ELYZA'S POV
I bandaged Alicia's arm and left her in peace to rest. It lifted my spirits to think of her response when she learnt that her family were here to find her. We had waited a long time for this resolution and it felt right to finally fulfil my promise.
My friends were now happy that the horde had moved on by an acceptable distance and that the prison gang were successfully disbanded in their haste to escape the precarious situation. Talk had now turned to what would happen next and where our destination lay. These discussions held little meaning to me, lost in the whirlwind of possibilities that were yet to be revealed.
Until Alicia woke up I had no idea where I stood. Her family had already stated their intent to return to the ship and reunite with the remainder of their group. It struck me as an option that they might want to join forces with our larger community. We had good food stocks, a decent command system and the promise of relative safety. There were worse groups to be involved with.
There was too much to consider without first consulting Alicia and I sighed at the uncertainty of it all. Furthermore, I was currently undecided on how to approach her mother after the unfortunate revelation of our relationship. It didn't take a genius to join the dots after the emotional interaction that she had witnessed.
All I could do was be prepared to leave, whether it would be with my friends or Alicia's family was yet to be seen.
I retreated to my semi-private corner and began to collect my weapons to be returned to the car. They would be vital wherever the next few days would take me. It was as I balanced my rucksack on a table and checked the safety on my gun when Madison appeared in my peripheral view.
I glanced curiously towards her, pausing momentarily to hold her gaze before returning to my task. "How's Alicia? If you're looking for the antibiotics I left them with her water."
"Still sleeping," she confirmed, her eyes following my movements as I carefully placed the handgun into the bag. "I wanted to thank you actually."
I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that and finally abandoned my distraction to turn and face her directly. I couldn't avoid her forever.
"Strand tells me that you've helped each through these difficult times," she continued, smoothing down the sides of her patterned shirt as if not quite sure what to do with her hands. "I'm glad that she had someone looking out for her. Someone to watch her back."
I swallowed thickly and nodded, emotion rising unprompted in my chest at the reminder of all we had been through together. Rather than expose my reaction, I chuckled lightly instead to hide the effect. "We look out for each other. She's gotten us out of more scrapes that I could count."
It probably wasn't the most reassuring response but it was out there now and if anything Madison smiled softly to herself, ducking her head at the thought of her headstrong daughter. "She's always been strong, even as a child."
She fell silent for a moment, lost in thought before her eyes drifted over the items on the table beside me. "Packing already?"
"You can never be too prepared," I offered, following her gaze to the jumble of items that were ready to be packed into the appropriate bag, either mine or Alicia's. It had been a productive way of utilising my time during this interlude and it would make both our lives easier.
"Is that Alicia's bag?" she inquired, taking a step towards it when I invited her to sate her curiosity.
There was nothing of note to identify as she sifted through spare clothes and random food supplies, but my breath caught when her hand drifted towards the bound leather journal. I bit my lip as she flicked open the front page, a light frown furrowing her brow when she hastily acted to prevent the unattached note inside from spiralling down to the ground.
It took only a moment for her to read the hastily scribbled words inside and glance up at me questioningly. I wasn't going to wait for her to ask.
"It was a gift for Alicia, when we weren't sure if we would find you again," I admitted, this time the one to fiddle absentmindedly with my shirt at the awkward revelation. "A journal that she could write in. Accounts of what had happened whilst she was out here to tell you once she found you."
It sounded stupid to say out loud, as it had been to present it to the girl but her shining smile had been all the confirmation I had needed of her gratitude.
Madison slowly returned her gaze to the book and flicked through a few pages before tucking the note safely within its centre and returning it to the table. Unbeknownst to her, I blew out a silent sigh of relief, thankful that she hadn't proceeded to find the cluttered page of flirtatious comments that I had left for her daughter as a comedic surprise. That would have been an unfortunate discovery.
"It's beautiful, and thoughtful," she said almost to herself, letting her hand fall away from the gift that had yet to be written in. "She always appreciated meaningful gifts, no matter how small."
I was still thanking all the stars that she hadn't discovered the inappropriate content or made any comment about the seemingly random note that Alicia had decided to retain as a memory from so long ago, and I was shaken from my stupor to glance up and see Madison brushing away tears with the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry," she said immediately, laughing at herself for the ridiculous reaction. "I should be celebrating right now, not crying."
I wasn't in any position to be judging anyone, fighting against the same emotion that was burning away in my chest but there was no way in hell I was giving in to it in front of Alicia's mother.
"It must have been awful for you, thinking that she was lost out here," I sympathised, unable to comprehend the pain a mother must feel at the loss of her child. "You have every right to be emotional."
"I think you can understand how hard it is to imagine a reality without Alicia in it," she countered, staring back at me through watering eyes.
My carefully constructed mental wall crumbled at the statement, my heart swelling at the reminder of my recent struggles with her absence even as my head scorned me for being so pathetic. Within seconds my eyes were welling much like Madison's and I glanced away from her with a clenched jaw as I fought the impulse.
Only hours ago we had both been wrought with concern for the girls safety, unable to know for certain if she was even alive. It wasn't an experience I was keen to repeat and it broke my heart to think how much suffering her mother must have endured to be apart from her for all these months.
Madison wiped at her face again and shook her head disbelievingly. "Look at the two of us. Don't go telling her I cried. She wouldn't let me forget it."
"As long as you do the same for me," I laughed lightly, finally collecting myself from the emotional pitfall. It was an emotional time for us all, to be exposed to the relief of Alicia's safe return so soon after the grief of her absence.
"It's a deal," Madison chuckled, and just like that there was no lingering tension between us. My doubts about her acceptance of my feelings for Alicia would surely surface again, but for now I was more than pleased with our progress.
She left me to resume my preparation, this time with a lighter heart now that I had cleared the air between us. It was strange in a way to meet the woman that I had heard so much about when I was nothing but a stranger to her. She was exactly as Alicia had described, fierce and capable, as she had to be in these uncertain times. Despite her tough exterior there was no denying the good intent of the kind hearted mother and I had no doubt that she would go to any length to protect her family.
Slinging the now full rucksack over my shoulder, I picked up Alicia's bag and traipsed it out of the warehouse into the car. No matter what happened next, I was certain of one thing. Wherever Alicia chose to go next, I would be with her every step of the way. Just as I had promised all along.
ALICIA'S POV
My dreams were unsettled by a torrent of memories, flashes of events that were no longer under my control. I was running, shouting, swinging my knife desperately against the undead that were advancing upon a small child. I pulled him away from their onslaught but then there was a burning sensation against my arm that refused to cease, searing a relentless path against my skin.
It took a few moments for me to realise that the sensation wasn't imagined as I subtly flexed my muscles and felt the all to real complaint from my body at the motion. I was still submerged within a haze of sleep, but the notion of consciousness was inescapable and I already felt myself resurfacing as if deep underwater.
The muted buzz of voices was audible from all around me, blurring into one indecipherable tone that I didn't have the energy to translate. My eyes fluttered open as I became aware of my most pressing discomfort, a growing pressure of an oncoming headache searing into my skull as my body cried for water, my throat dry and sore from dehydration.
I must have groaned, not that I noticed when a sudden movement in my peripheral vision announced the presence of an onlooker. Blonde wisps of hair drifted into view and I expected to glimpse Elyza's concerned frown as I slowly turned my head to the side with a squint of pain.
My discomfort was all but forgotten when I saw who was staring back at me with a familiar smile.
"Mom?" I whispered disbelievingly, my voice hoarse and cracking but I didn't care. Nothing else mattered right now except the hope that this wasn't still a dream.
"I'm here Alicia, it's me," she uttered, unable to contain her happiness as her smile widened. "We found each other."
I had so many questions that I couldn't even comprehend in that moment but the only thing that mattered was that we were together again. Finally. I ignored my body's protest and surged up to wrap my arms around her, burying my face into her shirt as if terrified that if I let go then she would no longer be there.
She clung to me with similar desperation, overwhelmed by the moment that we had both been slowly losing hope to. We would never let each other go again. For so long we had been striving towards this reunion and I could scarcely believe that it was real.
"You look terrible," Nick announced as he stepped up to the end of my mattress, a smirk quirking his lips as I turned my head to face him. "No change there then."
"Shut up you idiot," I muttered without the energy to be mad at him, smiling back instead as our mom gestured for him to join us.
An eye roll and sarcastic comment accompanied his brief walk around the edge of the mattress before he was tucked under his mom's other arm as she held her children close.
"No fighting allowed you two, at least not today," she reprimanded, but there was no anger in her voice, only relief. Her family was back together again, just as it should be. This was a day that wouldn't be forgotten for a long time to come. She would cherish every second of it.
ELYZA'S POV
My heart soared to witness the Clark family reunion. It was all that I could've hoped for Alicia, to be reunited with her loved ones after all this time. She deserved to be happy and this was one for the records.
"That's a cause for celebration if ever I've seen one," Strand commented as he sidled up next to me, following my gaze to watch the heart warming reunion. I shook my head at his incessant identification of reasons to drink and side eyed him critically.
"You must enjoy hangovers?"
He merely winked deceptively in response and tapped his temple lightly with one finger. "There's no such thing as a hangover if you're constantly drunk."
I shook my head in disbelief and chuckled lightly, thankful that he was only partially joking. Words of wisdom indeed.
We resumed our observation of the oblivious family once more and I couldn't help but smile to see the clear joy that was present. It was everything that I had imagined. At no point would I have ever given up on the search for Alicia's family but hope had been growing slim with each month that swept by.
I glanced back to the man beside me as Nick helpfully offered the water and antibiotics to his sister.
"Here, I forgot to give you this." I reached into my pocket and produced the empty flask that he had provided for our earlier conversation. "Madison won't be pleased if I steal her drinking partner."
"I'm sure she'll appreciate the gesture," he replied with a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, taking the flask to be returned to it's rightful place within the inner pocket of his jacket.
Right on cue I heard my name called and my head darted towards the Clark family to see Madison gesturing me forwards. I hadn't planned to interrupt their personal reunion but neither was I about to refuse the woman's request so soon after we had parted on good terms.
"You'd best do as she says," Strand advised, noticing my hesitation as I swayed between my two options. "Or I'll have to take a bet on whether it'll be Alicia or Madison marching over here."
He was right. Alicia had heartily taken the prescribed antibiotics with a generous volume of water and looked about ready to peel herself from the mattress to collect me herself.
Strand clapped me on the back and propelled me towards them, blending easily back into the mix of people as I crossed the floor, uncharacteristically nervous as all eyes followed my approach.
I arrived at the mattress and was momentarily lost for words, my gaze flicking between the three individuals as I contemplated whether to continue hovering or comply with the overwhelming urge to be close to Alicia.
Fortunately she made the decision for me, patting the mattress beside her pointedly and with an expression that promised trouble if I refused. Her mom was busy tucking the antibiotics safely into her own bag before proceeding to arrange some semblance of a meal for her daughter as Nick looked on.
I happily settled onto the section of mattress next to Alicia, her hand maintaining a steady grip on mine as she rearranged herself into a cross legged position to face me. It was reassuring to witness the now clear eyes that locked with mine, eyes that had once been clouded by pain and confusion after her long trek in the midday heat.
"What did you say to them?" she asked with a hint of suspicion gracing her tone.
I quirked my head to the side in mild confusion. "What do you mean?"
"My mom has just told me that you're more than welcome to join us, even Strand agreed."
I shrugged innocently. "What can I say, it must be my shining personality. Isn't that good news?"
"You don't understand," she continued, rolling her eyes at my sarcasm. "The last time I tried to bring people aboard the ship Strand literally cut them loose at sea. We don't take on strangers lightly."
It was interesting to note that this family kept relatively personal connections which diminished the possibility of them joining the larger survival group that my friends had formed.
"Don't think I didn't see you giving Strand his flask back," she went on with mock disapproval, apparently more observative than I gave her credit for. "I'm sure he approves of your alcohol tolerance at the very least."
I smiled widely at the insinuation. "Undoubtedly. I don't know what you want me to say Alicia. If you're family think that I'm fit to accompany them, then I say we should be happy about it."
She nodded and dropped her eyes in defeat but still clung to some minute doubt that it was all too good to be true. I wasn't about to let anything ruin this good news, not after all the terrible events that had led us here.
I reached out gently for her chin and lightly tipped her face up until she met my gaze. "Hey, this is good news! We did it, we found them against all odds. Together."
A warm smile spread on her face as she focused on the momentous news and I leant forwards to press a brief kiss against her lips.
"You're right, this is the start of everything," she said once I pulled back, her eyes shining at the bright positivity that was so rare to find these days. "My mom wants to leave as soon as possible for The Abigail, is that okay with you?"
I nodded and was glad that I had thought to pack our belongings already. We were virtually ready to move out.
"Fine by me. I just need to say my goodbyes first."
It felt strange to be leaving my friends again, but this time it felt right. I no longer fitted in with my old group and news of my departure came as no surprise to them. I had already been absent from their presence for over a year now so it had only been a matter of time.
Hugs and best wishes were shared over the next hour until finally it was time to leave. Alicia and I piled into the front of the beaten up car whilst her family obtained a vehicle of their own, refusing adamantly that they would not be squeezed into the back of our tiny car.
It suited me just fine. Alicia's company was all I needed on these road trips and it was just like old times as I flicked my sunglasses on and shot her a grin before we led the way out onto the main road, her family following close behind.
Whatever happened from here was impossible to predict, but with Alicia by my side I knew that we would survive it all together. The apocalypse was one hell of a wild ride, but it was made all the more easier by experiencing it with her.
The warehouse began to shrink behind us as we accelerated along the dusty highway, but as one adventure ended, another was just beginning.
Thank you so much for reading this chapter and of course this story!
I'm sorry to say that this was the last chapter and it only occurred to me as it was being written. I have plans to write a second story that would follow on from this but this definitely felt like a natural place to end this one!
Leave a comment and let me know what you thought of this story and if you would like to see another one, there's no point me writing it if you guys aren't interested so please let me know!
I will now focus on finishing Divide and Conquer, the sequel to Love is Weakness, and will be updating that every week at the very least.
If you have any other requests for stories do let me know! If you don't want to see a sequel for this story is there anything else you would prefer? I'm happy to write more Clexa, AU's, or even something completely different so I'd really appreciate your input! :D
Thank you for all your support with this story, I've loved reading all of your comments!
Until next time, stay safe!