Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in forever and I hate that I've been as MIA as I have. Most of it came from lack of confidence and a lot of the stressful things I was going through in my own life. The last few years have been really rough on me but thankfully, I'm coming around to writing again! I am now on Archive of Our Own (under GeminiMercedes as well) and I'm really excited to continue writing! Currently, I've written Gabe X Clementine (Walking Dead) and Keith X Lance (Voltron) stories on there but plan to diversify and eventually come back to the Sonic fandom. I hope you can still enjoy the things I write in this experimental and transitional phase for me. Anyways, I hope you enjoy my latest one-shot!

/

He wasn't surprised to hear that Clementine was leaving. Everyone knew that was coming.

Her plan was never to stay in Richmond, she had been completely against going in the first place. Still, she'd been able to get information on A.J and come to amicable terms with some of the New Frontier. That wouldn't be enough for Clementine, though, not until she found A.J.

What Gabe was surprised to hear was that she would be leaving the following day.

They'd only just driven the muertos out with the help of Jesus and his men. The city needed time to recover and its citizens the time to grieve. Even though he'd only spent a few days around her, Gabe had been hoping for a couple more before she left. It crushed him knowing that was no longer a possibility.

"Are you going to talk to her?" His uncle Javi asked when he saw him in the town square.

"I'm definitely going to say goodbye," he replied, crossing his arms and looking around.

"That's not what I meant," Javi said with a smirk. Javi was the one who'd told him the news that morning. Gabe shook his head.

He wasn't going to admit, even to Javi, that he'd been looking for her all morning.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, not sure he sounded convincing. Judging by Javi's smirk, he definitely didn't.

"Sure you don't, Gabe."

"W-whatever," Gabe replied, glaring at the ground. A hand came down to rest on his shoulder, causing him to look up. Javi was smiling at him and shaking his head.

"Follow your heart, okay? You can do this," he said, squeezing Gabe's shoulder lightly.

"I-I'll try," he stuttered, "doesn't seem like it will matter now, though."

"I'm sure it will, to both of you," Javi replied.

"Okay," Gabe said, turning away to resume his search.

"I think I saw her at the chapel," Javi said with a wink and a wave. Gabe blushed as he turned away, heading in the direction of the stained glass building.

"Thanks, Javi!" He barely got out as he headed off.

/

He always felt bittersweet in the chapel. On one hand, it was a space of tranquility and peace that was hard to come by nowadays. On the other, the pictures of all the recent victims left an ache in his heart that was hard to shake off.

He was surprised to see that Clementine was the only person there, standing by the pictures at the altar. The glow of the candles around her only increased how radiant she'd always looked to him.

"Um, hi Clem," he called out softly. She turned at the sound of his voice and smiled.

"Hey, Gabe," she said, turning back to the pictures as he walked towards her.

"It's going to take a lot to rebuild Richmond," Clementine started, "I know you guys can do it, though."

"I agree," Gabe replied, "I hope the people can respect Javi's role as leader. So much has happened since we got here."

Clementine nodded, turning around to fully face him.

"That's true. A lot of it wasn't his fault, though. I'm sure it'll be okay."

A silence fell over them and Gabe gulped slowly. In the past, even in the heat of battle, this silence would have been treated so differently. It felt awkward and uncomfortable now.

"Uh, Clem?" He started, a thousand thoughts flying through his mind as he looked her in the eyes.

"I know that you're leaving tomorrow and-"

"Gabe-" she interrupted, a hand reaching out to him.

"L-let me finish, please?" He asked before she could finish. Slowly, her arm fell to her side and she nodded. He took a deep breath and smiled at her in appreciation.

"I understand you have to find A.J. I know that's really important to you and I would never stop you from going after him. But…"

He was going to do it. There was no time to turn back now. He struggled to keep eye contact and his gaze pivoted between her and the pictures behind her.

"I-I really like you, Clem," he starts, squeezing his eyes shut, "I know we've only known each for a few days and I know you have to leave but I have to tell you how I feel. I've learned so much from you and you've had my back when I was scared. Everything you've done has meant a lot to me." His fists were clenched at his sides as he spoke and he could hear his heart beating in his ears.

"If you come back to Richmond," he continued, "would you, well, would you let me take you out? O-on a d-date, I mean?"

He heard his words bounce and echo off the chapel walls. His voice had cracked a couple of times and he wasn't sure if it was because of puberty or nerves. Either way, he was definitely glad there wasn't anyone else in there with them.

But what was Clementine thinking? She hadn't said anything yet and he hadn't opened his eyes either. Maybe she only saw him as the temperamental dork who didn't have the level of maturity she needed in a date or a boyfriend.

Another minute (that felt like an hour to him) passed before Clementine responded.

"Gabe, that's very sweet of you to say, but…" she started, slowly.

There it was. He could feel his heart breaking into a million pieces. He tried to muster the courage to look at her and fake a smile. This had always been a possibility and honestly? He should have seen this coming. He had a long way to go before he was even close to being in her league.

He took a deep breath as he waited for the rejection. He'd tell her it was okay and then go scream into a pillow or something.

"The thing is, I'll be here for another week," she said. Gabe's eyes shot open and he almost took a step back.

"Wait, what?!"

Clementine looked amused as he stared at her in shock.

"The lookout said there's another herd not too far from Richmond. It's not huge, but it's big enough to want to wait out," Clementine explained, crossing her arms over her chest.

"They told me it would take a few days to clear and that I should stay here," she continued, "I'd rather not leave A.J waiting any longer but taking on a herd won't get me to him any faster." She explained, shaking her head and turning to look out one of the stained glass windows that wasn't boarded up.

Gabe would have said something to comfort her if he wasn't still in shock over the news she had just shared.

"So my plans are on hold, for now. Javi was happy enough to hear that, though." She said, turning back to him.

That seemed to shake him out of his shock.

"Wait, Javi knew?"

Clementine nodded, smirking at him.

"He let me know last night and I agreed to stay," she explained, "I guess he didn't relay the message."

A mixture of dread and anger filled Gabe's stomach. Javi had totally set up him up.

"I-I…"

"Back to what you were saying though," Clementine started, moving closer to him. He took half a step back.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. F-forget what I said," he stuttered, seriously considering turning around and sprinting out of the chapel.

"I don't think I can do that," Clementine replied, raising an eyebrow. The next step she took put her directly in front of him. He could smell the familiar cinnamon scent she always seemed to give off. It was so intoxicating and he definitely couldn't handle that right now.

"Clem, I-" he tried again, his voice a hoarse and cracking mess. She reached a hand out and placed it on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I-" he was interrupted by her lips pressing against his. They were dry and warm and he was pretty his world had just exploded around him.

It felt like less than a second before she pulled away and smiled at her shoes, bashfully.

"I didn't know you felt that way," she admitted, "I think I might feel the same, even if you are a dork."

Was he dreaming? He had to be dreaming. He didn't want to pinch himself, though. He didn't want to wake up from this.

"W-what?" Smooth Gabe. Real smooth.

"I'm looking forward to our date, though," Clementine said, finally looking up to smile at him.

She walked past him as she headed out of the chapel.

"See you soon, Gabe," she said as she left.

Gabe stood still as everything she'd said sunk in. He throw a fist in the air and yelled out a cheer before realizing how lame that might have been if anyone seen him.

Looking at the pictures on the bulletin before exiting, he wondered if there was hope for any of them in or out of Richmond now. The speed at which his heart was beating told him there was, but still, who knew for sure?

What he did know was that he was going to either hug or hurt Javi the next time he saw him.