Love Quote #35 - "Love is, in fact, everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more.
Love is Worth the Risk
Shane lay on the king size bed, relaxing. He had just finished his daily morning workout in their recreation room. The high-rise he and Andrea had found—the Anchorage Tower—had been the best find. Currently, they were living on the fifth floor and once or twice a week, they would explore the floors and condo units above them. Right now, they had settled into their unit. The four bedroom suite was more than enough space for them, where they could spend time together, and time apart for themselves if needed. Andrea walked in carrying a book and joined him on the bed. Shane glanced at the cover: Famous Love Quotes.
"You're all in that book again, Drea?" Shane tried not to let the smirk enter his voice. He closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
Andrea plopped down on the bed besides him. "Yep, and I found the perfect quote about love."
"No shit."
Andrea threw him an annoyed look. "Honestly, Shane, can you humor me for once? And pay attention—I know you're not sleeping."
He shrugged. "Of course, darlin'—I'll humor you an' make sure I get no shut-eye."
"I'm serious."
Shane chuckled when he heard the insistent note in her voice. "Alright, what's the quote?"
Andrea stared at him for some time before responding. She remembered how she had found the book. Several weeks before finding the high-rise, they had ran into a used bookstore to avoid a herd of walkers. During that time, Shane had guarded the door while Andrea scoped out the place. When they were certain the herd was gone, they escaped from the bookstore—and Andrea left with the book in her possession.
"Love is in fact, everything it's cracked up to be. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for—"
"Ain't that sweet as apple pie?"
"I wasn't finished," Andrea said. "And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more." She folded the page where she had found the quote and then turned to Shane, who was sitting up with his back against the headboard, much to her surprise. "What do you think?"
"It's damn true an' it's what we've been through ever since we left the farm."
"We fought a lot in the beginning—always arguing about everything."
"We did," Shane agreed. "But later on, you fought for me in Woodbury."
Andrea remembered turning the tables on The Governor and his manipulative games. Even after escaping Woodbury, they were brave in the face of the Claimers and the walker herd. They risked everything when they joined the Saviors—it occurred to Andrea to voice aloud what she was really feeling and thinking.
"We risked it all when we left the group to be on our own. I mean, imagine what life would've been like if we never chanced it. If we never took the risk. We might not even be alive right now—we might be dead."
She looked down at the page she had folded over. It marked where she found the quote. Andrea then turned to Shane who shrugged nonchalantly. Even with his distant demeanor, Andrea knew Shane enough to know that sometimes he presented as aloof, although he was very emotional in the sense that his feelings ran hot or cold. Shane was never lukewarm about anything. Although his gruff demeanor was challenging to deal with in the beginning, she had learned to go toe-to-toe with him. She didn't back down, she'd hold her ground, and Shane respected her more for it.
"I fought for you too, Drea—I know I pushed you away at first."
A wry smile flashed across Andrea's face. "You have a very interesting way of showing you care."
Shane grinned. "Damn right, I do! But to go back to what you said 'bout not takin' risks…" He straightened up against the headboard, and his jovial expression faded. "I woulda still been stuck on Lori…" He paused as he thought about it further. "I woulda tried to kill off Rick an' end up dead—get what I deserve for turnin' on my best friend. This talk sounds familiar."
"It's because we talked about what might've been, after we escaped Negan. What our lives might've been like if we stayed on the farm—if we would've even lived." Andrea curled up next to Shane on the bed.
Shane's serious expression never changed, even as Andrea cozied up next to him. "I try not to think 'bout that too much, Drea…or rather, I focus on the opposite 'cause it's what we have an' I wouldn't give it up for anythin'."
Andrea was silent as she reviewed in her mind what Shane just said. "We risked our lives to find ourselves and share what we have now."
"An' I wouldn't have it any other way, Drea."