Gareth's POV

Sadie took over scoping out the downstairs of the house while I made my way to check out the upstairs.

Alex in one arm and my other hand on my gun, I pounded against each door as I strolled otherwise cautiously down the long hallway.

If anyone is still here, living or biter, that should've drawn 'em out by now…..

Or so I thought.

"Last chance to come out and show yourselves, if anyone's here!" I called out, as a precaution. "...We have a child with us, we're not looking for any trouble."

After one last glance around the vicinity, I was just getting ready to head back downstairs to check back in with Sadie when I heard one of the doors creak open and the sound of footsteps behind me.

Without a second thought, I drew my gun, as did the woman who was now standing before me. "WHAT'D I JUST SAY?!"

Frightened by the sudden shouting, Alex, who had been relatively calm up until this point, began screaming his head off. Shit….

"Gareth?" The woman, who was slowly lowering her gun in her apparent realization, uttered more gently. "...is it really you?"

I slowly lowered my own gun, gently bouncing my son in my other arm in an attempt to calm him somewhat, as my mind finally began to recognize the woman.

"Theresa?"

"Yeah, somehow." She chuckled nervously, reaching her own hand out to Alex. "Shhh, shh, shh. It's alright, it's just me. It's just me…..do you remember me? Hmmm?" She redirected her attention back to me as he started to calm down a bit more. "Geez, he's getting big."

"Yeah, I guess that'll happen after a couple of years…..I thought you were dead- Sadie told me you were dead."

"I probably should be." She shrugged. "...by the way, where is Sadie? Did she…..?"

I cut her off before she could think too much of the worst. "She's fine, she's scoping out the downstairs."

"Was scoping out the downstairs." Sadie's voice corrected behind me, making me jump. "It's clear. Is Alex okay? I heard him scream- " She stopped mid sentence when she noticed Theresa's presence. "...T?"

"In the flesh." Theresa chuckled, making her way over to Sadie to hug her.

"My God….I thought you were- "

"I know…" Theresa interrupted, hugging her tighter. "I know….Gareth told me…..and like I told him, I probably should be."

"...Well truth be told, all the shit we've been through, we probably all should be." Sadie admitted. "So, where the hell have you been then?"

We sat down with Theresa as she caught us up on the past two years since what went down at the church, how she'd practically had to bail the second Sadie had turned the tables and hacked up Rick, and how she'd intended to meet up with me...and eventually Sadie at the old schoolhouse after everything, and how she'd been holing up in houses like this…..whenever she could find them, ever since.

"...I swear, I had every intention of finding you guys, and especially for that first year after, I stayed in any place I found for as long as I could, hoping one of you would stumble in like you did today, I just…." She sighed as she shook her head. "...I guess, eventually I just lost hope. I mean, hasn't everyone these days?"

"Nobody blames you for that, T." Sadie quickly reassured, reaching her hand out to meet hers across the table. "...least of all me."

Theresa just quietly nodded.

"What matters is we're here now…" Sadie continued. "Really, I'm just gad that you're here now- we're glad that you're here now."

Theresa finally allowed somewhat of a smile to creep across her face at that. "Thanks, Sade."

"Don't mention it." Sadie turned to me briefly, gesturing for me to hand Alex over to her. "Gimme my kid."

I chuckled as I handed Alex over to her while she stood back up and glanced over the area.

"It's clear, Sadie. As you've mentioned." Theresa reaffirmed with a little smirk. "I should know, I've been here for about a week before you showed up."

"Well, what about supplies then? Still good on them?"

"Some food left in the pantry, some first aid stuff in one of the bathrooms...plus whatever you guys have on you."

"Yeah, how much is a little?" I chimed in. "Enough to get us by for a few days?"

"...at least, anyway." Theresa guesstimated. "I was hoping to stay here another week." She gestured toward one of the doors. "..there's a couple more houses down the road just a little ways too, I was gonna scope them out for supplies too when it gets light out."

"...then we will." I replied. "...as long as you don't mind, of course."

"...and what makes you think T gets any say in this, Gar?" Sadie teased, turning back to her. "Sorry, I don't know about him, but as far as I'm concerned you're stuck with us now."

"Like I'd have it any other way." Theresa chuckled. "...Anyway, there's two bedrooms. You three can take the bigger one, I should crash down here anyway and take watch, and then just meet back down here in the morning?"

I nodded.

"Sounds like a plan." Sadie agreed.

I just about jumped out of my skin when Sadie cracked the bedroom door open, after returning from getting the rest of our stuff out of the car.

"Sorry." She snickered quietly as she glanced over the room. "Alex asleep?"

"Yeah, for a while now." I chuckled slightly as I caught my breath.

She nodded as she crossed the room to come sit next to me on the bed.

A suspicious little smirk that I knew all too well by now crept across her face as she moved her hand to take the one that was propping myself up closest to her.

"What do you say we try it out?" She whispered.

"Now?" I chuckled softly. "Alex is asleep."

"...and you'd rather him be awake?" She teased. "That's a little fucked up, Gar."

I rolled my eyes at the, albeit joking, insinuation. "I meant more that no one else is watching him.

"He's not gonna wake up, Gar….and if he does then Theresa can get him….. Come onnn…" She persisted, removing her jacket. "When's the last time we had a little fun?"

"You are not playing fair, Sadie." I sighed.

"That's cause playing fair's no fun." She smirked, removing her T-shirt now. "...however, this is."

"Mmmmnn…" I fake whined as she sat there, shirtless in front of me. "...well, you weren't gonna just stop at the shirt, were you?"

"...not unless you wanted to take over, of course.

"Ohh, you know, I have no objections." I smirked back, removing my own jacket.

"...then prove it." She tossed the shirt at my face. "..get over here and show me…"

I tossed the shirt aside as I crawled over to where she was. "Ohh, with pleasure."

"Now, that's what I like to hear." She praised, letting me pin her down as I kissed along her neck before moving my hands down to her pants.

"I know it is, Babe." I whispered back.