safe

Chapter 81

The tears soak the front of my shirt as I come to terms with what I have done. I broke off the one relationship I thought would ever eventuate into something permanent. I broke off my relationship with the father of my baby. The love of my life.

But more importantly than that I for fitted my baby in the heat of the moment. When put on the spot I was such a shitty mother that I let her go.

Granted I fought for Max I just don't think it's okay for me to have let go of my baby so quickly, especially since I pushed her straight into the arms of Maggie, that fucking bitch.

As I wipe up my tears in the early morning light I see Rick walk outside to inspect the area.

I stand up and walk over to him, I have to thank him for standing up for me against Glenn. Especially his acknowledgement of my efforts on the way to Terminus.

"Hey." I whisper-shout as I walk towards him.

He turns around quickly and nods his head as a hello.

"I wanna say thank you for defending me Rick." I start as we walk outside.

Rick turns to me a again, but there's sadness behind his gaze.

"You were so brave yesterday Rubes, I never had the courage to leave my relationship and , hell, I don't think me and Lori were even half as crazy about each other as you two ever were." He chuckles.

I look down and wait for the pinpricks of the tears to rush back to me.

"You are an amazing asset to the group, and I will not let anyone question that Ruby, no matter how much I want to kill you sometimes." He finishes, giving me a friendly pat on the shoulder.

"Thanks Rick, you actually helped me just then, surprisingly." I admit in shock.

"You helped me so much, just paying you back." He smiles and walks off.

The group is waking up now and I see why I didn't cut and run, these people are family as much as Glenn was.

"I didn't know you had a baby." Jeremy says, sidling up to me as I watch the group start up for the day.

"You don't know a lot about me, but you'll learn." I say, grabbing his arm and pulling him outside, through the barriers and into the woods.

I walk to a small logged area and sit down against a tree trunk comfortably.

"I'm incredibly attracted to you; hot, British-Indian, smart. I'm just, in a precarious situation right now." I admit humbly.

"Does that mean no kissing, or..."

"No... Kissinger definitely on the table, just big romantic committing to each other and stuff is."

"I can definitely agree to this. As long as you're okay with talking too." He warns.

"That's very agreeable for me." I jest.

He leans over me on the ground and reaches a hand out, pulling me up firmly.

I lean up quickly and plant a quick kiss on his soft lips, forcing him to smile happily.

"You're really cute, did you know?" He laughs.

"As a matter of fact yes, I did." I giggle.

"So were you and Glenn together before the apocalypse or after?"

"We found each other about three years in, maybe four."

"I take it that you guys were pretty serious."

"We are." Glenn interjects from behind me.

I whirl around to face him and just catch him grabbing hold of my arm.

Without saying anything he pulls me towards the church.

"What are you doing?!" I demand, struggling against his grip to no avail.

"What's happening?" Jeremy calls from behind us.

Glenn turns and glares at him.

"Could you fuck off and leave my girlfriend alone." He snarls.

He keeps on towards the doors and drags me inside, letting go of my arm and leaving me to stand alone.

He suddenly drops to his knee and looks up at me.

"Ruby, you're my world. I know I haven't been sensitive enough, or there for you but I can't lose you. If you want to go and help on runs, go. If you want to burn things to the ground, burn them. I'm going to be here for you though Ruby, because I love you. Will you marry me?"

He reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a beautiful silver ring with a circular opal right in the middle of it.

The group gasp as they wait for my reaction, but I have none.

I just stand there.

You're only 18... The little voice in my head whines. You should explore... Not get tied down to something you don't even know you'll want in a year.

You've got two kids and a man that loves you more than anything else in the world... Another voice coos romantically from another part of me.

"Ruby?" Glenn questions, pulling me out of my trance.

A collective anxiety has fallen over the group like a blanket and it's so thick I can feel it. I move only my eyes to scan facial expressions, trying to collect any that re-assure how I'm feeling.

The pause I have taken has become far too long too be comfortable and I know I have to make a decision.

"Glenn... I..."