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.・゜-: ✧☾ ☽✧ :-゜・.
Laughter, chattering, and the sound of plates bounced between the four walls around them. Everyone in the group's eyes shone with something that Stella hadn't seen in a long time and everyone was showing their teeth in huge smiles. Even Judith was heard giggling as Rick and Levi played with the girl. The food that Rick and the others had found was more than enough for a while. Even a wine bottle had been passed around the group, poured into the glasses that they had found.
Stella laid in Levi's lap on the floor, resting the back of her head against his chest, draped in the blanket of his arms.
"You okay?" Levi whispered into Stella's ear, his breath tingling down her neck as he tugged a small strand of her hair back.
Stella nodded. "I am now. Don't worry. I don't know what happened."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Don't be, Levi. It wasn't your fault. I don't want you to think that." The girl looked up at him and he nodded.
"I was just so scared that I'd hurt you."
"You could never hurt me." Stella smiled and placed a hiss on his lips before placing her head back down on his chest. For the first time in months, she felt completely full after two cans of food. She had enjoyed every bite. But she wasn't just full of food. She was full of hope and happiness. Something that she hadn't felt in a while. She had found her way back to her family, what was left of it. She had Levi and the rest of their group with her. Not only had they found shelter for the moment but also food and resources.
But there was still something lingering in the air. Stella glared over at Gabriel who sat on one of the benches a few rows back. The letters carved into the church wall seemed to have carved themselves into the back of the girl's head, restricting her from becoming fully relaxed. Like a constant weighted fear that the man would turn on them hung on her shoulders. She wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt but she wasn't ready to take the risk with her family under the same roof as him.
"It's fine," Levi said. The warmth of his hand wrapped around Stella's and she looked down to see that she had grabbed the handle of her knife that rested in her holster.
"There's plenty of us and one of him. Relax." Levi whispered in steals ear like he had read her thoughts. The girl switched her attention from the priest and released the grip on the knife.
Judith cooed next to her, allowing her to get a momentary calm. The girl sat in the comfort of her father's lap next to Stella and Levi, babbling and laughing at the faces Rick was making.
Stella giggled at the sight of the little girl grabbing an almond off Levi's plate and feeding it to him. Judith clapped her hands as the boy chewed on the nut and Rick and Stella joined her.
"Thank you, Jude." Levi chuckled.
"I'd like to propose a toast!" Abraham's voice echoed through the church bringing the chattering to a halt. Stella like away from Judith and up at the ginger man who stood in front of everyone with a glass of wine in his hands.
