safe

Chapter 54

It's strange sitting around this kitchen table talking like everything is normal.

Nothing's normal right now.

I have a dead boyfriend and an alive baby.

When this whole thing first happened I thought the dead coming would surely be the worst thing ever.

When my parents died I thought that was worse.

When Glenn and I fell in love I thought that there was finally some real chance for Max and I.

But now I'm not going to get my hopes up.

There's too much at stake for me now.

There's a little bit of Glenn that can live on in this world and I am going to protect her with everything I've got.

I know Michonne will take care of the baby like it's her own, when she first met me I knew she had a string maternal side to her.

Rick wants to ensure Carl's survival above anything, and from the way he stares at me I know he would give his life to save mine but I don't think he would feel obligated to take care of Daisy and Max.

At least not when Carl's life is also in the line.

I need to survive. I need to thrive.

There is no stable environment anymore.

"We should get some supplies tomorrow." I suggest.

"We can take the houses along the street, i haven't been through many." Carl informs us.

"Rick you should stay back, you look terrible." I tell him.

"I don't feel too well." He admits.

I scrape my chair back and stand up.

"Im going to go get changed, maybe have an early night."

Michonne nods and Rick stands.

"I'll help organise who's sleeping where." He tells me.

I pick up Daisy and head up towards the main bedroom where my stuff is.

"Ruby can we talk?" Rick asks as I put Daisy down on the bed.

"About?" I say, even though I can guess the answer.

"Us." Bingo.

"Rick there is no us." I tell him sharply.

"But what if there was... You can't admit you don't think about me like that." He pleads.

"I'm never going to get over Glenn, not in a hundred years." I tell him honestly.

"You don't need to get over Glenn... hell... I'm still not over Laurie... But I feel like you make the pain hurt less." He says running his hand through his hair.

"Not right now Rick." I tell him as I grab a shirt out of the set of drawers in the room.

"Ruby can I just kiss you. Just to test this out?" Rick says, coming up behind me and putting a hand on my arm.

I contemplate the decision for a second.

I know that if Rick and I do get together I'm a lot safer, and he might even see Daisy as a replacement for Judith...

I stretch out my hand and place it softly on Rick's cheek, he puts his hand over mine and slides the other around my waist.

He pulls me close and I start to stretch onto my tiptoes as he leans down and gently presses his lips to mine.

I deepen the kiss and press my body against his, gliding my free hand over his ass and giving it a playful squeeze.

Rick starts to laugh into the kiss and I pull back.

"See?" He says.

"I guess." I reply, "Mind rocking Daisy for a bit?"

"Sure."