Hold Tight ↠ R. Grimes { on going}

[26]

A few hours ago Rick left a clear note on the Terminus sign saying No Sanctuary. We now are taking a break and cooling down. I'm standing with Carl and Judith as he feeds her. I walked around the others and went over to find Rick. He was talking with Tara on the kther side of Glenn and Maggie. I walked up beside him and smiled at Tara.

"Just so you know, I was with the Governor when he cut the mans head. I just don't want that to be a secret between the two leaders." Tara said. I nodded. Wait, two leaders? Oh, she's calling me the other because...oh I got it. Okay. She walked away and I wrapped my ars around him and felt his coat on the palms of my hand as I buried my head in his chest.

"I love you." I said, lowly and muffled by his shirt.

"I love you too." He said and kissed the top of my head.

Now, we all crowd a fire, watching around us. Daryl, Carol and Rick aren't with us, but close. I held Judith as we slouched by the fire. Carl, surprisingly, was asleep on my left thigh, Judith was wiggling on my right. Rick came back later and sat back down beside me and leaned against the tree. I scooted over and rested myself between his arm and body, my head on his shouder. Once I was comfortable, his strong arm wrapped around me and I rested my other arm that wasn't on Carl, on Rick's chest, before drifting off into a sleep.

The next day, we were on the road again. Walking through the forest with our weapons in front of us, fingers by the trigger. I walked on the side to make sure they were together and safe, though I was off a little. I heard a whistle and looked up, Rick was starring at me and motioning to come up with him. I did as I was told and just as I got up there, something rattles the bushes. We all point our weapons at it and out comes Daryl.

"Damn it, Daryl" I breathed slowly before turning back. We began to walk again, wondering why Rick wanted me up with him. I opened my mouth to speak but it was covered up by screams by another person up ahead.

"Dad! Merc! Come on!" Carl shouted to us. I glanced at Rick before running off with Carl. I took out both knifes, forgetting one was still Ricks. At the clearing, a man on top of a rock screamed and struggled to stay on. Walkers surround it, clawing at the rock. Carl and I started stabbing walkers, then the whole group was there. A walker had ahold of my shoulder but didn't have enough time to scratch or bite, Rick was there to save me. I nodded a thanks before motioning the guy to come down.

"It's alright. Come down." I said, in a kinda soothing way. He slowly climbed down as I stepped up by Daryl. I eyed the man, nkw on the ground. He was a preacher. He has the clothes on. Thats my guess. Rick asked him a question, then the preacher threw up. I gagged unnoticed, bending my head around to block the view. I looked back up to the man, now named "Gabriel" and who has a church. He was talking about how he hasn't been out since the world quit, this was his first time. I took a deep breath in, I didn't hear most of their conversation, but I heard:"I sin to God almost every day, but those sins I confess to God, not strangers."

He ended up taking us back to the church of his. It was in the middle of the forest, there was a church bus behind it. I felt someone walk up beside me and grab my hand, and when I turned around I saw Aubrey. She had a scared look on her face, so what I did was hung my arm on her next and kept her next to me. For some reason Rick became tense, like overnight. I looked over at him again, admiring his frustrated face. Even with a beard he still warmed my heart. His body was really slender to where his shirt was baggy. His curly hair that I love to pick out and braid got longer. His eyes got bluer too. Most of all he got taller. Damnit, when I want to kiss him now I have to jump.

Gabriel let us into the church and search around. Looking through his church to make sure he's not a lie. I mean, he's awkward, he's never killed a walker and is afraid. Once your trusted by us, you will not be afraid. I stood with Daryl, leaning on his shoulder.

~

The chruch is safe, and we are having a feast. Rick, Bob, Sasha, Michonne and Gabriel went to a food bank and brought back load of food. I had my treat, watching my husband and felt the little girl eat too. I smiled, looking at the door. Something felt off right now to me. I turned to Rick before getting up. I walked carefully to the door, peering out. A shadow stood by the tree closest to the church. I snuck the door open and got out, slowly walking to it with my hands on my knife and gun. As I got closer, I realized it was Bob.

"Bob?" I asked softly, slowly walking up to him.

"Mercedes?!" He asked, I let out a sigh." You can't be out here." He told me.

"Why?"I asked, tilting my head and crossing my arms.

"Rick. He loves you and I bet he doesn't want to lose yoh again. You know, he talked about you every day while we were going to Terminus. " Bob said that warmed my heart. That was all I felt before I blacked out.

-

"Mercedes. No, she's the ring leaders lover." I heard mumbling. I had no idea what happened. My eyes rolled open and I was faced by a building, that looked like the a school. A man stood beside me as well as Bob. What the hell? The man looked down at me and smiled.

"Hello, Mercedes." He smirked, I could see the death in his eyes.

"Who the hell are you, and how in the hell do you know my name?"I hissed. I tried moving my hands but they were tied together, as well as my feet.

"Everyone here knows you, Mercedes. You and your Ring Leader. You're the First Lady of Rick's group. You were my second choice, but I also wanted to get the grey haired queen bitch that killed my mom. But, she drove off with the archer, so she was out of reach." The guy said with pure hate. Wait, Carol and Daryl drove off? Why? That's not the problem at the moment. "Oh, my names Gareth. "

Gareth.

That's the head of Terminus, or was the head. I glanced around to see about three more and then him. Martin. He was alive? Ty said he killed him. I blinked to make sure he was there, and he was.

"Plus Martin here knows both of ya'. That's how we found ya'." Gareth said, patting Martin on the back. I growled, knowing he was the one that threatened to snap Judith's neck.

"So, to get some sort of revenge, we stole the leaders most loved possession. His lover. Or as we say, The Leaders Lover. We took Bob too, cause we didn't want to starve. "Gareth sneered. I looked at Bob who was just waking up. Then my eyes traveled to his leg. Nothing but a stump was there. My mouth gapped open but Bob started laughing at the Termites that were gnawing on his leg. Gareth was getting pissed off, that until Bob revealed a huge gap on his shoulder.

"I've been bit you stupid, pricks!" Bob laughed. I smiled, just cause they were choking on his foot, trying to get it out of their system. They started to panicking, Martin threatened to kill Bob now. I hissed lowly. Bob was laughing uncontrollably at them. I turned to Gareth.

"Hah, dumbasses. At least the Leaders Lover would've known to check before eating." Not I was saying we were going cannibalism. Gross. I can't. I smirked until I felt a pain in my head and I blacked out.

-

I woke up on a couch, covered in blankets. No one was in there right now, well nevermind. Carl was there. I sat up and he smiled.

"Thank god. You had me worried." Carl said. I felt a smile grow on my lips. He acts so mature and isn't afraid as he use to be. I stood up feeling awkward for a minute. Carl led me out of the room to see they were crowding around fussing about God knows what with Abraham. "Dad, I told you." Carl spoke up. Rick turned to his son but his eyes landed on me. He came over and basically swept me off my feet.

"I'm so sorry I broke the promise. " he whispered in my ear, his beard tickling my cheek.

"It's fine." I told him and then bending my head back so I can look into his eyes." I'm here now, thats all that matters." I told him softly, our lips inches apart. We kissed for a couple moments before we pulled apart. Carl came over and gave me Judith. Rick hesitated.

"Who did that?" He asked, pointing to my cheek. I reached up and felt a cut, and the crimson liquid. I looked back up at Rick.

"Gareth." I stated, his eyes widened.