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Katie leaned her forehead against his and stroked his cheek lightly. “I want to believe you. ”

“Then do,” Travis whispered, and kissed her lightly.

“I’m sorry I’m being so hormonal,” Katie said, pouting.

“Nah. You’re just saying what everyone else thinks. We’re all in a weird funk. We need to get ourselves out of it. Focus on more positive things.

Like the fact we are alive. We are inside fortified walls, not outside them.

We have food and supplies. We have ammunition. We have each other. ”

Travis felt better just expressing those few thoughts aloud. It was all true, but so easy to forget when the days were cold, gray and full of unexpected dangers.

“You’re right,” Katie said after a beat. “And maybe we will have our moment to claim it back. For our sake and the baby’s. ”

Travis leaned over the armrest to kiss her swelling belly. He was in awe that his baby was growing inside of her and of the magic of that reality.

His little family meant the world to him, and he never would have had it if not for the zombie rising. It was a strange, wondrous truth.

“I’m going to take a hot shower, then take my favorite girl out to dinner. ”

“Oh, that sounds good! Where are we going?” Her bright smile washed away all the shadows that had been haunting her expression.

“Well, there is this quaint little place downstairs that has some of the best food around. ”

“Sounds amazing! I can’t wait!” Katie grinned and wiped the last of her tears away on the baby blanket.

“And then maybe we’ll get crazy and go watch a movie. I hear there is a Burt Reynolds double feature tonight. ”

“Oh, wow! I don’t think I can stand the excitement!”

Travis grinned, stood, and pulled her out of the chair. Holding her close, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. “You know you want to hear Curtis heckling The Bandit for his lawbreaking ways. ”

Katie snuggled up against him, laughing softly. “We’re just one big crazy family, aren’t we?”

Laying his cheek on her blond hair, Travis smiled. “Yeah. We are. And it will be okay. ”

Katie sighed, her body relaxed against his and Travis was glad that she trusted him so completely. He would never let her down. It was his sacred vow. He would never let Katie down.

5. No Peace for the Living or Dead Rune sauntered into the dining room and looked around with a cautious eye. The hotel was full of shimmering patches of light and shadows, but he was trying not to let on that he could see them. He was relieved to see the dining room full of people lining up against one wall for dinner.

People from the kitchen were loading up the buffet with big bins of food and it smelled like it was chili tonight.

The soft whisper of a ghost glided past him and he kept his eyes straight ahead and didn’t acknowledge it.

“Hey, Rune!”

Looking around, Rune caught sight of Maddie and Dale waving at him from the line. He nodded his head at them in greeting and took up the last place in line. He wasn’t too surprised when Maddie and Dale joined him. Maddie had her long hair braided down her back and had found a long flowing skirt and comfortable sweater to wear. Rune wasn’t too sure how old she was, but he thought she was pretty, wrinkles and all. Dale was clean-shaven except for razor sharp chops. They were impressive.

“How are you, Rune?”

“Good, Maddie. Slept all day. I was tuckered out. ”

“Figured you were taking the time to rest up. I volunteered to help with the garden. ”

“Good for you!”

“I got a nice little shave and a haircut. They actually got a beauty salon here. Can you imagine?” Dale shook his head, looking floored by the idea. “I was pretty fucking amazed. ”