19
CHAPTER NINETEEN || LONG ROAD AHEAD
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"you boys alright?" Alex asked as she walked up behind Josh and Carl as the pair had begun conversation after escaping Terminus, She'd noticed the way the two had begun talking and stayed close as Rick led them away from the horrors of Terminus.
"yeah, We're Alright. are you?" Her cousin looked her up and down the blood splattered across her face bringing concern to the young boy whose hat hung on his head. the sad look in his even not having shifted, filling Alex with concern.
"yeah just Glad everyone's alive" She nodded, so was she, yet her mind drifted to Judith, and how much she wanted to believe someone else must've saved her, but in reality she knew how unrealistic that was. surviving with baby that cried every 2 hours. her heart ached as she tried to stay in the moment her glance shifting to Josh.
"doing alright kid?" She asked her hand on his shoulder, Noticing the way his eyes avoided hers. Anxiety filled the boy as he wondered what would happen to him now, his eyes fixated on the floor in front of him as he walked, the deal was getting to terminus.
"yeah, I just really thought things would work out." He sighed gripping the straps of his backpack he'd managed to keep hold of. Alex's eyes darted between both young boys, Her hand falling from Josh's shoulder and landing on carls, He looked up at her his blue eyes almost matching Rick's, almost as cold as Ricks. something had changed since the last time she'd seen him.
"it still will. See that guy over there" She pointed toward Rick, and Josh nodded looking up at the older man. His faith in Alex already had grown strong enough to believe her words yet a worry remained, what if they didn't want him to be a part of their group?
"that's carls dad, my uncle. He's got us through a lot worse than this. we'll be fine." She smiled trying to reassure the young boy, the flicker of light that remained in his eyes she wanted to make sure it stayed. Josh nodded hoping he was just overthinking, his sarcastic personality returning as she eased his worries.
Unbeknownst to her, Glenn watched her interaction with Josh. His heart filled with love as a smile rose on his face, the love he felt for her causing warmth to rush through his body as he wished for a future. the way she protected Carl, And Josh despite not knowing him for long filled him with emotions he'd never experienced as he realised she was it for him, she was all he wanted. his mind filled with possibilities as he watched, he wanted her to be the mother of his children...
"look at you, really love her don't you" Eli joked patting Glenn's shoulder, The taller blonde's protective feelings over Alex shone through for a second, Despite the fact he could see it. He could see the love that radiated between them he still wanted to make sure she was safe and loved.
"I do. yeah." A smile tugged at Eli's lips wanting his best friend to have the life she deserved. he knew how her past plagued her, He'd seen it first-hand. He'd seen it raw, and more than Anyone else Had. Eli was Aware of the demons Alex fought on the daily. And he'd do whatever he could to make sure nothing else could hurt her.
"you seem like a nice guy, just treat her right" Eli nodded his eyes shifting between Alex and Glenn. Glenn admired the woman, His chest exploding with love as he wished for a normal future with her. He knew what he wanted. He wanted her to be his Wife. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. looking after her.
"I will, She deserves more than just that. I'm glad you're alright, She needs you around" Glenn's eyes still Glued to the woman he loved as Eli grinned ear to ear. The two men cared for Alex greatly but in different ways. And she felt the same, Eli and Glenn were her boys, she wouldn't have made it this far without them.
"No she don't. I need her... she's my sister." Eli smiled, she was his world. in the year they'd been separated not a moment passed where he didn't think about her, where he didn't feel guilty, didn't feel like he'd failed her. Just as Glenn was about to speak he was cut off as the group stopped walking, Daryl and Rick began digging up the forest floor.
"the hell we still around here for?" Abraham's Voice boomed, Eager to keep moving and get further away from Terminus, They were barely a mile away, the smoke coming from the horrors they'd escaped filling their noses.
"Guns, Some supplies. Go along the Fences... Use the rifles. Take out the rest of em" Rick ordered, his voice was cold as he referred to the people who'd kept them hostage, the people who'd planned to eat them... Alex took the rifle that hung to her Hip. The gun returned to its previous place in her clammy hands.
"What?" Bob stated confused, Alex didn't care. They were cannibals. They were gonna kill her family. In her mind, they weren't people. they were worse than the walkers, feeding people lies, and filling kids with hope of a safe place, only to lead them to their deaths.
blind obedience.
"they don't get to live" She'd follow Rick no matter what. The trust she had in her uncle was unwavering. She trusted him with everything in her when it came down to survival. he'd done right by the group since she'd reunited with them. she'd follow him anywhere.
"Rick we got out. It's over" Glenn stated, His hand reaching out to grab Alex's upper arm stopping her from walking back to the fences. Some would say he levelled her out. He was the thing that brought her back.
"It's not over till they're all dead" Her trust for Rick, Listening to commanding officers in the military. All aided to Alex's Blind obedience. Morality is doing what is right regardless of what you're told. Obedience is doing what you are told regardless of what is right.
"the hell it isn't. That place is on fire!" Rosita exclaimed Alex's eyes met Glenn's and like a switch, something changed in her mind. The look within her boyfriend's eyes made her realise it wasn't needed, he never saw a reason not to save people yet Alex would do anything to keep the people she loved safe, even if that meant losing her humanity.
"The fences are down. they're right Rick. they'll run or die." Alex let go of the gun, Letting the weapon again just hang on her hip as she took ahold of Glenn's hand, Their fingers Intertwining instantly. she didn't need to make sure they were safe. because they were, they were safe all together and everything was okay as long as he was by her side. Silence returned upon the group as Rick thought about it... The crunching of Leaves caught their attention as someone walked toward them, Alex's heart skipped a beat, danger.
Letting go of Glenn's hand, she automatically reached for her weapon as she turned, her face dropped as she came face to face with Carol... she never thought she'd see her again. Daryl rushed toward the woman, Pulling her into his Arms. The heartfelt reunion was needed, A small smile couldn't help but tug at Alex's lips as she felt the relief radiating from Daryl.
"Did you do that?" a smile tugged at Rick's lips as he took a step toward the short-haired woman, had she just helped them escape? after he sent her away. Rick hugged Carol as tears emerged in her eyes, Alex gently squeezed Glenn's hand subconsciously.
"you have to come with me"
**
The group followed Carol back to a small cabin, Judith was okay. She'd been with Carol and Tyreese. Lori crossed Alex's mind, and there was a dept she could never repay Carol for. she'd kept Judith safe when Alex couldn't, when Alex failed. The three grimes couldn't wipe the smiles from their faces as the cabin was finally in sight, Tyreese carrying Juidith out the door filling them with an instant sense of relief. losing Judith was losing Lori all over again, losing Judith was not one wave of grief but two.
Rick and Alex felt a rush of happiness as the pair ran toward Tyreese, Carl following behind them. disbelief rushing through Alex's body, how had they managed it again? finding each other. she couldn't let them out of her sight again, there had to be a time their luck would run out.
Rick took Judith from Tyreese's arms, Cradling the baby girl as tears came to his eyes. Alex grinned ear to ear as she caught sight of the baby in his arms, Both Carl and Alex joined the hug as the adrenaline wore off. The three of them back together. Reunited. tears sprung to Alex's eyes as she finally had a moment to process Rick, Carl and Judith were okay. all of them. her family was alive, Glenn, Eli. it couldn't get any better than this.
The hug broke as Rick thanked Tyreese, Carl and Alex looking at each other with matching smiles, Their hearts consumed by a warmth that could only be felt when with Family.
A/N- I'm so upset, my writer's block is coming back. I've almost finished re-writing whats left of when I first wrote this book. I'm so excited for the pre-negan Alexandria era... and I'm ngl I think josh might be my fave oc.
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