The Walking Dead: Return to Paradise

Chapter Fourteen: Union

The fresh log that had just been thrown into the campfire breathed new life into it. The flames enveloped the wood, flicking the sides and charring the outsides. A pop sounded and a stream of embers ascended towards be sky. Everyone sat around the fire, the sun had gone down and the fire was the sole provider of warmth on the cold, winter night.
Clementine didn't have to worry too much about staying warm, she sat on one of the tattered couches with Violet's arms wrapped around her.
"I'll say it again, you guys kicked ass today." she said, grinning at her friends on the opposite couch.
"We totally did. Gonna be honest, I thought we'd all die fighting that herd. But hey, we all made it so yay." Louis said.
"You kept us organised out there Clem, you did an awesome job too." Violet's voice came from above her head, Clem looked up and smiled at her.
Minnie popped the last piece of raccoon meat into her mouth. Omar, being the miracle worker that he was, could make even spit roasted raccoon taste good.
"I miss s'mores. Do you guys remember s'mores?" Minnie said.
"Oh shit, yeah. I wish we had some now." Ruby responded.
"What's a s'more?" AJ asked, puzzled.
"It's a cracker and some chocolate with a toasted marshmallow on top." Louis explained.
AJ looked even more confused.
"What's a marshmallow?"
"Kind of like a little pillow that you eat, it tastes sweet. When you make s'mores, you toast the marshmallow on the fire and it makes the inside all gooey."
AJ's face lit up, he was clearly in awe that something like a s'more could exist.
"God, I would walk to Canada or some shit if they had s'mores there." Violet said, trying to remember the last time she had a marshmallow or even chocolate.
"You'd just bail in search of s'mores, huh?" Clementine smirked.
"Uhh, yeah."
"Aw, what about me?" Clem said, leaning back and looking up at Violet.
"Clementine, I love you. But you aren't made of chocolate and marshmallow, so you've got some stiff competition." Violet said with a smug grin.
"Shut up." Clem chuckled.
"Can I just say, you two are the cutest fucking thing I've ever goddamn seen." Louis said, leaning forward and resting his chin on his fist.
Minnie shifted in her seat, trying to ignore Louis' comment. She stared into the coals of the campfire, waiting for the subject to change.
"I've got an idea," Louis said, springing up, "we should play a game to get to know James better."
"Oh, uhh..." James muttered, seemingly trying to think of a reason why he couldn't.
Louis was already two steps ahead of him, dealing out cards to everyone sitting around the fire.
"Alright, the game is real simple; highest card asks, lowest answers. That way you can get to know all of us too." Louis explained.
James hesitantly nodded.
Clementine looked at her card, a five of diamonds. Everyone else flipped theirs around to show the group, Ruby had the highest and Minnie had the lowest, much to her dismay.
"So Minnie, what happened when you were with the raiders that year?" Ruby asked slowly.
Minnie shut her eyes and sighed, her shoulders dropped and she slumped backwards into the couch.
"They trained us to shoot, made us fight against other communities, made us kill people." She said in a deadpan tone, staring into the fire.
Nobody said anything for a while, Ruby had a guilty look on her face and was apparently trying very hard to blend into the couch.
"Let's uhhh... draw again." Louis said, trying to salvage the game.
This time Louis had the highest card and James had the lowest.
"I actually wanted to ask this when you first showed up but I didn't know how to take the conversation there. What's the deal with the walker skin?"
"I was part of a group called the whisperers. They used the walker skins to move through herds, guide them and stay undetected."
"Rad." Louis nodded.
Clementine glanced at her card, a two of clubs.
Well shit.
Violet flashed her jack of hearts with a grin.
"What thing do I do that pisses you off the most?"
"Umm... Nothing I guess." Clem said after a moment of deliberation.
"Come on, don't lie. There's gotta be something. I won't be mad, promise."
Clementine wasn't lying, she really couldn't think of a single thing Violet did that annoyed her. In spite of that, she gave it some thought so as to keep the game going.
"I really don't know Vi, I think the things about you that would piss other people off are why I like you."
Violet rolled her eyes and kissed Clementine.
"I'm sure you'll find something eventually." She whispered into her ear.
Minnie suddenly stood up, everyone's eyes became fixed on her due to the rapid movement. She stood there silently for a moment before speaking.
"I'm going to bed." Was all she said before leaving for the dorms.
"What was that about?" Asim asked once Minnie was out of earshot.
Clementine shrugged, nobody else had an answer either. They continued the game for a while before realising how tired they all were. Despite their nap on the ground earlier in the day, they still had very little energy left and rationalised that a full night's sleep would do them good.
Clem joined Violet in her dorm. It had just dawned on her that she had consistently felt safe enough at Ericson's to let AJ sleep in his room without her supervision. She was grateful for that, not only did it give AJ some of the independence he craved, but it let her spend her evenings with Violet.
"What do you think was up with Minnie?" Violet asked, kicking her boots off.
Clem took her coat off, necessitated outside by the snowfall, and hung it on the back of the door.
"No idea. She's probably just going through some things, remember how she was the week she got here?"
Violet nodded, recalling the image of Minnie sitting in the courtyard brandishing a gun.
"If she needs help, I just hope she asks us, y'know?"
Clem put her hands on Violet's hips and looked her in the eyes.
"I trust her, and she trusts us. We'll help her if somethings wrong, she'll be okay."  Clementine whispered.
Violet draped her arms around Clementine's shoulders. They began to sway in time with an imaginary song only audible to the two of them. Clem put her forehead against Violet's, a thought suddenly struck her. It was so simple she was surprised to have not thought of it earlier, yet the entire prospect seemed more daunting than facing down a herd of walkers.
"Hey Vi..." she began, her heart racing, "would you get married?"
"To you? Of course." She quickly answered.
"Do you... want to get married?" Clem said tentatively, biting her lip in anticipation.
Violet's eyes went wide and her mouth hung open slightly.
"Like right now?"
Clementine nodded.
"I just... I love you, and I don't see a point in waiting 'til we're older. We could die any moment out there, if that happens I'd rather die married to you."
"I love you too Clem, let's do it. But let's try to avoid dying too early if we can." Violet smiled warmly.
"So I've got a wife now? Awesome." Clem chuckled, pulling Violet closer.
She felt as if a weight had lifted from somewhere deep down inside her.
Violet kissed her, holding it for a long time. She took Clem's hat off her head and placed it on the bedside table. Clementine fell backwards onto the bed, dragging Violet down with her. She moved her hands upwards onto Violet's bare stomach, running her fingers along her soft skin. Violet kissed her again, unbuckling her belt and threading it through the loops on her pants. Clem raised herself and kissed Violet's neck, holding onto the bunk above for support.
"C'mere wifey." Clementine laughed, pulling Violet down on top of her.

Clementine couldn't sleep now, she was too excited. She had a wife now, she was married. It all seemed so surreal and yet it was true. Violet had no issues sleeping it seemed, she was passed out with her arm draped over Clem's chest. The layered blankets protected them from the harsh winter chill seeping in through the cracked window and Violet's body pressed against hers added to the warmth.
She smiled, looking at Violet's tranquil expression. Her eyes were gently shut and her lips were slightly parted. Clem brushed a strand of hair out of Violet's face and began stroking her hair gently. As she often did, Clem synchronised her breathing with Violet's, she planted a kiss on the blonde's cheek. Closing her eyes, she decided to finally try and sleep.

"Clementine.."
What was that?
"Clementine."
Is someone talking to me, or am I asleep?
"Clementine wake up."
A hand shook her shoulder, stirring her awake. Clementine jumped when she saw Minnie standing over her.
"Jesus fucking Christ, you scared the shit out of me Minnie. What are you doing here?" She whisper-yelled.
Violet stretched and yawned, rubbing her eyes.
"Clem...what's..."  Violet started.
She also jumped upon seeing Minnie.
"What the shit? The hell are you-."
Minnie cut Violet off.
"Put some clothes on and come outside, you're gonna want to see this." Minnie said ominously, walking out into the hall and shutting the bedroom door.
Clementine looked confusedly at Violet who seemed to share the same sentiment. It was still very dark outside, Clem guessed it was around two in the morning. Neither she nor Violet could guess what Minnie wanted to show them, but from the tone of her voice, it wasn't going to be good news.