CHAPTER TWENTY TWO || THE CHURCH

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Alex, Maggie and Tara stood outside a rundown Gun store keeping Watch as Glenn, Eli and Sam Searched for supplies inside. Alex clutched her Gun her mind filling with the violent memories of her past. a part of her was starting to believe there was no better, maybe they existed to bleed, maybe they existed to burn. 

They'd followed Gabriel back to the Church, Before splitting into groups To search for supplies.. Alex didn't trust him, and Neither did Rick... Yet the opportunity to lay low, Rest gather supplies, Wasn't one to pass up. Alex knew being on the road had consequences, Especially alone. she wasn't alone this time. She was surrounded by people, But that didn't mean she was safe. being safe was never even a possibility. 

"you know I didn't want to mention anything when we looked this place up in the phone book. but I can't imagine a gun store having leftovers nowadays" Tara stated as she turned to look at Alex, Maggie smiled softly at Tara's words.

"don't look good, does it?" Maggie shook her head as they looked at the state the building was in, Alex shook her head trying to distract from the fact Her boys were inside. the chances of them finding anything they could actually use was slim, yet the three women had faith in the boys that were searching the building. 

"They'll find something surely" Alex tried so desperately to stay optimistic, yet she'd never found optimism to be one of her stronger qualities. but she was trying, she knew her optimism had grown, grown since Glenn. He was the only reason she hadn't given up, as long as he was by her side there was a reason to keep fighting. 

A loud bang came from inside, immediately startling the three girls who stood outside as Alex drew her weapon aiming it at the door, Tara and Maggie doing the same. Edging closer to the door Alex's heart rate increasing. 

Watching as Glenn stumbled out the door, A large rifle in his hand as his head hung Low. Alex's heartbeat returned to its previous steady rhythm upon seeing him, and the girls let out a mutual sigh of relief. 

"was it a walker?" Tara asked watching as Eli, And Sam then Left the store. Alex immediately noticing the smile Eli was trying to keep at bay as the blonde ran a hand across his face trying to disguise his laughter.

"uh- yeah. it was a walker." Glenn's Voice wavered with embarrassment, the sun shining in his eyes, Squinting his glance shifted to Alex. his words only making it more difficult for Sam and Eli to hide their laughter. 

"Really?" She raised her eyebrows, Being able to see through any lie he told almost instantly. The Korean boy an awful liar. Sam's eyes lingered on Alex watching her admire Glenn.

"it was a stack of boxes. and a mop... I tripped." His words made giggles erupt from the three Girls as Eli couldn't hold back the chuckle that left his Lips, a laugh from Sam following. the two men unable to control their laughter after watching Glenn almost fall on his ass.

"Still... Got what we came for" He smiled pulling three silencers from his back pocket, Handing them to Alex smiling as he waited for Alex to acknowledge his discovery.

"Three silencers stashed in the mini-fridge." He smiled proudly as Alex looked up at him, Admiring his beautiful smile, he was so proud of himself, Alex's smile couldn't help but grow.

"Rule number one of scavenging, there's nothing left in this world that isn't hidden." He smiled as the group began walking to the next store.

**

The group sat in the church, smiles and laughter filling the Air, paper plates loaded with canned food in everyone's hands. Alex Sat with Eli, As the pair Laughed about Glenn's stumble earlier on in the day, before Abraham's deep voice interrupted the laughter in the room.

"I'd like to propose a toast. I look around this room, and I see survivors. Each and Every one of you has earned that title... to the survivors" He raised his Glass with a smile, Members of the group cheered with smiles appreciating Abraham's words until he spoke again.

"is that all you wanna be? wake up in the morning, fight the undead pricks. forage for food. go to sleep at night with two eyes open, rinse and Repeat" Alex sighed, Eli's eyes glued to her. She knew how important Getting Eugene to DC was to Abe, To Eli. Yet she knew she couldn't leave Glenn or her family.  her priorities would always lay with them. 

"cause you can do that. I mean you got the strength. you got the skill." Abraham's eyes Shifted to Alex, not only his but Alex could feel Eli's eyes on her. he couldn't leave without her he never wanted to go back to wondering if she was alive, they'd been through everything together and neither of them wanted to be without each other again.

"thing is for you people. for what you can do. that's just surrender. now, we get Eugene to Washington and he will make the dead Die. and the living will have this world again. and that is not a bad takeaway for a little road trip."Alex Sighed as she got up, how was she supposed to choose, her family, the promise she'd made to Lori, her boyfriend and the man who'd saved her life countless times, her brother. walking away from Eli she headed for the door of the Church, Walking outside she closed the door behind her. No walkers prowling. Just silence. just what she needed.

taking a breath she tried to process everything that had happened and what was to come, if the world had gotten bad enough people resulted to cannibalism thinking about what else stayed hidden in the walker-infested world was terrifying. The silence was calming. Silence had become her favourite way to speak, Yet the sound that came next was the one voice that took her breath away every time she heard it.

"Alex it's not safe out here, Come back inside" Glenn's voice was soft almost drowned out by the creak of the church door as he opened it. Her mind raced with Everything that had happened to them, For a split second she believed she was safe at the prison. She believed they could've had a life there for a moment. Yet they were never truly safe. she had let herself get too comfortable, she'd never let that happen again, she'd be ready. 

Glenn approached the brunette, A loving look in his dark brown eyes as his hand returned to the small of her back as she looked out onto the street. She didn't know why, But her heart Ached. Her heart ached for the people she loved and the possible dangers that laid ahead.

"Rick agreed to go to Help get Eugene to DC" Alex eyes shifted to meet Glenn's A slight sigh of relief escaped her lips as she processed Glenn's words. if they all went, she didn't have to choose, she'd have everyone she cared about by her side. 

"he did?" She asked, Turning to face him his hand shifted to rest on her hip as He nodded. the memory of Sam asking her what she was afraid of flickered in her mind, being alone. yet when she looked up at Glenn, her eyes meeting his loving brown ones time froze as a  weight was lifted from her shoulders. 

"Alex- we should go back- but uh-" His voice was shaky as he tried to find the right words to say what he wanted. an unfamiliar nervousness hid behind his eyes as he stared down at the woman he loved, anxiety pooling within his stomach. 

"Just one more thing-" Glenn's hand trembled as he took Alex's hand in his, his heart pounding with anticipation. Anxiety radiated from him as his other hand left her waist and ventured into his pocket before gently placing something in Alex's hand.

 Alex looked down at what he had placed in her hand, her heart skipped a beat. The small silver band with a beautiful diamond clinging to it, sparkling in the dim light shining from the church. She looked back up at Glenn, her eyes wide with surprise, Was he asking what she thought?

A smile tugged at his lips as her eyes met his again, that same hope for a future shone in their eyes, as Alex's chest exploded with love. she'd never thought this was something she'd experience. his love for her shone so brightly in his eyes she'd never felt so cared for, so loved other than when she was with him. 

"Yes," she barely gave him a second to speak as she answered, her voice barely above a whisper. Glenn's heart swelled with love as a smile arose on his face, his eyes shining with happiness and relief. He had been waiting for this moment for such a long time, or at least what felt like it. his promise back at the prison to give her the life she deserved meant so much to him, and he intended to keep it. 

"I love you so much," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. His heart swelling with love and affection as he gazed into Alex's eyes. He couldn't imagine his life without her, and she felt the same way. he closed the gap between them, Glenn's lips met Alex's, their kiss was electric, sending sparks of love coursing through their bodies. Glenn's hands gripped her hips, holding her against him as her fingers tangled through the short hairs at the nape of his neck. Her other hand closed around the ring he gave her, cherishing every moment.

Despite the fact that he couldn't find the words to express his feelings, she knew. She knew it all. She loved him so much, more than she could ever describe. And with the life they lived, they weren't sure how long they had together. Yet Alex was sure he'd be there to spend their lives together.

She pulled away admiring His beautifully chiselled face, Yet his soft features and brown eyes just made her melt under his gaze. He did the same wondering what he'd ever done to deserve such a beautiful woman. They were like two sides of a distorted funhouse mirror. Twisted and Changed the same whisper of a person. But both beautiful in their own aspects...