▎SAFE HAVEN  ▎
»»————　act three. prison time
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN ━━ blessing

Rick, Michonne and Carl had come back from their run, bringing loads of guns back, a grin for Judith, and Carl even brought two photographs from the bar they always use to go to.

He got one of himself, Lori and Rick, for Judith. And he also got the one of Josie, Carl, Rick, Lori...and Shane.

Carl thought it would be good for Josie to have it, he wanted to get it for her, and Josie loved it, taking the photo out of the frame and placing it in her pocket, not wanting to loose it.

But Andrea had told them the Governor wanted a meeting with Rick. And Rick knew it would be best to leave Glenn and Josie back at the prison to look out, instead of bringing them with him, Daryl and Hershel.

So Glenn and Josie were in charge, everyone sorting the guns out and where to put them incase the Governor and his people decide to attack them.

"Carl, come here." Glenn called the young boy over, making him walk towards Glenn as Josie cocked a gun, placing it on the table. "You stash these with the loading gun, all right?" He said to the boy as he nodded. "Beth, Tiffany, put more on the catwalk." He told the two girls, who nodded.

"If anyone gets pinned down, we need to make sure they have plenty of ammo." Josie told the rest of them, handing some ammo to Riley.

"I'll go work on the cage outside." Glenn nodded at them all as he took two guns and some ammo, walking towards the steps.

"What we should be doing is loading some of this firepower in a truck and paying a visit to the Governor." Merle spoke up, leaning on the fence as Glenn stopped in his tracks, turning to him. "We know here he is right now."

"You suggesting that we just go in and kill him?" Glenn asked as he turned to Merle, completely, his brow raised as Merle nodded his head.

"Yeah, I am." Merle confidently said.

"We told Rick and Daryl that we'd stay put." Michonne reminded him, placing the gun down that was in her hands.

"I've changed my mind, sweetheart." Merle turned to Michonne. "Being on the sideline with my brother out there..." Merle shook his head. "Ain't sittin' right with me."

"Three of them are right in the middle of it." Josie spoke up, leaning on the table as she looked over to Merle. "Three people that are important and cared about. They'd have no idea we were coming and shit could go North. They could get taken hostage or killed." Josie tilted her head as she stood back up, grabbing another gun. "A thousand things can go wrong."

"And they will." Merle told her, shrugging his shoulders as Carl turned to Merle, glare in his face as he stood beside Glenn.

"My dad can take care of himself." Carl said, strongly, before walking up the steps.

"Sorry, son, but your dad's head could be on a pike real soon." Merle shook his head, letting out a tut as Josie narrowed her eyes. Carl looked at him once more before walking outside.

"Don't say that to him." Josie shook her head, placing the ammo into the guns. "Or the only head on a pike will be yours, Merle." Josie shrugged her shoulders as Merle turned to her.

"It's not the right move." Glenn added, shaking his head as he looked at everyone, then Merle. "Not now. Can't take the risk of putting them into the cross fire. That's final, it's my decision." Glenn told him before walking out as well, following Carl.

Merle wanted to go help his brother, which was understandable, but they couldn't let him leave, put Rick, Daryl and Hershel at risk.

He grabbed a back and put it on the table, throwing guns and ammo into the bag as Glenn walked in.

Josie crossed her arms over her chest, looking up at Glenn, then to Merle. "Hey, you're not going." Glenn told him, staying on the steps as Merle rolled his eyes.

"I don't need permission." Merle said as he put another gun in the bag, Glenn closing the gate door behind him.

"I can't let you." Glenn said, looking down at Merle as the man kept his back facing him.

"You can't stop me." Merle shook his head as Josie breathed out, looking over at Michonne, who just walked in.

"If you're gonna stay here, you have to follow our rules." Josie told him as he turned around, making her breathe out. "If Michonne can do it, why can't you?"

Merle stopped in his tracks as he turned back to Josie. "'Cause it's my brother out there, that's why. Whats the matter with y'all?" He asked as he turned back around, walking up the steps as Glenn blocked his path.

"I'm not gonna let you put them in danger." Glenn uttered, a firm look on his face as he looked at Merle.

"Nut up already, boy." Merle hissed as Josie watched him with narrowed eyes. "This guy cops a feel of your woman and you pussy out like this." Josie's gaze hardened, her jaw clenching as she looked at Merle, Michonne turning to her slightly at his words. "Get out of my way."

"No."

Merle nodded his head, going for the door until Glenn grabbed him, practically throwing him down the stairs as the two tackled each other on the floor.

Josie breathed out as she grabbed her sword from the table, Michonne quickly going behind Merle as she grabbed his arm with the knife connected to it.

Josie pulled out her sword as she placed it againt Merle's neck with narrowed gaze, quickly putting him into a headlock. Merle froze as the cold metal touched his skin, looking up at the sword.

"Get up." The Walsh simply said, her eyes narrowed as Merle clenched his jaw, looking at Glenn that was laid beneath him. "Get up, I don't want Daryl to come back with no brother." Josie added as Merle breathed out, pushing Michonne off of him as he got off of Glenn, carefully as Josie kept her sword againt his neck.

It was Josie's turn to take watch, make sure that everything was okay and the walkers couldn't get through.

She held a shotgun over her shoulder as she walked out, but Glenn was already there, leaning on the face. "Aren't I supposed to be on watch?" She asked, a brow raised as Glenn turned to her.

"I got it." Glenn slightly smiled at her, nodding his head as Josie nodded hers.

"Keep you company?" Josie shrugged her shoulders, watching as Glenn turned back around, nodding his head at her.

She smiled as she placed her gun on the floor, leaning her arms on the wooden fence, looking out of it.

"That was a hell of a chokehold." Glenn uttered as Josie stifled a chuckled.

"Learn a few things with having brothers in the police force." Josie shrugged her shoulders, a faint smile on her lips as she held the chain around her neck. "Should've put him to sleep, but I don't want to be face to face with an angry Daryl."

They stood in silence for a while as Glenn leaned on the fence, looking over to Josie as he cleared his throat. "When we got back from Woodbury...I made it all about me, and you needed your space, and I didn't give you that."

Josie shook her head, leaning her chin on her arms as she looked at Glenn. "I didn't need space from you, Glenn." Josie breathed out as she turned back to the walkers. "I just...I just wanted to be alone for a while. Something like that, I couldn't handle it." Josie admitted. "I've been grown up to know how to defend myself in a situation like that, but I didn't, I froze." Josie looked back at Glenn. "I just didn't want anyone else to know, especially not Rick, when he was already off the rails." Josie muttered.

Rick had always been there for Josie, especially during her reckless teenage years. When she'd gotten done for going to parties underaged and drinking, Rick was always the one to get her out of trouble, because she didn't want Shane to know. Sure, Rick gave her an earful afterwards in the cop car, driving her back home.

Josie didn't want Rick knowing what the Governor had done to her, he was her brother, the only one she had left. She didn't care if Rick wasn't blood related, he was her brother. And she felt ashamed of what happened.

"I'm with you." Josie turned to Glenn, pushing her hair out of her face. "I'm always with you."

Glenn nodded his head at her words, listening to what she was saying. "I'm sorry." Glenn uttered as Josie sent him a heartwarming smile.

"I know." Josie nodded her head, smile still on her face.

"I'm sorry." He repeated as he pulled her into a hug, Josie instantly wrapping her aroma around him as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you." He breathed out he moved to look at her.

Josie smiled, running her hand through the back of his hair as she pulled him into a kiss, his hand cupping the side of her neck.

Josie pulled out of the kiss, breathing heavily as she looked at Glenn. "I can't." He shook his head as he looked at the walkers againt the fence.

Josie looked over her shoulder, grin on her face as she turned back to him. "Come on." She tilted her head to the side, looking at the room and the shutter beside them.

Josie tugged her jacket back on, walking into the cell block, walking back into her cell as she placed her gun down.

"That was a long watch." Josie jumped slightly as she turned to the door, seeing Tiffany. "Who's on watch now?"

"Glenn." Josie said, running a hand through her hair. She squeezed her eyes shut as she heard Tiffany gasp.

"Josephine jade Walsh, I know you didn't-" Josie sent her a glare as Tiffany bit back a laugh, but failed as she leaned on Josie's cell. "Damn, I guess you too are okay now."

"Okay, don't act like you don't have a massive crush on Beth, Tiffany Marsh." Josie tilted her head, Tiffany's eyes widening. "That shut you up."

Tiffany tried to find the words, but couldn't, squeezing her eyes shut. "Y'know, you can't be mean to me, because I know something you don't." Tiff smirked before she turned around, leaving Josie alone.

Josie frowned, raising a brow as she stared at the door, completely confused.

They were going to war...

Rick, Daryl and Hershel had come back, telling them to get ready for war, that the Governor wants them all dead.

Michonne had the idea to place traps down for when the governor came, which was a good idea.

Josie was helping making the prison secure, and so was Daryl. Josie tied the gates together, securing them with chains as she looked them.

Daryl looked at her from the side, clearing his throat as Josie turned to him. "Did Merle ever apologise...for, y'know?"

Josie raised a brow, not understanding at first but she breathed in, nodding her head. "He tried to apologise...in a Merle way." Josie tilted her head. "But, I accepted it—in a Josie way." Josie breathed out a chuckle. "I'm still mad at him for what he did to Glenn, but, gonna have to put that past us so we can win this war." Josie said as Rick slowly nodded his head.

"I know he doesn't act like he means it, but he does." Daryl grunted as Josie nodded her head.

"I know. He tried acting nice-ish." Josie smiled at Daryl. "He's your brother and you would do anything for him." Josie nodded her head at him. "I use to, too." She turned back to the fence, lowering her head. "Daryl, don't let him bring him down with you. You've always gotta be ready for disappointment." She softly said as she sent him a smile before grabbing her gun, walking back into the prison.

Glenn had been looking for Rick in the prison, finally finding him. Rick sat, sorting out the guns as Glenn anxiously looked over at Rick, running a hand through his hair.

He cleared his throat as Rick turned to him, looking over his shoulder. "You alrigh' Glenn?" Rick asked as Glenn nodded his head, walking towards Rick and sitting down beside him. "What's wrong?"

Glenn shook his head, breathing out as he looked at Rick. "Nothing." Glenn shook his head as Rick raised a brow. "I..uh." He rambled on his words as he tried to think of the right words. "You and Carl are the only family Jo has left." Glenn spoke as Rick frowned, slowly nodding his head. "And Jo sees you like a brother to her." He added as Rick listened to his words.

"You got a point, Glenn?" Rick asked, faint smile on his lips as Glenn nodded his head.

"I want to marry Josie." Glenn breathed in as Rick's eyes slightly widened. "And we don't even have to have a wedding. I don't even know if we'll last a week." He rambled as Rick watched him. "But I want her to know before—" He breathed out, shaking his head. "Who knows."

Rick smiled at Glenn, nodding his head. "If you want my blessing, you have it." Rick told him as Glenn smiled, lowering his head. "Better treat her right, Glenn, of Carl won't be happy." Rick chuckled as Glenn smiled once again, chucking slightly as Rick patted his shoulder. "Do you have a ring?"

"Uh, when me and Tiff went on that run the other day, I found one." Glenn told him as Rick nodded his head, smile still on his face. Glenn reached into his pocket, pulling out the ring he had gotten Josie. "You think she'll like it."

"I'm sure she'll love it, Glenn." Rick smiled, a genuine smile as he looked at the ring. "She gets excited over the smallest things." Rick told her, which was true. She use to get excited over all the smallest things. And saw the beauty in every little thing, especially nowadays.

Josie stared at the sky, Tiffany by her side. "You lead me out here to kill me, Tiffany?" Josie tilted her head to the side, smile on her lips.

"Debated it." Tiffany sighed out sarcastically, grin on her face. "No, I just wanted to spend time with my best friend, is that a crime?"

"Yes." Josie chuckled. "I'll get Rick to arrest you." Josie shrugged her shoulders as Tiffany scoffed. "Or Carl."

"Shut up." Tiffany shook her head, looking over her shoulder with a grin. "You better thank me later, because I am the bestest friend in the world." Tiffany sighed as she turned around, leaving a confused Josie.

"What is up with her." Josie muttered to herself as she turned back around, watching the sun set.

Tiffany walked towards the prison, seeing Glenn and she grinned. "There, now will you tell me where those Oreo's are that Josie hid?" Tiffany asked as Glenn chuckled, shaking his head as he walked past her. "Dude, are you for real?" Tiffany scoffed. "Don't blame me when you return to your cell to see it a mess. I want those Oreo's, man." Tiffany shook her head, walking into the prison.

Josie turned back around when she heard footsteps, seeing Glenn and looking at him with a smile. "Hey." She softly said as Glenn moved to stand beside her. "You okay?"

"Yeah. You?" Glenn asked as Josie nodded her head, looking back over to the sky. "I think we should head over." He nodded to the prison. "Rick has something to say." Josie nodded her head as Glenn nodded his head, putting his hand in his pocket. "Uh, just one more thing before that." He said as he pulled something out of his pocket. "Here."

He held her hand, rubbing his thumb over her hand as he flipped it over, placing something inside of her palm. Josie frowned as she looked down at her hand, Glenn squeezing it as he let go, making Josie open her palm, her eyes widening as she looked down at her hand.

A ring sat in her palm.

Josie literally felt her stomach flip as she looked up at Glenn, her lips parted. Josie had always dreamed of getting married, since she was a little girl. Hell, she use to put on her mother's dresses and heals, doing her makeup as she pretended walk down the aisle.

She was a child, who could blame her. Of course, Shane practically bullied her for it, finding it funny and telling Rick all about it the next day. She was 10, a little girl who had dreams.

She thought all that had gone away when the apocalypse started. That she'd never find love. But she did. She found love, someone she cared and adored. Someone she would do anything for, to protect.

Josie breathed out a laugh, looking up at Glenn with a smile, nodding her head as she squeezed the ring in her hand. "Yeah." She breathed out, smiling at Glenn as she pulled him into a kiss, Glenn pulling he closer to him by the waist as she cupped his face.

Josie and Glenn had walked towards Rick and the group, the group already sat down and waiting for them.

Rick turned to the pair, his eyes flashing to Josie's hand as he bit back a smile, Josie walking towards him as he pulled her into a side hug, pressing a kiss against her temple as they walked back over to the group.

Josie stood beside Glenn as she looked over at Rick, but frowning as she didn't see Daryl, Michonne or even Merle.

"When I met with the Governor, he offered me a deal." Rick started as Josie looked back at him, frown still on her face. "He said—he said he would leave us alone if I gave him Michonne."

Josie's eyes widened at his words. Josie liked Michonne. She had helped them when she didn't need to. She was part of the group.

"And I was gonna do that." Rick admitted as Josie swallowed thickly. "To keep us safe. But I changed my mind. And now Merle took Michonne to fulfil that deal. And Daryl went to stop him and I don't know if it's too late." He told them as Josie breathed out, looking at the table where the group sat. "I was wrong not to tell you." He nodded at them all. "And I'm sorry. "What I said last year, that first night after the farm—it can't be like that. It can't. What we do, what we're willing to do, who we are—it's not my call. It can't be." He shook his head and his hand.

"I couldn't sacrifice one of us for the greater good because...because we are the greater good." Rick continued as he looked down at them all. "We're the reason we're still here, not me. This is life and death. How you live, how you die—it isn't up to me. I'm not your Governor. We chose to go. We chose to stay. We stick together."

Josie smiled at Rick, holding onto the gun that was wrapped around her shoulder. "We vote. We can stay and we can fight or we can go." Rick continued as he turned back around, leaving them all to ponder his words.

Josie sighed as she turned to Glenn, the man pulling her into a side hug. Josie looked down at the group, her family. They all had mixed emotions.

But Tiffany stared at the two, the teenager not hiding back a grin as she looked at Josie's hand, the one with a thing on.

— madeleine's notes

THEY'RE MARRIED AHHHHHH

CRIED IT HAPPINESS WRITING THIS IM SORRY EHEHEEHE

AHH I LOVE THEM LIKE

AND WHEN I WROTE GLENN ASKING RICK?!? LIKE RICKS HER BROTHER OKAY IDC!

But tiff just being a wingman is acc comedic idec

26th April 2924
3404 words