CHAPTER THIRTY THREE || CROSSED

(there's a bit of a time jump in this one but that's just because I'm following the tv show)

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"screwdriver. Philips head" Tara pondered aloud as she pulled supplies from a backpack she'd taken from a walker, Alex leaned against a tree as she secured the final buckle of a holster against her thigh. a small smile tugging at her lips proud of herself for finding a thigh holster. Pulling her pistol from its place tucked into her waistband she secured it in the holster for easy access.  

A childish happiness lingered within Alex at the find, her eyes lingering on the holster she couldn't wait to show Carl. Two cousins with matching holsters she knew he'd find it pretty cool. or at least she hoped.  a small hole forming in her heart as she thought back to who she'd left behind. she missed them. She missed her family. 

"You think Daryl knows how to use a proper bow and arrow?" the random question made her brows furrow as Alex turned her head toward the familiar freckled man next to her, Sam. Glenn's happy chuckle filled her ears from across the lake as he and Rosita attempted to catch some fish. 

"that's- that's so random Sam" Alex shook her head, the slight smile still prominent on her face as she chuckled at Sam's strange thought. Looking up at him she took note of the completely serious expression displayed on his face. sighing in defeat she thought about the question before she nodded: "I mean yeah. probably" 

Sam nodded running a hand over his face as he bit his lip thinking of all the people they'd left behind, and how his random thought failed in an attempt to be a distraction. the cheers of Rosita and Glenn filled the air, their plan had worked. they'd caught a fish. Just as Sam was about to speak again he was cut off: "Guys. you'll never believe what's in this bag"

Alex's attention instantly shifted from Sam to Tara at the woman's words. Alex made her way over, Glenn and Rosita doing the same. Sam sighed watching the woman walk away, Scratching the slight stubble growing on his chin his thoughts only causing anxiety to spiral deep within his stomach. despite how hard he tried to shift his focus from the thoughts that lingered in his mind they remained. almost tormenting him. 

***

"Are you alright?" Eli questioned, his eye's focused on Maggie as he caught her attention. Leaving Eugene to rest with Josh he approached the brunette to check on her, knowing from a previous conversation the grief she'd experienced in recent weeks was getting to her. Maggie's eyes flickered up to Eli as he settled beside her sitting against the broken-down firetruck. 

"Yeah" She sighed her eyes meeting Eli's blue ones, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Eli's lips pressed together forming a line as he exhaled through his nose. Eugene still hadn't woken up. things weren't looking good. Despite the anger toward Eugene that raced through the blonde man's veins, he wanted him to be okay. he wanted everyone to be okay. he just wanted to wake up from the nightmare that was his life and for everyone to be safe.

"Are you?" Maggie questioned, Eli sighed nodding. he had to be. noticing his unease Maggie shook her head, her heart skipping a beat as she reached for the man's hand in an attempt to comfort him. Eli's eyes flickered from Maggie down to their hands. Taking her hand in his their fingers intertwined, waves of electricity ran through his veins as he looked back to Maggie, a small smile tugging at his lips. 

"everything gonna be okay" Maggie reasoned with a small smile, Eli chuckled shaking his head, his free hand falling onto Maggie's which clung to his left hand as he caressed the skin of the back of her hand causing butterflies to flood Maggie's stomach, the smile tugging at her lips only growing due to the gesture.

"aren't I supposed to be the one making you feel better?" Eli chuckled holding the girl's hand who only shook her head at his words. He was always that person, the person who was there for everyone, who'd listen to everyone's problems. And he never mind it. he was good at it. helping people. 

Helping people had always been his thing. That's why he became a medic after all. and he had always taken care of himself until Alex came along then they looked after each other and he'd never change that. Yet looking into the eyes of the woman before him, he wanted to do it for her. Be that person, the person Maggie came to, the person who looked after her.

"We can be there for each other?" Maggie smiled her words coming off as more of a question as she reassuringly squeezed his hand. Eli's eyes glued to hers almost shining with admiration as he stared at her nodding his head; "I'd like that"

"Guys! The liars waking up!" Josh's voice echoed pulling Both Eli and Maggie from their thoughts their hands almost instantly disconnecting as soon as they heard Josh's voice. Eli's eyes widened as he jumped up. Maggie followed as they rushed to Eugene. 

****

"Okay now the more I think about it. it wasn't not, not funny" Glenn smiled in reference to the joke Tara had made earlier. Alex and Sam chuckled as the group made their way back to the truck in hopes they could start making a move and somehow find Rick and the rest of the group. they had to still be at the church. if nothing had gone wrong that's surely where they'd be. 

"see told you" Sam chuckled as they walked, Tara playing with the yo-yo she was ecstatic to find in the bottom of the backpack she'd taken from the walker. Glenn nodded at Sam's comment his hand finding Alex's as they walked. the stress of what they had found out about Eugene finally easing for a moment.

"so We're heading back to the church?" Sam questioned his eyes focused on the terrain in front of him trying to distract himself from the thoughts that littered his mind yet he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to escape them. his eyes glued to the floor in front of him as he attempted to avoid looking in Alex's direction. something had changed.

"Yeah... and Pray Rick's still there." Alex sighed, Glenn squeezed her hand knowing the unease she felt when it came to finding her family. The voice in the back of her head wouldn't stop, her luck would run out eventually. Sleeping with one eye open, danger around every corner. it affected people. She knew. She knew from when she was out here alone. 

She wasn't alone this time, yet in ways it felt similar. it wasn't just her being alone that had an effect. it was just the world. and being out there for too long changed people. she didn't care before. but now. now she had Glenn. Humanity, trust. it was important. at least to her. 

***

"holy shit" Alex huffed as Abraham slammed on the break, her body almost being flung forward as they came to a stop outside the church, the immediate sound of walkers caused her to instantly reach for the pistol strapped to her thigh as Abraham got out the truck to help Eli get Eugene out.  Alex, Josh, Sam and Glenn quickly followed behind. Relief instantly flooded Alex's veins as she caught sight of michonne. 

"Are you okay?" the voice in the back of her head was wrong. A smile grew on her face as she pulled michonne into a hug, her heart racing with joy as her arms wrapped around the woman. Michonne nodded a smile evident on her  face as Alex broke the hug: "yeah"

"jelly bean?" Her eyes fell on Carl,  the smile on her face growing as she took a step away from michonne almost instantly pulling the young boy into her arms, her chest exploding with relief in such a way she had to catch her breath.

"you're back" Carl sighed relief flooding his body, yet confusion remained. Alex broke the hug nodding, her hand lingered on the young boy's shoulder as she looked back to Glenn unsure of how to explain the events that had taken place over the days they'd been gone.

"Eugene lied. he can't stop it. Washington isn't the end... where is everybody?" Glenn explained his focus on michonne: Daryl, Carol, Rick, Sasha. all nowhere to be seen. Alex had just expected them to turn a corner and everyone would be together again... but they didn't. Glenn's question almost instantly made michonne step back, her eyes scanning the group for Maggie.

"Beth's alive. She's in a hospital in Atlanta. some people have her but the others. they went to get her back." michonne explained, Maggie's face fell, relief exploding deep within her chest, her emotions so intense they radiated from her in a way that made everyone around her feel it too. 

"do we know which one?" Maggie questioned her voice cracking with emotion as she took Michonne's hand clutching it tightly as her chest constricted with disbelief, her prayers had been answered. 

"Grady Memorial" Michonne nodded, Maggie's grasp around the woman's hand grew stronger as she sucked in a breath of disbelief tears brimming in her eyes. Her hands ran over her face as she processed the fact Beth was alive, An unforgettable smile grew on her face as she turned to Eli almost instantly. 

"oh my god," she chuckled in relief, Eli instantly wrapping his arms around the girl as he felt those emotions with her. despite the fact he'd never met Beth everything Maggie had told him about her younger sister rushed through his mind as he held Maggie in his warm embrace letting her feel whatever emotions she needed to.

"Let's go save your sister" Alex smiled a newfound hope rushing through her veins as she watched the interaction between Maggie and Eli. Beth was alive. Maggie broke the hug as she looked over at Alex a smile etched onto her face as she subconsciously took hold of Eli's hand, happiness consuming her as she nodded. 

The happiness plastered across Maggie's face didn't fade once as the group climbed back into the firetruck, the few added people making it a bit of a squeeze. Maggie squeezed between Eli and Sam her body pressed against Eli. An almost matching smile on his face purely from just seeing Maggie smile he'd never seen her so happy, and he couldn't help but admit her smile was angelic. His hand laid on her knee, his thumb rubbing reassuring circles on her kneecap through the material of her pants. the gesture filling the woman's stomach with butterflies, she couldn't wait for Beth to meet Eli. 

Alex smiled her head against Glenn's shoulder, her body squashed between her husband and Sam. Her mind racing with thoughts, the happiness that radiated through the truck creating a warmth deep within her chest as she shifted looking up at Glenn, almost instantly being met with his brown eyes. 

"I love you" She whispered, She could barely remember the last time she'd said those words. Yet the warmth in her chest reminded her of him. Happiness was something she'd always associate with none other than Glenn Rhee. He had saved her. he was the light in the darkness. Glenn smiled his hand coming up to cup the back of Alex's head as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. 

"I love you too" He whispered pulling away, the smile on Alex's face grew as she returned resting her head on his shoulder, his head falling to the side resting against hers as their fingers intertwined. she'd never thought true love was real, she had always thought it was something only made for movie screens and pages of a book. but he'd shown her how real it was. That spark that ignited within her, deep in her soul only ever came to light when she felt his touch, his presence, his voice. he was the reason she kept fighting. Lori was right. She did have a future. all because of Glenn Rhee. 

****

an- please tell me why my writer's block disappears at  1am when I have to be up early tomorrow lmaooo but anyways we are almost at the end of book 2 we ready for book 3? Don't panic just yet Alexandria is being extended so that's gonna be fun I have a lot more plots for pre began Alexandria... 

I also am planning on continuing this story to season 10, if you watch my TikTok you may have seen a big spoiler! but don't panic! if I do choose to write to season 10 will you guys still be interested? multi oc, more love interests etc. 

I have a lot of plans for this series lmao.