Safe haven, Rick Grimes

048. IT WAS LIKE I NEVER RAN AWAY

Chapter forty eight

"It was like I never ran away." 

That morning, Scarlett had made sure Judith and Carl had ate breakfast, as she heard the sound of Michonne's sword, she walked upstairs with Judith in her arms and found her standing there in her uniform "I have to tell you that sword does not go with that outfit." she shared, as Michonne chuckled "well we have the authority to break up fist fights." she told her "she told me she could read people. Not as good as me but.." Scarlett shared, fixing her hold on Judith "I don't know if it's for us or for them. Or maybe Deana's trying to get rid of us. And then you put these jackets on me and Rick, have the people see it. If that's the play, that'd be smart. And she seems smart." Michonne shared "smart for before not now." Scarlett told her, looking down at Judith "this is now." Michonne told her, as Scarlett looked back up at her "not for me." she told her, turning and walking off.

Where as the day continued on, Judith was playing with her wooden horse in the living room, as Scarlett heard someone out on the front porch, she stood up from Judith and walked over to the front door and when she did, a box was left at the door as she opened it and stepped out, looking left and right, she didn't see anyone, as she grabbed the box and brought it inside, opening it up, her wedding dress was inside of it, as she closed the box, she quickly headed upstairs.

Rick had come back, as he opened the front door, he saw Judith sitting in the living room alone as he furrowed his brows "Scar?" he asked, and as he did, the sound of something being teared apart filled his ears, as he headed upstairs, walking cautiously, that noise continued on and on, and as he turned to the bedroom, he saw a box open by the door, and white tool and fabric torn apart all over the room, as he stepped over the box, walking into the room, he heard the sound of tearing, as he walked around the bed, he found Scarlett sitting there on the ground with a knife in her hand, ripping a wedding dress apart.

He crouched down to her "Scar?" he asked her, as Scarlett ripped another part of the dress off "this stupid party." she said, as her knife got stuck in the dress as she tried to pull it out "he left this at the door.." she shared, getting her knife out, she threw the dress to the floor, breathing heavy, Rick moved closer to her, putting his arms around her and pulling her into his chest, Scarlett held onto him, listening to his heartbeat, she began to feel her breath slowing down again.

Going to the party, Carol was leading the way, as Carl stood behind her, Scarlett was behind him in a pink dress that matched Judith's, as Rick stood behind them, as Carol opened the door, holding her tray of cookies, they all walked in "oh my.." Deana said, as she noticed them and began walking over, Rick shut the door behind them "welcome." Deana told them "hi." Carol said "it's so good to see you." Deana told her, looking to Carl "hi, Carl." she said, looking at Scarlett and Rick "thank you for coming. You know, I didn't get a chance to interview this one. I envy her." Deana shared, looking at Judith "why?" Rick asked "she'll get to see what this place will become. Come. Come on in." Deana told them, turning and walking in, Carol followed her along with Scarlett, Rick and Carl.

Where Rick kept his eyes on Scarlett and Carl who were by a group of woman showing them Judith, as Deana walked up to him with a man "you're Rick." the man said, as Rick turned to them "Rick, this is my husband Reg." Deana told him "you're a pretty remarkable guy." Reg shared "how's that?" Rick asked "well, I watched the tapes. All of them. The things those people said about you. The things you did for them. Especially that one." Reg shared, motioning with his head.

Rick turned looking at Scarlett, he turned back to Reg "didn't you build that wall out there?" he asked, as Reg chuckled "I did, with help. A lot of it. And it's a damned incredible achievement. But it's a wall." he shared, as Deana chuckled "fifteen lives in this world? I think you have me beat." Reg told him "well, we're standing behind that wall right now, dear. So let's call it a tie." Deana shared, as they chuckled "I'm glad your here. Now, take a glass." Reg told him "I'm good." Rick told him "you don't have to be." Reg told him, as Rick took it, Reg laughed "there you go." he told him, pouring him and himself a glass "thank you." Rick told him.

As the front door opened, Rick looked to it and saw Jessie walk in with her two boys Ron and Sam then at the end was Pete, as he looked to Deana and Reg "excuse me." he told them, turning and going to find Scarlett. 

The day soon turned into night, as someone had taken Judith from Scarlett, Scarlett was standing with Rick who had his arm around her "look, she's here, which means it's empty, so.." Carol whispered to Rick, as Olivia walked into the party "and before you say you'll come with me, you've got bigger things to worry about." Carol whispered, looking at Scarlett, as she turned walking out "hey, Scarlett," Jessie called over and as she did, Scarlett took Rick's arm off of her and walked over.

And as she did, Rick followed closely behind her, where when he tried to put his arm around her again, Scarlett wouldn't let him, remembering what Pete did to her just for talking to a guy "this is my husband Pete." Jessie told them, as Pete walked up "hey, good to meet you." he said, holding out his hand, Rick shook hands with him, as Pete looked to Scarlett then back to Rick "I wanted to thank you for taking on being our constable. We keep growing at this rate. We're gonna need even more." Pete shared "I hope so." Rick said.

As Pete looked back at Scarlett "you know, Scarlett, Deana hasn't come up to me yet and told me you and I'd be working together again." he shared, as Scarlett stared at him "you'll have to take that up with her then." she told him, finding her words, as Pete looked to Rick's glass "I'm going to get us a..a refill." he told him, and when he did, Scarlett watched him go, remembering the time that she broke a glass and when she did, he then smacked her across the face "I'm gonna go find Judith." she told them, turning and walking off.

But as the night continued on, Scarlett felt like she was going in circles, almost like Judith had disappeared, like Carl had disappeared, like Rick had disappeared, the entire life she had made for herself before coming here was just gone, as she bumped into someone "I'm..I'm sorry." she said, as Pete laughed "your sorry?" he asked, and when he did, Scarlett knew he was drunk "Pete, please..please don't do this." she told him "do what? Hmm? Because from what I remember you disappeared from me without a word. And now you..you show up back here with another guy? A husband." Pete shared.

"I didn't just disappear. I ran away." Scarlett told him "but you remember right? Our last conversation.." Pete told her, stepping toward's her, Scarlett felt frozen in place "it's like I said I would find you. Because we're meant to be together. To live together. To grow old together and die together." he shared, going to put his hand on her face, Scarlett flinched "no, no. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter cause we've been done for a long time now." she shared, her voice breaking "but see that's where your wrong." Pete told her, pointing his finger at her, Scarlett flinched again "you don't get to decide when we're done! I do!" he voiced, as Scarlett jumped back, closing her eyes shut, Deana saw this interaction from across the room and it made the long story pretty clear for her.

Where once he finally left her, Scarlett went and found Judith, holding her in her arms, she quickly began heading toward's the door, wanting nothing more but to leave and as she got there, someone grabbed her arm "no!" she screamed, as she turned looking at Rick "what? What happened?" Rick asked her, as Scarlett shook her head "nothing. Nothing just..just stay here with Carl. I just need to go." she shared, her voice breaking as she did "no. No, your upset and..and scared." Rick whispered "I..I went to find Judith but then I couldn't find her and I felt like I was going in circles and then Carl and you were gone and I felt like everything was gone. And then I bumped into him and it was like I never ran away." she shared, crying, Rick put his arm around her, leaning his head on top of her's.

The next morning, Scarlett was holding Judith in her arms as she walked into Carl's room as he was lying on his bed "come on. I was thinking the three of us could go for a walk. Unless you have plans with your new friends, I'd totally understand." she shared "no. No plans." Carl told her, getting up off the bed, he put his shoes on, as he walked over to her.

Where having gotten out the stroller, Scarlett put Judith in it, as her and Carl were walking down the street and as they did, they passed Jesse and Pete "hey, Scarlett, Carl." Jesse said, waving to them, Pete stared at them and as he did, Scarlett stopped walking, staring back at him, Carl looked at him and then to Scarlett then back to the man, where neither of the two noticed Rick walking toward's them, where when he saw Pete looking at Scarlett, be brought his hand to his back pocket that had the gun he was secretly keeping with him.

Where when Pete looked away from them and continued walking off with Jesse, Rick took his hand off the gun and then walked up to Scarlett, Carl and Judith "you guys okay?" he asked "yeah just going for a walk." Scarlett told him, continuing to push the stroller "I'll join you guys." Rick told them, as he began walking in stride with her and Carl.