. I just remember waking up in some facility."

Zoey draws closer, "Facility?"

He nods, gaze far away as he remembers, "Yeah, military-like. Not a very kind place, let me tell you."

"Why were you there?"

"If I ever figure that out, I'll let you know."

Drats. She was hoping to hear more.

"Zo," Harry greets, voice sounding rough. She looks up at him and in the bright daylight, she sees a thick, pronounced band of raised skin around his neck, just above a bandana tied around it. The lines are nearly perfect and Zoey wonders what caused it. He's also… incredibly thin, almost stick like. The muscle mass he carried around so easily is long gone. Harry just smiles at her, his arm snaking over her shoulders, "You grew. Not so tiny anymore, hm?"

Zoey steps back in realization. Harry didn't shrink, so she must have grown and she looks herself over in surprise, "I did!"

Sirius laughs, joined by Dad and Ma. Harry just grins fondly, his hand whipping up to mess with her hair before she can react. It doesn't stop her from ducking away and back, "Hey!"

Harry laughs, making her pause in delight. She hasn't heard his laugh in forever.

"Alright," Dad interjects before more teasing can take place. "Let's move this upstairs."

Zoey is quick to grab Harry's hand, holding firmly. Harry just transfers his arm back over her shoulders, where she's free to hug it as much as she wants. Beaming, Zoey pulls Harry along, "You're going to love this place, Harry!"

"I'm sure," Harry replies fondly.

—

Zoey helps Ma in the kitchen, a new pop to her step that has been absent for a while. Ma keeps sending her fond glances and all Zoey can do is grin. Harry is finally home!

"Feeling better?" Ma asks in a knowing tone.

Zoey nods vigorously, "Mhmm!"

Ma's hand on her arm has her pausing, "Are you actually?"

Taken aback a bit, Zoey nods again, this time in confusion, "Yeah, Ma. I'm fine."

Ma's eyes rove over her face, "Even with the truck incident?"

Zoey relaxes, knowing where her Ma is coming from now, "Dad already said sorry and…"

"And?"

Zoey shrugs, going back to chopping, "Well, it was worth it."

"Doesn't mean that it's okay," Ma reminds her gently. Zoey pauses again and looks at her. "I know it must have been very hard for you. I'm just making sure you are really okay and not just… you know, bottling it up." Ma gives her a wink and a small smile.

Zoey gives one back, feeling more warmth for the older woman, "I'll… let you know, okay?"

Ma hums and goes back to stirring, the matter dropped for now. Zoey returns to chopping, slower this time as she thinks. Yes, it was worth every single moment because Harry was at the end. But at the time? Her heart pounds a little harder at remembering the harsh turns and being thrown around. Dad hadn't caught on at all, too focused on chasing them down than to spare a thought to his daughter. Zoey can tell he's genuinely remorseful, so she's not upset about it anymore.

A sharp sting has her hissing, her finger in her mouth before she even processes what happened. Ma jerks her head up, concern over her brows, "Zo? Did you cut yourself?"

Zoey takes her finger out, examining it. Blood wells up immediately from the large cut, dripping off. "Yeah."

Ma is quick to pull her hand over the sink to rinse the blood away. Zoey hisses at the pain erupting from the cleansing. Ma tuts, "It's not bad. Harry won't have any issue healing it up."

"Healing what?"

Zoey glances over her shoulder but Ma remains focused on her hand, "Hey, Harry. I cut myself."

Harry, freshly showered and dressed in clean clothes, looks far more pale than Zoey remembers. The paleness, the thinness, the ring around his neck… Zoey can't help but think Harry had it rough. And… she tilts her head as he approaches, he hasn't mumbled once.

Zoey is… concerned is putting it lightly. She's worried. What happened to Harry for him to be like this? Not that she isn't grateful - God, she's so grateful - but…

"Let me see," Harry says softly.

Ma relinquishes her hand and Zoey proffers it to Harry. Then-

Right before her shocked eyes, without Harry even touching, the large cut on her finger mends itself together. Like an invisible thread and needle, the damaged flesh knits back into unmarred, healthy skin.

"Oh my-" Ma whispers in amazement, her hands snapping up to her face.

Harry flinches back; Zoey watches every moment and her heart stutters in her chest. Harry never- he never flinched from anybody. Harry steps back-he never retreats-and his arms come up, as if to defend himself. Then he freezes, face caught in a telling cringe. Zoey's heart breaks from the sight of Harry, her big brother, her rock, expecting someone to hurt him.

Ma utters a hurt sound as Zoey hesitantly steps forward, "Harry?"

She watches him pull himself together visibly and wonders… where was Harry, all these months? "I'm-... I'm fine."

"That doesn't look-" Ma tries to say but Harry swipes his hand through the air dismissively, "I said I'm fine. Where's Negan?"

Ma thins her lips, "He had to go organize some stuff with Sirius. He said he'll be back within the hour-Harry, are you sure-"

Harry turns away, "I'm fine. Drop it."

Zoey looks at Ma, receiving a helpless one in return. Neither of them know how to reach Harry… neither of them thought they would need to. Zoey can almost touch the wall Harry built up around himself and wonders if he even knows how to dismantle it. She wants to try… because Harry has done so much for her but she doesn't know how. How can she help her brother? What can she do?

Ma straightens and turns, hurrying back to the stove. Zoey vaguely remembers they were just cooking and the smell of something nearly burning finally registers.

Zoey lifts her hand and examines her previously cut finger. The skin is still a smidge bloody but the wound is gone, like it had never been there. She remembers he needed to put his hand on the wound to heal it and wish… but this time he didn't even raise his hand. His powers obviously grew… but she dreads to think of how. She knows the best way to get better at anything is with practice… did Harry… did he… was he…

She couldn't even think about it. It was too horrible to contemplate.

Instead, Zoey steels her spine and looks upon Harry with new eyes. The ring around his neck is very telling and Zoey vows, right then and there, that her brother will never go through whatever happened to him again. She's stronger now, faster. She'll protect him from now on.

They did make a deal. Zoey intends to keep her side of it.

She steps up to Harry, ignoring his flinch to wrap her arms around his middle. Her face is smack dab in his neck and she wastes no time burying into his skin, soaking in his comfort even though he's not offering it. Slowly, almost painfully slowly, Harry wraps his own arms around her, relaxing in increments. She feels his heartbeat through his skin and feels it through her chest, making her squeeze tighter.

Regardless of how or why, he's here. Zoey can work on everything else.

"It's okay, Harry," Zoey whispers into his skin, only for him to hear. "Remember our deal?"

Harry's arms tighten minutely, seemingly not able to reply at the moment.

It doesn't deter Zoey, "I'm much stronger now. I'll protect you, okay?"

Harry's breath hitches. A hand comes up to her head and rests there, his other arm shifting a little. The fingers lightly scrape into her hair and his breathing shutters a little. Zoey surfaces to glance at Ma, who has been discreetly watching them, "I'm gonna take Harry to the roof." Ma nods just as Zoey turns back to Harry, "Hey, come on."

Somehow, they make it out the door and up to the roof without breaking apart. In the bright, warm sunlight and gentle wind, the oppressive air of the house is forgotten. Zoey and Harry resume their hug sitting down, now free of an audience. She cuddles into Harry's warmth, soaking in his presence after months and months apart. She can't even put into words how relieved she is that he's here.

"What happened?" Zoey asks after a while.

Harry's arms tighten, keeping her from pulling back to look at him. He starts trembling a little, the vibration going right into Zoey, "I'm not… going into detail. I'm… not ready to… talk about it, yet."

Zoey shifts so she's more comfortable and lays her head on his shoulder, "Okay."

Harry inhales shakily and starts. Zoey listens carefully as he recounts that day, from his perspective. Running away, being chased down, shot and captured. Waking up, not knowing where he is. The strange woman and the ambush. Being put into a vehicle with two other teenagers and taken out of the city. While Zoey had her own share of troubles, the tale Harry is telling her would feel tall indeed, if it weren't him telling it. She knows every word is true.

Harry stops talking, shaking even harder. Zoey waits patiently as he gathers his thoughts. Then, she listens with a steadily sinking heart as he describes the place and the events that followed. What happened to the men. Horror rippling through her at the callous actions of one woman and her gut clenching at the thought of her brother being at the woman's mercy for… Zoey isn't sure she wants to know. The ring of raised skin stands out even more starkly.

Harry doesn't continue, leaving her imagination to sprout horrible realities. She's sure whatever she manages to think up pale to what Harry went through. Her resolution to protect him only flares up and gets stronger. Zoey tightens her hold, promising Harry silently that she'll keep him safe.

"Zoey."

She rouses from her thoughts with a, "Hm?"

"I have to tell you something."

Zoey pulls away, enough to look Harry in the face, "What's wrong?"

He's not looking at her. His eyes are downcast and he's biting his lip in thought. Her concern grows as she ventures, "Harry?"

He glances up, "Sirius… he remembers his-... time… with the military. We were talking about the community he… served."

"Community?" Zoey asks, tilting her head.

Harry nods, "More like empire. He says they live like nothing happened. They have schools and theatres and people go to work and never worry about the outside world."

Such a place exists?

Zoey can barely comprehend it. A large area, shelter, food, education, entertainment, all in one community. A safe zone. It seems… implausible that anyone can live life like that with what wanders the country. The life of before seems… distant, even though she knows it hasn't even been a year yet.

"He told me things…" Harry trails off, corners of his mouth pulled down. "About you."

Dread forms a pit in her stomach, "Me?"

Harry nods, once and decisive, picking his head up to look her right in the eyes, "Zoey, I'm telling you this because you deserve to know, okay? Don't share it with anyone, alright?"

What could Harry possibly have to tell her? She wonders if any of her relatives are there and making a ruckus. Or maybe Zia pissed someone off before she arrived at Sanctuary. Zoey has no idea what Harry could possibly have to tell her.

What does this place have to do with her?

"Zoey, remember when we first met?"

"Yeah?"

Harry takes her hand and pushes her sleeve up, revealing her bite scar. She keeps it out of sight for safety but something about the action niggles at her mind, "Remember when I wished your arm wouldn't get infected?" His thumb traces the curve of the scar.

Zoey wordlessly nods, swallowing the unease rising into her throat.

"My magic didn't react."

Completely taken aback and now utterly confused, Zoey blurts out, "What?"

Harry lifts his head and pins her in place with his gaze, "Zoey, my magic didn't react to the wish because it didn't need to."

"But I was bit," Zoey blabs, not understanding. "Of course I-"

Harry squeezes her arm a bit firmly, cutting her off, "Zoey, your blood holds the antibodies that fights off whatever infected the biters. You… you are the cure."

Shock zaps through her, numbing her ability to think, "What?" She pulls her arm back to her body, cradling the scar to her stomach. What is he talking about?

"I've been wondering how my abilities can possibly know how to heal or vaccinate against something no one else knows how to cure," Harry continues, almost like he's talking to himself. What? She can't make sense of what he's saying. "Zo, my healing magic learned how to cure people from you."

She opens her mouth but nothing comes out. She's having a hard time comprehending what he's saying to her.

"Sirius told me that the people he used to work for found your medical information and some blood samples on ice from the accident," she vaguely remembers needles in her arm, drawing blood out. "They actually synthesized a vaccine with it."

"That's why they came after us," Zoey whispers to herself.

"Well, you," Harry corrects. "I was familiar to Sirius-" Zoey abruptly remembers; He looks so familiar. I can’t put my finger on it. "-so that's why they took me, too. If he hadn't-" Harry cuts off and grimaces, "Well, I'd be dead. They didn't have use for someone protecting their target."

So, if she's understanding him right… Sirius actually saved Harry back at Atlanta, inadvertently and probably completely unintended. Zoey shudders when she thinks of where she could be right now.

"Wait," Zoey says, something occurring to her. "If they have a vaccine, why do they still need me?"

"They can't make more with what they have. They need you, so they can farm your blood and manufacture the cure in mass quantities," Harry's face turns sombre and he reaches his hand out. Zoey barely even thinks before she's placing her hand in his. He grasps her hand in both of his, "Zo, I think they plan to attract the remaining survivors to them using promises of a cure and then enslaving them."

Zoey stiffens, her mind whirling, "How do you know?"

Harry grimaces again, peeking at her, "It makes the most sense. What's the one thing that would ensure loyalty in this world? What's the one thing that would draw hundreds of people to the same place? The metaphorical carrot dangling off the hook."

The cure. A vaccine. A promise for a future free of infection. That's probably the one thing that would draw her out of hiding, if she didn't have Harry. Zoey presses her lips together and looks to their joined hands, watching Harry's thumb rub soft circles into her skin.

Harry sees that she understands now and continues, "I have a plan… but you probably won't like it."

Zoey gives him the stink eye, "I haven't even heard it and I already don't like it."

Harry grins fondly, gently squeezing her hand, "Hear me out, yeah?"

Zoey frowns but nods anyway.

"I don't know the logistics just yet but-" Harry suddenly looks uncharacteristically nervous and she knows she's going to hate his plan. "I can vaccinate people with my abilities, my magic. All I need to do is touch them and your antibodies that my magic copied will go into them."

She remembers the Quarry and the line of survivors he vaccinated without any clue if it worked. The hero worship, reverence and calculated looks aimed at Harry were more than a little unnerving. Harry wants to willingly make himself a target to keep those people from enslaving as many survivors as they can. He wants to willingly put himself into the light, to protect her, "No."

Harry slumps, "I'm sorry, Zo. This isn't negotiable."

"Yes it is," Zoey snaps, ripping her hand out of his hold. She wavers at his hurt look. "I said no."

"Zo-"

"I lost you-" Zoey cuts him off, a suspicious lump growing in her throat. "You were gone. I looked… everywhere. I left our symbols on every corner and fence I could." Harry's expression turns devastated and he opens his mouth but she doesn't want him to talk. He needs to understand. "You were gone six months. I didn't know if you were alive, though I hoped and hoped and I fucking prayed, okay?" Zoey glares at him, ignoring how her lip trembles. "And now you want to go back out there? For people we don't know?"

"For you-" Harry pleads.

"No!" Zoey snaps, drawing her legs under her and standing. Harry does the same, hands out placatingly. "Not for me! You want to reveal your powers, make yourself a target for them! They don't matter, Harry!"

Harry's face grows cold, "Zoey, how can you say that? Of course they matter! Just because you don't know them, doesn't mean they deserve whatever happens to them!"

"Why, Harry?" Zoey challenges, feeling hurt and angry. "Why do they matter more than me?! We don't know them! Why do you have to help them?"

"They don't matter more than you," Harry replies firmly, fists clenched. "You are the most important person to me, Zo. That will never change-"

"You sure fooled me!" Zoey feels her indignant anger rising. "Why the hell would you help someone you don't know?"

"I'll remind you that once upon a time," Zoey freezes at how cold Harry sounds, suddenly viscerally aware she said something wrong. "I didn't know you."

It was a slap to the face. Zoey feels her anger fizzle out, no longer powered by her indignity and hurt.

"Doing what's right is much harder than doing what's easy," Zoey shivers at his cold tone, unable to look her brother in the eye. "It would be so easy to let everyone else burn, wouldn't it, Zo? What do they matter? You have your family here now. There's no way the military will ever find you here."

Zoey looks up then, panic lining her face and Harry softens, sighing, "Zoey, they literally found me walking across a field in the middle of nowhere. You are the one thing they need to basically take over the world. You think they are ever going to give up?"

She looks to the ground, shaking her head. She can feel her eyes grow wet from the frustration welling up.

Harry sighs again, the crunch of gravel and his feet appear in her vision. He places his hands on her shoulders, prompting her to look up, "If we vaccinate people, they will feel indebted. If they feel indebted, they are amenable to working together. If we find a way to work together, we weaken the enemy's power over us. They have so much more than us separately but together?" Harry grins, all teeth and feral, "Well, we can do anything."

Zoey's frustration melts away, quickly being replaced by Harry's contagious anticipation. She's slowly starting to understand why Harry wants to enact his plan, "You want to build an army."

Harry half shrugs, "Well, sort of. If we give people, freely, what the Commonwealth wants to sell, it inspires loyalty. When they come knocking for you, the people will rally to defend you. Besides, it's the right thing to do. Everyone deserves a future free of infection, a chance to live and not just survive. I'm not some God, I don't have the right to decide who does and doesn't get to have that future."

But why does it have to be him? Just because he has healing abilities, doesn't mean he has to go back out there… leaving her again. "So, you're going to leave?"

Harry grimaces, looking down at himself, "Not now. I'm… not nearly strong enough. Sirius wants to train us before we go any-"

Zoey perks up, heart pounding in excitement, "Us?"

Harry looks at her with a furrow in his brow, "Of course. I wasn't going to go without my Commander."

Harry wasn't planning on leaving her behind! Zoey can feel every bone in her body vibrate from her elation, "You mean that?!"

Harry relaxes, quirking a fond smirk, "We made a deal, if I recall. Unless you've been slacking?"

"No!" Zoey burst out, grinning widely. "I practice almost every day! For hours!"

Harry's smirk smooths into a smile, soft and proud. His hand migrates to her hair, "That's awesome, Zo. I'm so proud of you."

Zoey hugs Harry tightly at that, feeling her emotions well up and over. His shirt soaks in no time, crying happy and relieved tears into his shoulder. She barely registers how thin Harry feels.

"I know you hate my plan," Harry says into her hair quietly. "If I could think of anything better, I would go for that instead but…"

Zoey pulls back and smiles up at him, "It's okay, Harry. I didn't understand and I was scared of you leaving me."

Harry's smile turns wry, "I think if you left my sight for more than five minutes, I'd have a heart attack."

Zoey giggles, lightly punching his arm. Harry smirks and grabs her arm. He tries to wrestle her to the ground Zoey is bigger and stronger now. She reverses his grip like she was shown and turns, hauling him over her shoulder with ease of practice. Harry yelps as he's thrown but he holds onto her arm, pulling her to the ground as well. She squeals, trying to escape his hold but he rolls them with a predatory grin.

Zoey barely has time to open her mouth before Harry's fingers dig into her ticklish sides. Instead of a cry for-something, giggles erupt, uncontrollable. Her sides spasm as she writhes and wriggles to get free, "No! Harry!"

"Ha!" Harry crows, wiggling his fingers quickly.

Zoey gets her leg up successfully and kicks him off, taking a few precious seconds to recover from the tickle attack. Then, Harry's on her again and she wrestles with him to keep his hands from her ticklish spots.

In the end, her defence is successful. Harry rolls off her, exhausted but grinning, panting. Zoey is grinning equally as wide, giggles bursting out sporadically. She hasn't had this much fun in ages!

As her heart slows and her breathing calms, a nagging thought persists. She turns it over in her mind, then looks at Harry, "What did she do to you?"

Harry inhales sharply, holding it for several long seconds. Zoey's concern rises when he slowly lets it out, "Zo… I'm-..."

"Harry?" Zoey asks, sitting up.

He doesn't look at her, sitting up as well but slightly turned away, "I'm… not ready to talk about it."

She feels inexplicably hurt, "Why? What happened? You can talk to me, I can handle it. I'm not a little k-"

"Zo," Harry cuts her off, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter what you can and can't handle. I-I can't talk about it right now, okay?"

Zoey is about to protest but it dies in her throat when she notices how badly he's trembling. She spies his hand near his throat, hovering over the band of raised skin there. She sees the bob of the lump in his throat, the grit of his teeth and the distance of his eyes. That woman… hurt her brother. While Zoey had been in shelter and safety, loved and cherished, Harry had gone through something horrific. She suddenly doesn't want to know and nods instead, "Okay. I'm sorry."

"Maybe one day, okay?" Harry replies, his hand clenching and dropping to his lap.

"Whenever you want, I can wait," Zoey rushes to assure. She means it. She isn't sure she wants to know anymore. Her vow to protect him grows stronger.

Harry looks at her, his eyes roving over her face and hair before motioning to her, “Come here.”

Zoey scoots over. Harry’s hands on her upper arms gently manoeuvre her so that she’s sitting facing away from him and then realization kicks in when his fingers begin to take apart her braid. A lump forms in her throat and she’s unable to say anything as he finger combs her hair into two parts. Her eyes water when he begins to tame her curls into the dutch braids she so loves.

She can hear Harry swallow thickly before he says, “I was alone a lot. For hours and hours in a small room. I had no windows. No way to tell the time. The only thing...” Harry pauses as he ties the short braid off, his fingers fumbling a few times. Then he starts on the second half and continues, “The only thing that kept me going was this.”

Zoey’s hands clench handfuls of her pants tightly, her heart aching with the glimpse Harry gave her, “Braiding my hair?”

“Yeah,” Harry replies thickly, tying off the second braid and then resting his hands on her shoulders. “The only thing that kept me going some days was you, Zo.”

Zoey sniffs and leans back, half turning to cuddle into him, “I’m sorry.”

“Whatever for?” Harry asks, pressing a kiss to her temple. “It sucked hard, I’ll admit but I ended up finding my Godfather. The road leading to it wasn’t great but if everything hadn’t happened the way it did, I wouldn’t have found him at all.”

“Is what he said true?” Zoey asks him. “Did he really have amnesia?”

“Yeah, Zo,” Harry replies tiredly. “I haven’t seen him since I was small, which is why I didn’t recognize him. He’s really torn up about how he treated you back in Atlanta. He told me what happened between you two. He really is a good man... he just got... lost.”

Zoey thinks about that. The man in Atlanta and the Sirius of now really is like night and day. They may be the same man but they are fundamentally different from each other.

“Did you tell him about me?”

Harry nods, “He wanted to know about you, since you are so important to me-” that makes warm gooey feelings erupt in her chest. “-and I hope you give him that chance. He really wants to be part of my life- our life, from now on.”

“You want that, too?” Zoey asks curiously.

“I... really do, Zo,” Harry replies firmly. “He’s just as important to me as you are.”

Zoey decides to try to get to know Sirius. She trusts Harry implicitly but she needs to see for herself that he’s what Harry says he is, “Okay.”

“Thank you, Zo,” Harry says. "Should we go see if supper is done?"

Right on cue, her stomach rumbles loudly. Zoey clutches her stomach as Harry cracks and laughs. She delights in the sound again.

“I’m going to take that as a yes,” Harry says, chuckling as he stands. He holds out a hand to her and she takes it, allowing him to pull her up to her feet. His arm automatically curls over her shoulder and Zoey again, realizes how much she grew in his absence. “At this rate, you’ll probably outgrow me.”

The thought makes her actually giggle, “Then I can call you short!”

Harry scoffs, “Even if you do, you’ll still be my little sister, so...”

“Harry!” Zoey slaps his arm with a laugh.

---

Harry seems to be in much higher spirits when they get back inside. Zoey toes off her shoes and leaves them in a haphazard pile on the floor next to the door. Harry neatly set his shoes near the wall and follows her to the table. It’s set for five places and Sirius is sitting at the end, hands in his lap as he waits for the food eagerly.

“Hey, Pup,” Sirius greets, his eyes falling on Zoey. “Hello, Zoey.”

“Hey, Sir’,” Harry replies, going to sit down in the spot that had remained empty for so long.

“Don’t you dare sit at my clean table until you wash up,” Lucille doesn’t even turn around from the stove.

Harry jolts a little, looking at his dirty hands as Zoey giggles. Sirius winks at her, grin on full display as he says to Harry, “Yeah, Pup. Chop chop!”

Zoey pushes Harry towards the bathroom, “Come on, it won’t take long.” She giggles again when Harry sticks his tongue out at his Godfather.

Dad comes out of the bathroom, dressed down from the leather and jeans he had been in. His face lights up when he spots the two of them approaching, “Lu caught ya, didn’t she?”

Harry gives him a wry smile, “Yep.”

Dad looks at Zoey and then jerks his head to the bathroom, “Ladies first.”

Zoey rolls her eyes and squeezes between them to get into the bathroom. She hears Dad talking to Harry in low tones but can’t make out what they are saying. When she dries her hands and exits, Dad is hugging Harry again. She can’t help her smile at the sight, knowing just how hard Dad had been looking for him. She brushes past them without a word and takes her place at the table.

Ma smiles at her, glowing with happiness at having everyone back together again. Sirius is helping her serve the food, his movements cautious and stilted as if he had forgotten how to move about a kitchen. Dad comes out of the hallway first, wiping his eye. He kisses Ma on the cheek as he sits down and shares a look with Zoey. Then Harry steps into the kitchen, eyes red. Zoey very nearly tears up herself when he goes straight to Ma, the two sharing another tight hug. Ma’s looks at Zoey and somehow portrays her sheer relief and happiness. She mumbles something to Harry and then they part.

Harry sniffs as he sits down in his spot, the food wafting pleasantly on the plate. Sirius places a hand on Harry’s shoulder and the two exchange a look. Ma sits down, Dad taking her hand and without missing a beat, everyone digs in.

No one says anything about the tears that track Harry’s cheeks when he takes a bite. He doesn’t seem to notice them, closing his eyes to savour the food. Zoey wonders when the last time Harry had an actual meal, silently taking in his thin frame and sharing a glance with Ma.

Harry sighs when he swallows, “It’s lovely, Lucille.”

Sirius nods, making a sound of enjoyment, “I can’t remember the last time I had a home cooked meal.”

Just like that, the tense atmosphere shatters.

Conversation flowing, Zoey eats and enjoys the feeling of Harry at her side and her family being complete for the first time in... well, feels like forever. No longer will she set the table for four when it’s only the three of them. She won’t have to avoid looking at the empty place setting because of how painful it was.

Harry is home.

She can deal with everything later.