Unbreakable threads

Chapter Ninety Four: Settling in to Alexandria.

Deanna and Aaron walked Alyssa and Rick, who was still holding Judith, back outside to where the rest of the group stood waiting. The unease among them was palpable, every face tense as they watched Deanna lead them toward a small building nearby.

"This is our armory," Deanna explained as they entered. The room was organized, with shelves lining the walls, neatly stocked with weapons and ammunition. Behind the counter stood a plump woman with glasses, her demeanor professional but firm as she watched the group file in.

Deanna addressed them all, her tone calm but authoritative. "This is how we work here. If you need a weapon, you sign it in and out. It's about maintaining safety and accountability for everyone."

The woman behind the counter began collecting their weapons. Maggie handed over her knife, Glenn and Abraham gave up their firearms, and even Carol, after a slight hesitation, slid her pistol across the counter. The group complied reluctantly, their eyes darting around, but no one spoke up.

Then Daryl stepped forward, his crossbow slung over his shoulder. He stood rigid, his grip tightening on the weapon as the woman looked expectantly at him. He didn't move to hand it over, his jaw set and his eyes defiant.

Alyssa, standing close to Daryl, reached out and squeezed his arm, a silent reassurance. Without hesitation, she spoke for him, her voice steady and firm. "Daryl keeps the bow."

The room went still, the group exchanging glances. Alyssa's tone wasn't demanding, but it left no room for argument.

Deanna regarded Alyssa for a moment, her expression thoughtful. Then, to everyone's surprise, she nodded. "Alright," she said simply. "Daryl keeps the bow."

The group looked between Alyssa and Deanna, clearly caught off guard by the ease of the concession. Rick's eyes flicked to Alyssa, his face unreadable, but it was obvious the quiet shift in power hadn't escaped him. Alyssa, however, didn't look at Rick—her focus remained on Daryl.

Daryl glanced at Alyssa, his grip on the crossbow relaxing slightly as he gave her a small, almost imperceptible nod of thanks. She nodded back, their silent understanding passing between them as always.

Deanna turned back to the group, her tone smooth as she moved the conversation forward. "Let's get you all settled in," she said, gesturing for them to follow her out.

Aaron gently guided Rick, Alyssa, Carl, and baby Judith down the street, stopping in front of two neighboring houses. Both were pristine, well-maintained, and eerily normal-looking compared to the chaos they'd been living in.

"These are yours to choose from," Aaron said softly, his tone warm and inviting. "You've got first dibs."

Rick looked at him, his brow furrowed. "For us?" he asked cautiously, clearly unused to such generosity.

Aaron nodded. "Yes. Get settled in, choose a house. I'm four doors down if you need anything. Explore, settle in, take a shower—whatever you need. This is home now."

Rick stood silently for a moment, taking it in. Carl stood beside Alyssa, his wide eyes scanning the two houses with equal parts curiosity and uncertainty. The idea of living in a place that wasn't constantly under threat felt strange—almost wrong.

Alyssa stayed close to Carl, her arms crossed as she eyed the houses. Aaron's assumption was clear: that she'd live with Rick, Carl, and Judith. But that wasn't something she had imagined at all. The idea of sharing a space with Rick made her uneasy. Their relationship had been on a downward spiral, and the thought of pretending they were a functioning father-daughter duo seemed impossible.

Rick glanced at Alyssa briefly, as if expecting her to follow him inside one of the houses, but she didn't move. Her jaw tightened, her silence speaking volumes.