Gareth's POV

Sadie had opted to take Alex upstairs, along with Theresa, to gather together what was important enough up there for us to take back with us to Aaron's alleged campsite while I covered the downstairs and kept an eye on Aaron...who Sadie had still yet to allow the privilege of being released from his cuffs.

Could you blame her though?

As much as I encouraged her to give this guy somewhat of a chance, and as nice of a guy he seemed to be proving himself to be, I still trust her instincts above any other possibility. We first always meant We first ALWAYS.

Buuuut, as skeptical as even I was, something in Sadie was telling her that there was at the very least a little sliver of hope left that this guy could be who he was telling us he was, and for that alone we had to give this a real shot.

Even if only for her.

I was picking up some of the toys that Alex had been playing with earlier, to pack away with the bag I'd be driving separately with, when Aaron finally broke my train of thought

"Look, I hope you won't think I'm out of line for saying so…" He said as I glanced up briefly, while still going about what I was doing.

He glanced briefly towards the stairs, as if to ensure Sadie wouldn't come down and hear what he was about to say. I snickered a little under my breath at the thought.

"...but I just want it on record that I think it's a bad idea to go out there before morning. I'm sure you know….probably better than I do, that it'll be safer then...when there's light out."

I sighed. As much as I side with Sadie's instincts on this, just as with everything else, I can't deny that he does have a point.

"I don't doubt that…" I admitted. "...but you're also right in that I know better than you do what's safe for my family, and my wife's telling me she feels better showing up to your little campsite- "

"I've told you, it's not just a campsite." He interrupted

"Alright, whatever it is.." I raised my voice a little more. "...whatever you wanna call it, my wife is telling me that she feels better pulling up to it when she knows that, if we had to, we could get out of there before your people even know we've been there….and like I thought I made clear before, I'm far more inclined to trust her instincts over someone we've barely known for a day."

"...and I completely understand that." He tried to defend. "..believe me. But like I said earlier, I'm inclined to believe you're good people. I am, so I couldn't just sit here without at least acknowledging what I see when what I see could be putting you and your family at risk."

I sighed, looking back at him as I thought to myself for a moment.

Before I could say anything though, Sadie was coming back down the stairs.

I chuckled a little to myself as I looked up to see her twirling her trusty handcuff key around in one hand.

"Looks like it's your lucky day, boy!" She announced with a little smirk before addressing me as she nodded toward him. "He giving you any trouble?"

I glanced back at him as looked at me somewhat hopefully, before turning back to Sadie. "Nope…..can't say he is."

She nodded but still stood there for a moment, smirking as she gazed back him while she continued to twirl the keys around on her hand. "...good boy." She finally declared, somewhat giddily, as she gestured with her other hand for him to stand up from the couch and bring his hands around for her to uncuff. "Now…." She continued. "...tell me about these vehicles of yours again? You said you had, in your own words, plenty of room to drive back a whole group of people if there had been more of us here, correct."

"That is correct." He confirmed. "...my boyfriend's staying in our RV, just a couple miles out, and I have a car."

She nodded as she secured the handcuffs onto her belt and tucked the keys safely into a front pocket. "...and Gar, what's the sitch on our car again? And none of your old Oh well, it should be good enough to get us there bullshit from before." She made a point to remind me, referring to way back before the beginning of…..well, everything, when I had the so called audacity to keep putting our old car off.

"Oh come on, Sadie, that was how many years ago?" I just sort of laughed.

"Not important. Just answer the question." She snickered.

I rolled my eyes. "...well, better than that car anyway. Definitely enough gas to get us to his place, if it really is where he says it is."

"Fine…" she laughed, just as Theresa was coming back down the stairs with Alex. "...against aaalll my better instincts, I will take your word on this."

"Great." I chuckled, reaching my hands out to Theresa so that she could hand Alex back over to me.

Theresa smiled at us as Alex started to nuzzle up against me in my arms.

"All good?" Sadie asked her.

Theresa nodded as she readjusted the backpack she'd brought down.

"Goodie…." Sadie smiled, gently stroking her hand across the back of Alex's head before redirecting her attention to the rest of us. "So, Gareth, you'll take Alex separately in our car….so you better hope you're right about your little assessment of it…" She teased, to which I just rolled my eyes again. "...Theresa, you'll ride with his boyfriend…"

"...Eric." Aaron added.

Sadie nodded. "...what he said….and you…." She spun around to give Aaron a little smirk. "...you get to ride with me."

"Can't wait." He joked.

She pulled me closer to kiss me before patting me on the shoulder and gesturing for Aaron to follow her, with the rest of us. "Alright, let's do this."

"Good luck, man." I joked to Aaron under my breath, as we headed out the door.