CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN || SETTLING IN

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3 WEEKS LATER

if someone in your life makes you forget about the past, then surely they are your future.

"Glenn Rhee, you are a pain in my ass" Alex Laughed as she sat straddling his lap, the smile on her face one that had been becoming so much more common. The man beneath her was the reason for that smile.

"Hey hey, I'm the pain in the ass" He chuckled his hands laid on Alex's bare thighs, his shirt covering her body as her hands ran down his chest the twos casual relationship had developed into spending time together whenever they could without raising suspicions to anyone who wasn't aware of their sexual relationship.

Since the population of the prison had grown a significant amount things had become easier for the group, not without challenges but they had begun rebuilding, expanding to other Cell blocks. making a community. And with that came more freedom, More runs to make.

"yes, you are. you're an awful liar, everyone in this prison is gonna know about us if they were to ask you" Alex shrugged as she looked down at Glenn, her hand coming up to his face gently brushing a stray strand of hair from his forehead. his Beautiful chocolate brown eyes staring up into hers, Admiring her features, admiring every detail of her face. his heart ached at the fact she still didn't want to accept their relationship for what it was. the words Hershel had said to her rung in her ears almost every time she looked at Glenn, yet she was still afraid of fully giving herself to him.

"well I'm not really a sneak behind dad's back kinda guy" Alex sighed, internally rolling her eyes as she leant forward, her hands pressed against his chest supporting herself as she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Rick's not my dad" Alex sighed as she got off Glenn, getting off the bed she grabbed her jeans from the pile of Clothes on the floor, shaking them before she began pulling them up her Legs. The low-waisted jeans hung on her hips as she faced away from Glenn pulling his shirt over her head and throwing it to him, Glenn's eyes traced down the tattoo on Alex's back.

She'd never let him get a closer look at the snake that trailed down her spine, she'd never let him ask questions about the dark scar that traced her spine, the smaller raised scars that surrounded her spine. they made his heart ache, whatever those scars represented to Alex he knew it hurt her. he noticed the way she reacted, and the thought of someone hurting her made his blood boil and he wished he could take any pain that lingered in his mind. Whenever his fingers traced down her spine, her muscles would tense, her heart raced. so he avoided the area, Avoided Asking her about it despite the many questions he did have. he didn't want to trigger anything, or upset her...  Alex covered herself with One of her Normal tank tops, one in decent condition compared to the rest.

"you're so beautiful" He gushed, inciting a chuckle from the brunette as she turned glancing at Glenn, His eyes admiring her as she ran her hands down the top she'd just pulled over her body smoothing out the material.

"thank you, pretty boy. I'll see you at dinner. I promised Carl I'd look for some comics on this run."  Alex shrugged reaching for her jacket and gun, the pet name causing a warmth to rush through Glenn's body, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Who are you going with?" Glenn questioned as he sat up from his laidback position on the bed, the corners of his eyes crinkled as his eyebrows knitted together in confusion as he hadn't heard about this "run"

"Was supposed to be going with Daryl. but apparently, he can't so he wants me to take this Woodbury kid, Sam" she huffed reaching down to grab her backpack, Placing the bag on the table she rubbed the bottom of her back with her free hand trying to ease a pinching pain at the bottom of her spine.

"who's Sam?" He recalled, not having heard the name or met a guy named Sam, the initial thought of Alex going on a Run with someone he didn't know alone filling him with a slither of anxiety. wanting to insure her safety he continued. "you sure you don't want me to come?"

"I don't know much about him, Just what Daryl's told me... no Glenn, Rick needs you here. keep rebuilding the fences and help Hershel with the plants" Alex shrugged, she could look after herself, and she didn't want Glenn worrying about her all the time.

**

"Daryl!" Alex exclaimed trying to get his attention as she looked out into the field where he was talking to a few people she wasn't all too familiar with.

"Alex ya still good for the run today?" He asked as she made her way over to Him, catching a glimpse of a freckled brunette standing beside him, his eyes glued to hers.

"yeah. spoke to Glenn and Maggie they're coming out to help with the fences in a bit" Daryl grunted acknowledging her comment. Finally, things were starting to fall into place, Hershel on the field planting so the group could grow fresh food, the fence was Almost fully secure and there were plans for more. so much more.

"Sam's goin' with ya. Amelia was gonna, but Carol wanted help with all the kids" Alex nodded along to Daryl's words her gaze shifting to the brunette boy. Sam's Brown eyes met Alex's, He looked around her age. freckles spread across his face that wore an unsure expression surely from meeting the girl for the first time. He seemed to be around the same height as Rick, his athletic frame covered by his dirtied Clothes.

"Samuel, Sam Beckett. Heard a lot about you" He introduced, Holding his hand out to initiate a handshake Between the two, her eyes flickered from his face down to his hand. 

"Alex" She nodded accordingly, shaking his hand hesitantly before she continued. "Go wait by the car, I'll be there in a sec" The conversation Ended Quickly as he followed Alex's orders, Daryl giving her an almost questioning look as she turned back to him.

"Watch Carl and Rick for me today" Daryl nodded his eyebrows Knitting together as his hand gripped the strap of his crossbow that laid over his shoulder as Alex turned to walk away he called out her name before she could fully walk away.

"I'm sorry about everything.. with my brother" His rough voice softened as well as his eyes. biting his lip Alex looked at him shaking her head; she was aware of the loss he'd faced with his brother. despite how much she may have hated him, Daryl was family now. she hated merle, but grief was poison. she wouldn't wish it upon anyone she cared about. 

"It wasn't your fault Daryl"

**

A dagger with a sharp double-edged blade forged from greyish steel firmly planted in Alex's hand as she turned a corner in a grocery store she hadn't explored yet, Sam beside her. Turning the corner the pair prepared to come face to face with walkers, yet were met with nothing, just a partially empty store. An internal sigh of relief Alex took a few steps examining the shelves.

"Salvage what you can." She ordered the boy beside her, He nodded wanting to impress The girl he'd heard so much about. The leader's niece, The army vet. Alex walked through the store, Dagger still in hand, One Daryl had given her. She looked through what was left on the shelves; Batteries, a few canned goods, along with a few other things.

Alex collected what she could, Her eyes still searching for Comic books her cousin had asked her for... Along with something else she wanted to find, well a few things. Tampons and Condoms. Alex walked down another Aisle that seemed to have been the health section, Her eyes automatically scanning the shelves for what she was looking for. She froze as she saw a few blue Boxes on the shelve. Condoms.

Reaching out for one of the boxes she picked it up Looking at the words on the front of the box '12 Ribbed Condoms' Sighing she threw two boxes into her bag. A slight feeling of guilt and dread washed over her, As she thought about what her life had come to and if she was just wasting her time and making a mistake. Yet she couldn't understand why her heart raced around him, Why she couldn't help the smile that came to her face when she thought of him, thought of Glenn.

"Alex" His voice startled her, momentarily forgetting she wasn't alone. Glancing up she saw Sam looking at her from down the aisle, Sighing Alex made her way over to him. this was basically the equivalent of babysitting.

"what'd you find?" She asked securing her bag back onto her shoulder, The brunette looked down at her as he bit his lip.

"A load of canned stuff, pasta, Some diapers stuff like that too" Alex nodded along with his words Knowing that it still wasn't good enough for her she wanted to head back with more yet she wasn't a fan of being out alone with Sam, A part of her regretted not taking Glenn up on his offer Yet she'd also been trying to give the people of Woodbury a chance. but she knew Glenn was the best scavenger...

"Alex I wanted to ask you something else.. that's why I'm out here with you today" Alex's eyebrows furrowed together confusion taking over what could he possibly want from her she wondered as she waited for him to continue.

"you were army right?" He questioned only for Alex to stay quiet nodding Confused as to why he was even asking, It was obvious She wore her military-issued Jacket every day. That was one piece of her old life she couldn't let go of.

"I um- I want you to train me, I did some ROTC training but obviously the world kinda blew up... I want to be more prepared" His words then made sense to Alex, His persona made sense.

"alright" If he had asked her weeks ago, she would've said no. Yet she'd had time to think. She started to believe there was kindness still around, she'd started believing maybe there was something worth fighting for.

"Bright and early tomorrow morning"