[Outfit Above]
S5 Ep: 2 "Strangers"

The trail of light grey smoak from Terminus could be seen high in the sky behind us as our large group of 16 people trudged down the road and through the woods where we would take a beat for now. I set my bags down and went to go and sit with Carl to help with Judith when Glenn grabbed ahold of my hand. "Hey.."

He whispered and I stopped and turned towards him as he slipped his arms around my waist pulling me into him. I stood up on my toes meeting his lips in a sweet much awaited kiss, my arms slithered around his neck as I leaned into him. I trailed a few light kisses down his jaw and neck before I just hid in him. "I love you" he said softly into my hair and I could feel his breath against my ear.

"I love you too" I told him and squeezed him once before I stepped back from my toes and settled with just standing in his arms. Soaking up the calm moment for as long as we could until we eventually sat down against a tree, I sat sideways in his lap with his arms around me. I laid my head against his chest and he rested his against the top of mine. We stayed like that all night till the next morning when we were up and walking again, I walked on the other side of Rick up front in silence before he spoke. "I found this.." Rick started but paused to pull a silver chain out of his pocket and hold it up to me.

Tears almost pricked my eyes at the sight of my locket "You got it back" Rick nodded a small smile on his lips "It was the reason I realized Terminus wasn't what they said." We stopped for a second so he could clip it around my neck "It's good to see it back where it belongs" I chuckled lightly and held onto it as we started walking again. Glenn nudged my side as I fell back in pace with him instead of Rick, I tilted my head giving him a lopsided grin that fell when a man's screams could be heard in the distance.

Everyone froze at Ricks signal but Carl looked at his father ushering him "Dad, come on." When Rick didn't move Carl grabbed his hand and tried to pull him along "Come on! Come on." He gave in and followed after Daryl with Michonne and I hot on his trail and the rest behind us. We ran forward to find a man on top of a bolder with "Anyone, help! Help! Help! Anybody, help!" The man screamed as he scooched further up on the rock desperately trying to get away from the four walkers that surrounded him. Carl shot a walker down while Daryl, Michonne, Rick and I took out the rest. I took out my knives and threw them right into the walkers heads. Practice really does make perfect.

Rick looked around "We're clear. Keep watch." He instructed Michonne and Daryl as they stood on either side of the rock. "Come on down." the man slowly slid off of the rock at Ricks invitation, he looked around and I already knew what was gonna happen. "You okay?" The man had looked up at Rick flushed and jittery, he held a finger to his mouth signaling for a moment before he bent down and threw up.

Lucky for Rick I grabbed his arm and pulled him back slightly so he would avoid getting it on his shoes. He nodded at me as a thanks and quickly turned back to the dark skinned man. "Sorry." he apologized awkwardly and regained his composure. "Yes. Thank you. I'm Gabriel." Rick looked him up and down wearily "Do you have any weapons on you?" Gabriel chuckles but quieted when he saw Michonnes unimpressed expression. "Do I look like I would have any weapons?" Gabriel retorted with a shrug making Abraham roll his eyes.

"We don't give two short and curlies what it looks like." Gabriel panted softly "I have no weapons of any kind. The word of God is the only protection I need." Daryl leaned against the rock and gave him a look. "Sure didn't look like it." Gabriel smiled and gestured around to us "I called for help. Help came. Do you have-- have any food?" He asked gingerly towards Rick who kept a blank expression. "Whatever I-- I had left, it just hit the ground." Carl pulled out some nuts from his bag and held them out to him "We've got some pecans."

Gabriel nodded and took them "Thank you." Judith cooed and babbled in Tyreese's arms "That's a beautiful child. Do you have a camp?" Rick rose his brows and tilted his head "No. Do you?" Gabriel nodded slightly "I have a church." Rick sighs "Hold your hands above your head." Gabriel did as told but looked at Rick seemingly frightened as he started to pat him down. "How many walkers have you killed?" Gabriel shook his head "Not any, actually." He admitted nervously and flipped around when Rick told him.

"How many people have you killed?" Gabriel frowned at his question "None." He slowly turned around facing Rick and our group again "Why?" Rick questioned with his eyes narrowed. "Because the Lord abhors violence." Rick clearly saw something in his eyes, something he was hiding. "What have you done?" Gabriel seemed unsure how to answer so Rick baited him. "We've all done something." Gabriel glanced around before his eyes fell back on Rick "I'm a sinner. I sin almost every day. But those sins, I confess them to God, not strangers."

Rick tilts his head unsure and Michonne spoke up. "You said you had a church?" Gabriel looked over at her and nodded "I can take you to it" Everyone looked to Rick for permission and he silently agreed. "Show us" With that we followed the dark skinned priest through the woods to a path of sorts that led to his church. "Hey, earlier, were you watching us?" Rick asked him cautiously but Gabriel shook his head and continued walking "I keep to myself. Nowadays, people are just as dangerous as the dead, don't you think?" Daryl looked over at Rick and I and back forwards. "No, people are worse."

"Well, I wasn't watching you. I haven't been beyond the stream near my church more than a few times since it all started. That was the furthest I've gone before today." Gabriel explained "Or maybe I'm lying. Maybe I'm lying about everything and there's no church ahead at all. Maybe I'm leading you into a trap so I can steal all your squirrels." We all slowed down and Rick watched him carefully, I shifted my weight to my right leg and narrowed my eyes in Gabriels direction "Not a smart thing to say"

Gabriel had started to walk backwards as Daryl and Rick continued towards him just slower as if hunting prey. "Members of my flock had often told me that my sense of humor leaves much to be desired." Daryl nodded shortly "Yeah, it does." Brushing it off we continued on to the church he preaches that he has, Gabriel walked right into it and straight to the door but stopped when Rick called out. "Hold up. Can we take a look around first? We just want to hold on to our squirrels." He held his hand out and Gabriel slowly handed him the keys to the church.

He pushed open the doors and led Michonne, Daryl, Glenn and I inside. I took to the right side of the church and held tightly onto my machete in case I needed it. When the whole front room was found clear we moved back into the two seperate rooms, the office and a child care room. I frowned at the sight of all the childrens pictures and some of the small toys around the room. Would Glenn and I ever get the chance to have kids? Will we ever be safe enough to do that? I was brought out of my thoughts from a gentle hand on my back, I looked over my shoulder and seeing it was Glenn I leaned back against him.

Out unspoken understanding was cut short by Rick's quiet whistle, we exited the room leaving the door partially open and walked outside meeting the overs. "I spent months here without stepping out the front door. If you found someone inside, well, it would have been surprising." Gabriel states as Rick handed him back the keys "Thanks for this." Carl said graciously with a faint smile towards the man as Judith sat in his arms. "We found a short bus out back. It don't run, but I bet we could fix that in less than a day or two. Father here says he doesn't want it. Looks like we found ourselves some transport." Rick brushed his hand gingerly over Judith's head as Abraham spoke "You understand what's at stake here, right?" Rick nodded but didn't face him "Yes, I do."

"Now that we can take a breath--" Michonne started but Abraham cut her off "We take a breath, we slow down, shit inevitably goes down." Michonne glared at him "We need supplies no matter what we do next." Rick nodded agreeing with her and started to reenter the church. "That's right. Water, food, ammunition."

"Short bus ain't going nowhere. Bring you back some baked beans." Daryl stated and followed after Rick, Michonne and Carl. Glenn and I started to walk up hand in hand until he stopped by abraham. "One way or another, we're doing what Rick does. We're not splitting up again." He turned away from the ginger and we walked into the church and set our bags down in one of the pews. "How'd you survive here for so long? Where did your supplies come from?" Rick asked as he paced up and down the aisle with Judit on his hip.

"Luck. Our annual canned food drive. Things fell apart right after we finished it. It was just me." Carl walked over and took his baby sister from Rick who watched Gabriel cautiously. "The food lasted a long time. And then I started scavenging. I've cleaned out every place nearby. Except for one." Rick wrapped his gun up in his arms and glanced outside "What kept you from it?" He asked curiously "It's overrun." Gabriel stated

"How many?"

"A dozen or so. Maybe more." Rick nodded and Sasha walked towards him "We can handle a dozen." Sasha stood beside him "Bob and I will go with you. Tyreese should stay here, help keep Judith safe." Sasha smiled at her brother who couldn't help the big grin that took his lips. "That'll be okay?" Rick asked "Sure. You ever need me to watch her, need anything for her, I'm right here." Tyreese told him with a soft smile as he watched Judith and Carl.

"I'm grateful for it. And everything else."

"I'll draw you a map." Gabriel said and Rick spun on his toes "You don't need to. You're coming with us." Gabriel's lips shook slightly panickedly "I'm not gonna be of any help. You saw me. I'm no good around those things."

"You're coming with us." Rick insisted and he packed up leaving with Michonne, Sasha, Bob and Gabriel. While they were talking I was looking through an old phone book where I could an old gun shop, I showed Glenn, Maggie and Tara and we left the church leaving Tyreese, Abraham, Rosita, Eugene and Carl with Judith. When we got to the shop Glenn told us to wait outside while he went in to check it out.

"You know, I didn't want to mention anything when we looked this place up in the phone book, but I just can't imagine a gun store having leftovers nowadays." Tara smiled awkwardly and I chuckled lightly "Don't look good, does it?" Maggie said as she looked up and around the abandoned town. Loud clattering could be heard from inside as if someone fell over "Glenn?" I called out with my gun ready along with Maggie and Tara aiming beside me. Glenn came stumbling out of the gun shop all disheveled.

"Was it a walker?" Tara questioned and slowly lowered her gun, Glenn stopped in front of me and bent down the pin of his rifle. "Uh, yeah. It was a walker." I raised my brows "Uh-huh" I mused as Glenn bit his lip in embarrassment "It was a stack of boxes and a mop and I uh...I tripped." I put my gun back in my holster so I didn't end up shooting it while laughing, Glenn shifted on his feet and gave me an annoyed look as I tried to cover my laughs. "I'm sorry..I just remembered when we were helping Marcus pack and you-"

Glenn cut me off by covering my mouth with his hand "Ey! You swore that we would not talk about it" I squeezed my mouth shut and looked at him innocently stopping my laughter for the moment. Glenn slowly pulled his hand away from my mouth leaving me free to release the breath I held to stop laughing. Tara looked at me curiously while Maggie took the words from her "What did he do?" Glenn gave me a look and I held my hands up in defense making it seem like I wasn't going to tell them.

"Anyway-" Glenn started trying to change the subject off of his clumsiness "Still... got what we came for." Taras brows rose as he handed her something from his back pocket. "You actually found something?" Glenn nodded "Three silencers stashed in a mini-fridge. Rule number one of scavenging-- there's nothing left in this world that isn't hidden." We started walking back up the road, I stayed in between Tara and Maggie whispering to them. "He tripped on an open box and fell down the stairs which ended in him being covered in Marcus's clothes. He had a pair of his boxers on his head" Maggie and Tara burst into laughter which led to Glenn stopping and turning around with narrowed eyes in my direction.

I smiled innocently "I love you~" I sung softly "Mhm" Glenn hummed "It's on" He ran towards me and scooped me up over his shoulder, I squealed as he did so. He turned back around and continued walking "Glenn put me down" I giggled but he shook his head "Nope, you always hated it when Marcus or I did this so its punishment" I narrowed my eyes for a moment even though he couldn't see me. I shrugged and managed to flip myself around carefully and end up on his back.

"How did you-?" Glenn asked completely surprised how I managed to do that. "Did the same thing to Marcus. I had lots of practice. You want to put me down yet? I can get heavy" Glenn hoisted me up higher "Nope, your light"

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We got back no long before Rick and his group did and we had a feast of sorts, canned veggies and fruits, salsa bit of what we had. Glenn and I sat to the left in the first pew, as he grabbed more food I continued making faces at Judith who sat in Rick's lap. I smiled widely at the little girl as she clapped her hands together excitedly at me, around us the room quieted when Abraham stood to make a toast. "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."

Maggie raised her wine glass high "Survivors!" She cheered and everyone followed suit cheering happily at the fact that we were all alive and together. I leaned into Glenn's side as he sat down and rested an arm on top of the bench. "Is that all you want to be?" Abraham questioned our cheerful mood quickly quieting again "Wake up in the morning, fight the undead pricks, forage for food, go to sleep at night with two eyes open, rinse and repeat?" I noticed Rick was watching him carefully.

"'Cause you can do that. I mean, you got the strength. You got the skill. 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." He looked over at Eugene who sat by himself in a pew "Eugene, what's in DC?" The mullet man glanced around at us all before answering "Infrastructure constructed to withstand pandemics even of this fubar magnitude. That means food, fuel, refuge. Restart."

"However this plays out, however long it takes for the reset button to kick in, you can be safe there. Safer than you've been since this whole thing started. Come with us. Save the world for that little one. Save it for yourselves. Save it for the people out there... who don't got nothing left to do except survive." Rick chukled and Judith cooed making him smile wider "What was that?" Scattered laughter filled the church "I think she knows what I'm about to say. She's in. If she's in, I'm in. We're in."

More scattered laughter and Tyreese's clapps echoed and everyone split for the night, I got up to get some more water when Tara pulled Maggie and I to the side. "You okay?" I asked her my head tilting to the side slightly in worry. She nodded "Yeah, yeah. I was at the prison." She blurted out confusing Maggie and I. "With the Governor." She explained as she swallowed thickly "I didn't know who he was or what he could do. And I didn't know who all of you were. I-- I just didn't want it to be hidden. That I was there."

I glanced at Maggie who had looked down in thought "You're here with us now." She said quietly and I nodded adding "And that's all that matters" I was the first one to pull Tara into a hug followed by Maggie wrapping her arms around both of us. I released them and went back over to Glenn who had gotten a blanket for us, I curled up into his side with my arm over his chest and one partially around his back. I looked up at him and quietly asked "Do you think..that we will ever be safe enough to have a family..?" Glenn furrowed his brows in thought.

"I like to think we will someday"

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So I have some questions who do you want to see Aubree get close with in Alexandria? What do you think she should do since the all have jobs? I have ideas but I wanna see what you guys are thinking as well