Chapter 56: A Promise to Return

The days following Andrew's improvement were filled with a renewed sense of hope for the community. With each passing day, Gabriella found herself more grounded in the life she had built here, surrounded by people she cared about. Her parents were settling in well, Andrew was steadily regaining his strength, and the future—though uncertain—felt more manageable.

However, amid this growing sense of calm, there was one person whose presence seemed less anchored than before: Robert. Gabriella had noticed the way he lingered at the edges of conversations, his gaze often distant, as if his thoughts were elsewhere. She knew what weighed on him. He had never spoken much about his daughter, but Gabriella had always sensed that his commitment to finding her was the reason he had joined her on this journey in the first place.

One evening, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the fields surrounding the community, Gabriella found Robert sitting by the edge of the settlement, sharpening his blade. He had always been a man of few words, preferring the quiet focus of his tasks over idle chatter, but Gabriella knew this was a conversation they needed to have.

She approached him slowly, her boots crunching softly on the gravel path. Robert, ever aware of his surroundings, looked up as she neared, offering her a small nod of acknowledgment.

“Hey,” Gabriella greeted, lowering herself onto the bench beside him. “Mind if I join you?”
Robert shook his head. “Not at all.”

For a few moments, they sat in companionable silence, the rhythmic sound of his sharpening stone gliding along the blade filling the air. Gabriella watched him work, his hands steady and practiced, but there was a tension in his posture she hadn’t seen before.

Finally, she broke the quiet. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you,” she began, her tone gentle. “About what comes next.”
Robert’s hand paused mid-motion, and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I figured this conversation was coming.”
Gabriella offered him a small smile. “You’ve been a part of this community ever since we left the cabin. You’ve helped me and Andrew in ways I can’t even begin to repay. I guess I was wondering… what are your plans now?”
Robert exhaled slowly, setting the blade and stone aside. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes fixed on the distant treeline. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot,” he admitted, his voice gruff but thoughtful. “I’ve been with you for a while now, and… truth is, I like it here. The people, the way things are run, it’s… it’s a good place to be.”
Gabriella’s heart lifted slightly. “So you want to stay?”
He hesitated, and that hesitation was all the answer she needed. “I do,” Robert said finally, his gaze distant. “But I can’t. Not yet.”
Gabriella felt a lump form in her throat. She had known this was coming, but hearing it still stung. “Because of your daughter.”
Robert nodded, his expression hardening slightly. “I’ve been searching for her for years, Gabriella. Before I met you, before I even found the cabin… finding her was the only thing that kept me going. I can’t give that up, not now.”

Gabriella felt a surge of empathy for him. She couldn’t imagine the weight of not knowing where his daughter was, of the years spent searching with no certainty. It had been his guiding star for so long, and though he had found solace and purpose within the community, that purpose was incomplete without her.

“I understand,” Gabriella said softly. “She’s out there somewhere, and you need to find her.”
Robert’s jaw tightened as he nodded. “I made her a promise a long time ago, and I’m not the kind of man who breaks his promises.”
Gabriella reached out, resting her hand on his arm. “You’ve done so much for me, for all of us. Let me help you now.”
Robert’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll arrange for someone to go with you,” Gabriella said, her voice firm with determination. “There’s someone here, someone I trust. He’s good at finding people, at tracking things down. He’ll help you find your daughter.”
Robert looked at her, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You’d do that? Send someone with me?”
“Of course,” Gabriella said, her gaze steady. “You’re not doing this alone. We’re family now, Robert. And families help each other.”

Robert was silent for a long moment, the weight of her words settling between them. He had spent so much of his life alone, driven by a single goal, never asking for help, never expecting it. But here, in this place, things were different. The sense of belonging Gabriella spoke of was something he had long abandoned, but now… now it felt within reach.

“Thank you,” he said at last, his voice rough with emotion. “I don’t know what to say.”
Gabriella smiled, squeezing his arm gently before withdrawing her hand. “You don’t have to say anything. Just promise me one thing.”
Robert raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“When you find her,” Gabriella said, her eyes bright with hope, “you bring her back here. Bring her home.”
Robert’s eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like ages, Gabriella saw the faintest trace of a smile on his face. “I will,” he said quietly. “I’ll bring her back.”

They sat in silence for a while longer, the air between them filled with an unspoken understanding. The weight of Robert’s quest was something Gabriella couldn’t fully comprehend, but she could support him in the way he had supported her time and again.

**The next day.**
The following morning, Gabriella sought out the man she had mentioned to Robert—Aiden, a skilled tracker who had come to the community not long after she and Andrew had settled in. Aiden was quiet, unassuming, but his reputation preceded him. He had a talent for finding things—or more specifically, people. He had been instrumental in helping the community locate missing members after the battle and had earned the respect of everyone who knew him.

Gabriella found him near the stables, checking the saddles and reins with the meticulous care of someone who spent much of his time on the road. His dark hair was pulled back in a loose knot, and his keen eyes were fixed on his work, but when Gabriella approached, he looked up with a welcoming nod.

“Aiden,” Gabriella greeted, coming to stand beside him. “I need a favor.”
Aiden straightened, wiping his hands on a cloth before turning to face her fully. “Anything for you, Gabriella. What’s going on?”
She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. “It’s Robert. You’ve met him, right? He’s been with me for a while.”
Aiden nodded. “The quiet one, always watching. Yeah, I know him.”
“He needs to leave the comm… and I thought of you.”
unity for a while,” Gabriella explained. “He’s been searching for his daughter for years, and he’s not going to stop until he finds her. I told him I’d arrange for someone to go with him. Someone who can help him
Aiden’s expression softened in understanding. “I see. You want me to help him track her down?”
Gabriella nodded. “He’s been alone for so long, and I don’t want him to go out there on his own again. You’re the best at what you do, Aiden. If anyone can help him find her, it’s you.”
Aiden was silent for a moment, considering her request. “I can do it,” he said after a beat. “I’d be happy to help. But you know the risks, Gabriella. The world out there… it’s not kind.”
“I know,” Gabriella replied, her voice steady. “But if anyone can handle it, it’s you. And Robert.”
Aiden gave her a small, reassuring smile. “Alright. I’ll do it. When does he want to leave?”
“As soon as possible,” Gabriella said. “I think the longer he waits, the harder it is for him.”
Aiden nodded in understanding. “I’ll talk to him, make sure we’re prepared.”
Gabriella smiled, relief washing over her. “Thank you, Aiden. I can’t tell you how much this means.”
“You don’t have to,” Aiden said with a shrug. “We all look out for each other here. That’s the way it should be.”

Later that afternoon, Gabriella found Robert by the main gates, packing a small bag with supplies. His movements were deliberate, methodical, but there was a sense of urgency in the way he worked. Gabriella approached quietly, watching him for a moment before speaking.
“Aiden’s going with you,” she said, breaking the silence.
Robert paused, looking up at her with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. “You weren’t kidding.”
Gabriella smiled softly. “I told you, Robert. You’re not doing this alone.”
He nodded, his gaze flickering to the horizon beyond the gates. “I appreciate it, Gabriella. More than you know.”
She stepped closer, resting a hand on his shoulder. “Just find her, okay? And come back. We’ll be waiting.”
Robert’s expression softened, and for the first time since she had known him, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “I’ll come back,” he promised. “With her.”

As Robert and Aiden made their final preparations, Gabriella watched them from a distance, her heart heavy with both worry and hope. She knew the journey ahead of them would be dangerous, but she also knew that Robert had something driving him that couldn’t be stopped.
And when he found his daughter, she knew he would keep his promise.
They would come back. Together.