I ❤️gossip I ❤️eavesdropping I ❤️asking nosy questions I❤️ looking for and acquiring information. On account of my curious and inquisitive nature #mynature
"What do you think mother?" Cordelia asked as she stepped out of her room, spinning around in her dress.
It was dark green and satin. There were long sleeves and a bit of lace around the neckline. It was elegant and a little bit racy for Gilead but she knew that people would like it.
"You look gorgeous, just like your mother," Naomi said, a smile on her face.
Cordelia smiled, "Thank you Naomi,"
Her stepmother cried, tears falling down her cheeks slowly as she looked at the girl, about to head to a ball where she might meet her future husband.
"Whats wrong?" She asked, stepping towards her.
"Just, I am sorry you have had to grow up here, I think to myself all the time that I should have figured out a way to get you out, that I should have sent you with Angela," she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
Cordelia placed her hands on her shoulders. She knew it was a difficult decision that day, allowing her to stay in Gilead but it was the right choice, "I can do more work here, June told me,"
She sighed, "I know, sometimes I wonder what Angela is like,"
"Me too, but hey, we have these updates of her," Cordelia gestured to the Polaroid picture that she had sitting on the side.
"From Garth," she said, almost a little teasingly.
"Guardian Chapin," Cordelia corrected, "He is a good friend of mine,"
"I think he wants to be more than a friend my little Dove," Naomi said, her smile falling as she realised that the world would not be able to let them be together, "I'm sorry you cannot enjoy the freedom of falling in love,"
There was silence. Cordelia had spent a long time thinking about what her feelings for Garth were and that really cemented that she was falling for him, or perhaps already had.
"I just want what's best for you," she said, brushing the girls hair from her face, making sure it was perfect, "Your father would have been so proud,"
Sometimes she wondered what he would say, what he would have done when she walked out in the dress to get ready for the ball. Cordelia knew he would have never let her stay in Gilead after the fall of Massachusets.
This was the night that was going to determine the rest of her life and she knew that if she got a good match, it would allow Mayday to get so much important information.
But what would she be losing?
Cordelia sat by one of the vanity tables, Becka looking over her makeup to make sure that everything was perfect.
It was nerve-wracking, even for a girl who did not care much about Gilead. But she knew that whoever she married had to be someone good, someone who could help her get further for Mayday.
It had taken a long time for her to realise that there was only one man she would ever be happy to marry and that was Garth, the man she had loved since he was a boy.
But she couldn't so she just focused on the night ahead. She was took out of her thought by Agnes coming in, having a cold reception to Becka.
"Pray, you all look so beautiful," Hulda said.
"You guys must be dying from excitement," Shunammite said, an almost jealous tone to her voice. They all knew that she wanted to be married off more than any of the other girls.
Hulds smiled, leaning over Becka's chair, "I hope you get to dance with Commander Henry, I hear he is blessed looks-wise,"
"He's a minor Commander, ignore him. The top Commanders don't come out until later," Shunammite said, "You girls are so lucky,"
"Girls," Aunt Estee said, finally putting down the camera that she had used to video all of the girls getting ready, "Somewhere out there is your future husband. Tonight, you will meet him. Soon, you will share a life with him and love and obey him as he will love and protect you,"
Cordelia took a deep breath as Shunammite came to stand behind her chair, "You look so beautiful,"
She smiled. Shunammite was one of her first friends when she arrived after the war, she was nosy and wanted to know all the gossip but thats what Cordelia needed so they became very close. Now they were just friends because they understood one another, truly.
"Thank you Shu," she said before standing up and walking over to the line that had began to form.
There were cheers and excitement as the Green fiels all walked into the room, joining the Purple and Pink Girls.
Commanders watched from the top balcony as the girls performed the opening dance. It felt a bit like they were picking out the ones they liked the most, it was sickening.
There was something though, that Cordelia loved. As she danced with the girls, she knew they all felt the same thing, the same love for Gilead. It was a love Cordelia never got to have.
She never had a normal childhood but this was her girlhood, dancing with her friends and performing, it was a moment she would never forget.
As the music ended, she looked over to see the fathers standing by the wall. They walked over, all heading towards their daughters and Cordelia looked at Commander Graham.
Her heart sank a little bit because she wished that her father could have been there, that he hadn't died when he did.
Instead she was dancing with her stepfather who was kind, but was never warm to her, not fully. He knew he could never replace the man who raised her.
He gave her a smile before handing her over to one of the Commanders. This was what Gilead was supposed to be - she knew her father would never have handed her away.
Cordelia thought back to what Garth had said, about her father only being able to hand her over to the best man and she knew this man was not it.
But still, there was something freeing about being able to dance, to be so free.
"Sorry, I've been a bit quiet, I'm nervous," the man said. He was tall and had blonde hair, just like hers. But he was not what she wanted.
"It's okay, so am I," she said, very aware of his hand in hers.
He smiled, "do you play any instruments?"
"The harp," she said, thinking about when her mother had bought her one when she was little, before she became really sick.
There were many dances after that, too much small talk about favourite classes and plans for womanhood and their parentage.
The dances with the lower Commanders finished and they were all sent back to the dressing room, all of the girls giddy from dancing.
Cordelia sat down at her vanity, Shunammite rushing over, "Any Commanders who have their eyes on you?"
"I'm not sure," She responded.
"Neither am I," Agnes chipped in.
Becka scoffed from her chair, "You seemed to like that first Commander,"
Agnes ignored her as she made sure her hair was alright, "Why are you paying so much attention to what Im doing?" She asked.
"Have I done something to offend you?" She asked, brows furrowed as she looked at her friend.
Hulda placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure Agnes meant nothing by it," she promised.
Before the girls could erupt into an argument, Aunt Vidala walked in, "Girls, look smart, you are needed back on the floor,"
Cordelia took a deep breath. She knew that this was going to be where the Major Commanders were and these were the kind of men that her stepfather wanted her to marry.
The doors opened with the girls in position, Commanders stepping towards them. They were all older, widows, that was what was left for women of their status.
She turned around to see an older man, Commander Lewis, and she took his hand as he began to dance with him. There was a sickening feeling in her stomach and thats when she spotted Garth in the distance.
He had his eyes trained on her, watching as she danced. She looked up, making eye contact with him as he walked over and she began to panic - had she finally crossed the line?
"I'm sorry to interrupt Commander but your presence is urgently needed," he whispered into the man's ear.
He sighed, "Excuse me, Miss Lawrence, I'm being called away," he said, "If you could take my place with the young lady,"
He stepped towards her, almost hesitantly and she smiled, "Come on Garth, you know how to dance,"
Garth pursed his lips together, trying to hold back the laugh, "Just take my hand Miss Lawrence,"
As their hands brushed, it was like the rest of the world went silent. His eyes were trained on her, fingertips brushing against fingertips.
She was entranced with him because this is what it is supposed to feel like. This is what love feels like and as she spun around in his arms, she knew she loved him.
"You look beautiful Delia," he said, almost afraid to say it.
She smiled, blush rising to her cheeks, "You look very handsome too Garth, I see you got a pin for bravery," she spotted.
"I just had the good fortune not to get shot," he teased, standing side by side with her as they danced, hands on top of one another, "You are the most beautiful woman here,"
"You don't have to say that," she said, turning her face away.
"It is true," he promised, "The other security guys must be jealous of me right now,"
Cordelia smiled, "They don't need to be jealous, it's only ever been you,"
His face fell at that moment, at the admission of her feelings for him. He had felt that way towards her for years, hiding it because he knew he could never have her but now, knowing that she felt the same way back, it broke his heart.
"I hate seeing you dance with these men," he said, brows furrowed in anger, "They do not deserve you,"
Garth pulled her closer as they song csmr to a close, his hands brushing against her waist gently. He knew he wasn't supposed to but if this was the closest he would get to her in public, he had to take the risk.
"I don't want to marry any of them," she whispered, voice hoarse. She had never admitted it before.
The song ended and everyone applauded. She didn't even realise it was finished as she was too preoccupied in holding onto his hand, knowing she would have to let go.
"I'm sorry Miss Lawrence, I have to go now," his teeth were gritted almost as if he didn't want to leave.
"Garth, don't go," she said, taking one moment to be selfish.
He looked around, realising that they were the last two left on the dancefloor and he dropped her hand, "I'm sorry my love," he whispered before walking through the doors and out of view.
Cordelia felt as if the wind was knocked out of her. He had called her something he never had before and the connotations had her head spinning.
She walked off of the dancefloor as the song ended, her heart pounding in her chest as she walked into the hallway. She looked at Daisy who stood there, still as a statue.
There were tears in her eyes and Daisy rushed over, but before they could do anything, Becka suddenly stumbled into the hallway, her footsteps unsteady.
"Becka, whats wrong?" She rushed up to her, holding her by her arm.
"I'm gonna be sick," she said just as Shunammite ran out from the room where all of the Plums were.
"Daisy, quick, take her inside, we have to go back to our places," Shunammite said, giving her other arm to Daisy before they left.
Cordelia looked back, "I cannot leave her in this state," she said, shaking her head.
"Plum up Cordelia, you have to get back out there," she said, practically shoving the girl back onto the dance floor.
As she stepped into the room, she felt that sickening feeling in her stomach again. She did not want to go back into that room after her dance with Garth, after the way he had looked at her, the way he held her so softly like he was afraid she would break.
She looked to the corner of the room and saw Garth talking to some of the Commanders and he looked up, his eyes locking onto hers.
Cordelia noticed he looked away, but his gaze kept coming back to her, like a magnetic pull urging them together.
"Cordelia," a voice called out and she turned to see Aunt Gabanna standing there, "It's your turn, come with me please,"
She looked at him one more time, his gaze following her through the ballroom. She wished to just run up there and kiss him, to run away with him, but she had a higher duty.
"I'm taking you to some Commanders who would like to meet you," Aunt Gabbana explained as she walked her through the hallway, "You're soon to be matched with a Commander who's rank matches yours,"
There was something that made her sick, to think that she would have to face a Commander soon.
"The weak may fall but you mustn't stumble over them. Under His eye dear," she said, opening the door.
Cordelia stepped in and looked at Commander Judd as he sat at the head of the table, "Please, sit down," he said.
She did, sitting down, her hands in her lap so he didn't see them shaking. This was a hurdle she had to overcome as a Mayday operative - making the Commanders happy, whilst trying to destroy them.
She spent the next half an hour holding her breath, trying to make herself out to be the best wife that Gilead had to offer.
When she came out, all the Commanders were gone and it was just the girls in the ballroom, talking about how everything had gone. She noticed Agnes talking to Becka in the corner.
She walked over, noticing the girls were smiling now, "How was your evening Cordelia?" Becka asked.
"It was good, how are you feeling now?" She replied, knowing that she was unwell.
She gave her a sad smile, "I just hope it does not hurt my chances,"
The Plums all came in after the interviews were finished, Shunammite rushing over to where the three girls stood.
"Did the Aunts say anything yet?" She asked.
Becka shook her head, looking a bit upset that all anybody wanted to talk about was her misstep, "Not yet,"
"I'm sure there are Commanders who are waiting to match with you right now Becka," Cordelia promised, a hand on her friends shoulder.
Myriam rushed over, her normal panic evident in the way she was wringing her hands nervously, "How long do you think this will take?"
"Probably not long. The Commanders always give their requests to the Aunts, but they probably won't make any matches tonight," Shunammite said.
That was when Jehoshaba walked over, glaring at the nervous girl, "I saw you dancing with Commander Pritchet, don't get your hopes up,"
"Well you shouldn't get your hopes up either Jehoshaba, a desperate girl isn't a godly girl," Cordelia spat back. The girl stormed off, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
Agnes looked at her, a small smile on her face at how she handled that before she turned to Myriam, "Pray, ignore her, she is just showboating," she said.
"I hope so," Myriam said, tears welling up in her eyes again, "My mother said that he might be my best chance,"
As she walked off, Shunammite grimaced, "More like her only chance,"
The doors opened and they all gathered to see Aunt Vidala. She seemed angry, and that was angrier than she normally looked.
"Some of you did very well but some of you, and you know who you are, have dissapointed us all," she said, her voice seething with anger, "Pray He may be merciful in your matches,"
Then, before they could say anything else, the bell started to toll. Cordelia looked up confused, who could be ringing the bell today.
"That had to be a prank," one girl said.
"Not today, no one would do that," Shunammite said just as Hulda ran into the room, kneeling at Aunt Vidalas feet.
All of the other girls just stood there in shock, unable to comprehend how that would happen tonight of all nights.
Cordelia looked over at Shunammite as Hulda recited the speech. The girl looked like she was on the verge of tears, now the last girl in the group to get her period.
All of the girls rushed to her, saying their congratulations but it still felt like a sad moment for their friend.
As Cordelia walked out of that room in the evening, heading back to her car, there was a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach at the thought of the evening and having to marry any man who was not Garth.
This might be my favourite series that I have ever written! If you'd like, please go check out my long form stories account and read my Garth Chapin x Mayday operative Plum girlfriend series!!!
When the train arrived, Aubrey was asleep. She had barely slept the last few days when they were travelling. Maybe her body knew that she was getting closer to Link and she could rest.
She was woken up by a nudge on her shoulder and rubbed her eyes, looking up to see Xavier holding her baby in his arms, "We're here,"
As she took Grace from his arms and stepped off of the train, she shielded her eyes at the sunlight and looked around. There were so many people here waiting to restart the world and she felt a swell of pride as she thought that this was what Link had built.
"Word is, Link's about to move on the bunker," Teri explained.
Aubrey took a deep breath, looking out at all of the people. She wished to fight but knew what she had to do, "I can't go to the front lines,"
"Its been 2 weeks now, you not feeling up for it," Xavier asked, having already assumed she wouldnt come. He didn't want her to get hurt.
She shook her head, "I thought I would, but uh, I can't do it. And it will be days maybe, and someone needs to feed Gracie,"
"Okay, we will find Link and tell him," he promised. Xavier looked around at everyone, almost shocked at how many people survived, "I didn't realise you guys ran such a big operation,"
"I'm very modest," she joked with a shrug.
They walked around the corner and Teri gasped when she saw how many people were there and all of the weapons that they had in case they needed them.
"You have tanks," she said in shock.
"Depleted Uranium shells, we're not messing around," Dakota said as she stepped off of the train, standing with them.
"I'm making a run for the kids, we don't know how this will go," Xavier explained, turning to his wife.
Dakota looked over at Aubrey, watching her bounce her baby up and down,"You, Bean and the baby gonna stay with me at base camp?"
"Yeah, we will look after anyone who comes back, monitor the situation from afar," she suggested.
They began to walk to the cars, everyone was starting to pull away from base because at noon, they were going to go into the bunker.
"Find him for me, if you can," Aubrey called out as she watched Xavier leave. He turned back and nodded, this was a promise he was not going to break.
She looked down at her daughter. This was going to be the day that changed everything. This evening, theoretically, Link would come back and they would all reunite.
"I can't believe Link is a daddy now," Dakota joked, looking down at the baby.
"I know, it's crazy," she said, looking down at her "He's gonna go mad when he sees her, shes so beautiful,"
When the cars arrived at noon, they were all prepared to break it down. Link had all of his weapons but the issue was, before any of them could knock down the walls, the doors opened by themselves.
Before they had any time to be confused, they knew that this was their moment to get inside. Xavier watched as a man at the front blew a whistle, all of the cars driving through.
Teri and Xavier knew they would find the kids easier if they were on foot, running through the crowds in the bunker. Teri looked around in awe at everything, at the town that had been built inside the bunker.
She wandered through their family house in awe, tears welling up in her eyes as she realised how much she missed. When they realised Presley and James weren't there, they ran back into town.
Teri stood at the gazebo when she spotted her son in the distance, calling his name and running over to him. She wrapped him up in a hug, holding him tight.
"Where's your sister?" Xavier asked as he ran over.
"I dont know. She called but her phones not working. Shes stuck in an elevator in the systems level," he explained.
Xavier nodded, knowing he had to go find her, "Take James and get out. I will go find her,"
He watched his wife and son run to safety and rushed towards the control tower. He kicked the door down, looking at Sinatra sitting all by herself at the desk.
"Xavier," she stated in shock, not expecting to see him.
"My daughters stuck in an elevator somewhere in the systems level wherever the fuck that is, I know you have this whole place wired so find her," he said, holding his gun at her in case she disagreed.
Samantha didn't fight. She just began to scan the screens, looking at the systems level and she gasped when she saw the elevator she was in. Because she was with her daughter as well.
“Where are they?” Xavier asked.
She jumped out of her chair, “Near the reactors,” she said, “I’ll show you the way,”
Xavier scoffed, “No way,”
“You need access, that band will not work,” She explained and once Xavier threatened her to cut it off, she explained that it would not work if it had been cut.
At this moment it didn’t matter what happened, he just had to make sure Presley was safe.
“You slow me down for a second and I’ll cut your arm off,” he said and she nodded enthusiastically the two running towards the service tunnels.
Samantha rushed out of the elevator to go find their children and Xavier rushed after her down the corridor. When they reached the end of the hallway, they could hear a banging noise coming from one of the elevators.
Sinatra and Xavier shared a look before they rushed towards the wall that was covering the elevator. Sinatra tried to scan her wristband on the door but it kept flashing red - the reactor failing must have damaged the system and stopped them from getting in.
“Help me,” Xavier called out as he started to pry at the front door. She reached down under the wall and started to pull it up. Her arms were shaking as the two of them helped to hold the wall up.
With one hand, Xavier tried to pull the secondary doors to the actual elevator open but it only went a small way. They could see Presley on the inside of the elevator next to Hadley, Samanthas daughter, and they seemed okay.
Just as they thought that the doors could be forced open, all of the lights cut out again and there was a loud spark. They heard the elevator start to drop and they were all forced backwards, having to drop the elevator doors.
The elevator started to fall down and when Xavier opened his eyes he noticed that the doors had closed again. He scrambled back up and started pulling the door open again.
Samantha followed quickly, helping to hold the door open but when it opened, they noticed that the elevator had dropped significantly and that it would be harder for the girls to get up.
“You’re gonna have to go through the top,” Xavier called out, looking at the hatch on the roof of the elevator.
They could hear the two girls speaking inside, a few banging noises occurring inside before the hatch opened. Hadleys head popped out of the hatch and she let out a sigh of relief knowing that they were okay in there. .
“I can’t get up,” Hadley called out in distress.
Xavier nodded, he knew that he could go and grab them, “I’m gonna get her,” he said but as soon as he let go of the door, Sinatra started to crumble under the weight of the door.
“I can’t hold the door,” Sinatra called out, panic in her voice at the thought of not being able to get her daughter to safety.
They heard some voices behind them and before they could do anything, two men were holding up the elevator doors for them.
"I'm going in," Xavier jumped down into the elevator, listening to it shake.
He got down into the main elevator and boosted Hadley up, watching as she was helped to safety. He hugged his daughter before helping her out again.
However, there was a surge of energy and the elevator dropped again. He climbed out of the top and realise he would have to jump to get back to the platform.
He jumped and a man grabbed his hand. He pulled him up and when he looked at him, he realised exactly who it was.
"Lets go," Gator said, ushering the kids and the rest of his team out, leaving Link, Xavier and Samantha in the hallway.
Link stood at the door, not letting anyone leave. He had a gun pointed at Sinatra, an angry look on his face.
"Wheres Alex?" He demanded, brows furrowed.
"It's working, Alex is already working," she said, laughing to herself because he was proof it worked, "Dylan, you're my son. It's complicated but you are,"
He shook his head, almost like he was in a state of shock. He held the gun steady, pointing it at her.
"Take me to Alex," he said forcefully.
She shook her head, "She is closed off,"
Before Link could do anything rash, Xavier stepped in front of the gun, locking eyes with Link. All of a sudden, his head began to hurt and he watched Link stumble back, his nose bleeding.
"What is this!" He yelled.
"I dont know, but I know Aubrey," he said, holding his hands up. He watched Links face relax slightly at the sound of her name, "She is here on the train with Dakota,"
"No, no way," he said, the gun shaking in his hands.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a Polaroid that Gary had taken for them. It was of Xavier standing behind Aubrey who was holding a baby in her arms.
"Shes had your baby, look. You have a baby girl, I can take you to her. But we have to get out of her now," he said.
He realised as he looked at the photo that this was all he had been fighting for. He had to get back to Aubrey if she was out there, he had to make this place safe for her and their baby.
As they ran back to the truck, he cursed himself for being so blinded by everything.
"When this thing explodes it will spray radiation out of those doors like a cannon," Link said, "Aubrey is out there boys, with my baby, we can't let that happen,"
"The doors were built to withstand a nuclear blast from the outside which means they should be able to contain it from the inside. Take us to the tower, I can close it up," Samamtha suggested.
The drive there was quick, everyone speeding to get out of here and get it sorted as quickly as possible. Xavier and Sinatra jumped out of the truck.
She walked to the front of the truck, placing her hand on his face, "See you soon Dylan, everything gonna be okay. Look after my granddaughter for me,"
She ran off and Link watched in shock. He didn't know if he believed what she was saying but he knew he had to make sure his daughter was safe.
He turned to look at Presley, "Whats your dad's name?"
"Xavier, X," she said
"Xavier! X! Where's Aubrey? Where's my daughter?" He called out of the truck.
He yelled back, "Shes in the tents by the train, she's waiting for you,"
"Thank you, thank you so much," he said, his head in his hands as they drove off. He had to get to them.
Aubrey was at the top of the road as the sun set. She had watched the mountain explode and knew that something was wrong so when she saw people heading towards them, she knew she had to do something to help.
She left Grace and Bean with Dakota as her and many other volunteers grabbed medical kits and ran to the top of the road.
"This way, we have food and medicine and supplies. Are there any seriously injured people?" She said as she approached the front of the group.
She helped many people back to the tents and when she went back to the top of the road, that was when she spotted a man in the distance.
"Dylan!" She yelled out and before she could even take a breath, she was running down the hill into his arms.
"Aubrey!" He exclaimed as he grabbed onto her, pulling her into a tight hug and spinning her around. He buried his head into her neck, "I love you, I love you so much,"
"I had our babygirl," she said, pulling away and looking at him, tears brimming in her eyes.
"I know, Xavier told me," he said and she smiled, knowing that he was safe.
She smiled, "Come meet her,"
They walked up the hill towards the tents and that was when she spotted Dakota standing there, a wide smile on her face.
Aubrey rushed over, taking the baby from her arms, thanking her for looking after her. She turned to Link who had tears in his eyes.
They went and sat down inside of the tent and she handed the baby girl to him. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he looked at her, her little hand wrapping around his finger.
"Her name is Grace Annie Marie Redmond," she said.
"It's beautiful, she is so beautiful," he said, wiping a tear from his cheek.
Link was upset that he didn't get to support her during her pregnancy but he understood her decision. Just holding their baby in his arms made it all worth it.
"Annie died," Aubrey explained, a tear rolling down her cheek, "She got bit by a snake, I couldn't believe it. She delivered our baby,"
"How old is she?" He asked.
"About 2 and a half weeks," she said and he looked at her in shock
"Come on, you stay here and rest, I will help everyone," he said, handing the baby back to her as he realised she was freshly postpartum.
In the evening, after everyone had been fed dinner, Xavier entered the tent and looked at Link and Aubrey sitting together, watching their baby.
"Look at this happy family," Xavier said as he came in.
"She looks just like her mother," Link said.
Xavier laughed, "She certainly does,"
Link stood up, walking towards the man and holding his hand out, "Thank you, thank you so much for looking after my girls,"
Xavier shook his hand, a wide smile on his face, "Any time, they're my family now. And so are you Link,"
Aubrey smiled, looking at this family that she had gained. She had escaped the worst place and she had found all of this, a husband, a child, a father figure, a best friend. She had everything she needed.
A/N - thanks for everyone who read this fanfiction in a very niche corner of the Internet. Every read and vote has meant the world, until next season!!
When Xavier ran to the train with the bomb, Gary finally turned against him, showing his true colours. The bomb went off too early to alarm them of Xaviers position and they all swarmed on him.
A woman ran through the smoke, "Thats my husband, let me through," she yelled.
When Xavier saw her, he started to fight off the men who were trying to apprehend him so that he could get to her.
"I dont want to hurt anyone, thats my wife. I came a long way to find her and I need to know if shes okay," he said and they let her go.
She ran over to him, wrapping him in a hug, "Where are the kids?" She asked.
"Where I came from," he replied
"Colarado bunker?" A woman stepped forward, she must have been the leader of the group.
"Xavier, theyre friends. You can put the gun down," Teri promised, "The train is going to Colarado, we can go with them,"
He put the gun down, helping the men up that he had pushed over earlier, "I didn't want to hurt anyone, the mailman said Teri was in danger,"
When he explained everything to Dakota, she explained that they were leaving tomorrow and that if he wanted to, he could come with them.
"I gotta go get my friend and her baby. Her fiance is in Colarado also trying to break in, Link," he explained.
Dakotas eyes went wide, "You are with Aubrey?" She asked.
"Yeah, you know her?" He questioned, brows furrowed in confusion.
"Very good friends. Any friend of Birdie is a friend of mine, thank you for all your cooperation," she said, shaking his hand, "Now go bring her back and we will be on our way,"
In Colorado, Link walled up to the open doors and finally stepped inside of the bunker. He looked around for a second before his eyes landed on the woman in front of him.
"Samantha Redmond, I thought it would be President Bradford," he said.
"Cal Bradford is dead," she stated very bluntly and the team all looked at one another, wondering what could have happened, "We have your requested item,"
A man next to her hands her a box and she opened it, revealing a slice of apple pie.
Link took the box and the fork, staring at it for a second in awe before showing the rest of the group.
"Fresh apple, flaky crust," Geiger said.
The men all muttered to themselves about the pie, before Samantha cleared her throat, "You wanna talk about pie?" She asked, almost annoyed.
The men looked at one another and laughed, seeing how stupid she was for not realising why they wanted it. Link took a bite, humming to himself at how good it tasted.
"Is that Air Force One?" He asked, pointing at the plane behind her, "Lets do it on there,"
Samantha looked around at all of the people behind her and she nodded, allowing the two of them to walk up to the plane together.
They were silent until they got into the main lounge. Link looked around in awe, hand brushing over the walls.
"Wow, this is like Star Wars, all the people and troops. Pomp and Circumstance," he said, "It all comes down to Luke and Vader in the end,"
He sat down in the booth away from her, taking another bite of the pie. He thought of Aubrey for a second, wondering what she would think of all of this.
"How old are you?" She asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm trying not to take it personally, people keep asking me that. I'm 26," he said.
She nodded, shocked at how young he was for all the power that he seemed to hold, "How many people are with you? Are depending on you?"
"We're spread over a lot of branches, but all in all, 10k," he explained.
"Thats a lot of mouths to feed," she said, eyes wide with shock. There were a lot of people alive out there.
"And clothe, and keep from killing each other. Do you have these moment where you have no idea what to do but everyone is looking at you like you know the answer?" He questioned.
"I've had a few of those, yes. They need to believe you have a plan. They can disagree with you but never doubt you,"
They sat in silence for a second, both of them understanding the weight of pressure and responsibility when it came to this job.
"We should probably get to it. Come join me on the dark side," she offered. He nodded, laughing at her joke as he came and sat in the armchair opposite her.
"We can tell you are running this bunker on 3-5 modular nuclear reactors. We want one," he said, admitting what he came here for.
"What are you going to do with a nuclear reactor?" She said, scoffing at the idea.
"Restart the world," he shrugged his shoulders, almost as if it was the easiest suggestion every.
Samantha shook her head, "I admire your ambition, but this isn't some five-star resort with reactors reactors spare,"
He pushed the apple pie around with his fork, "Fresh apples, meaning greenhouses, grow lights, irrigation. Theres a flaky crust so you have butter, or butter alternative. Meaning refrigeration,"
Samantha sat there for a moment, thinking about how easily he had analysed the bunker from just a simple pie. Clearly he was smarter than they all thought.
"What do you really want?" She asked.
"One of your reactors," he said, like it was the simplest thing.
"No, if you know this much about what we have and how we operate, you know we wouldn't let you take something like that. So what do you really want?" She emphasised.
He smiled, knowing that they had all figured it out. He leaned forward, looking at her, "I'm here for Alex,"
Samanthas face fell instantly as she realise that he knew about Alex. Then she composed herself, taking a deep breath.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she stated with a shrug.
"I think you do. Where is Alex?" He questioned.
"I think we have reached an impasse," she stood up, signaling that their conversation was over.
He shrugged and stood up, the two of them walking out of the plane and back towards their groups in complete silence.
"This bunker was built to sustain a nuclear blast. You will not get in, you will only get yourself or your team hurt. Please forget about this and move on," Samantha emphasised.
"Lady, you're not quite getting it. We will come in, we will find Alex and we will end this. I have people relying on me," his happy demeanour had changed to that of a leader.
Link looked at this woman and he thought of Aubrey, about his family and about all that he was doing this for. It had to succeed because of her.
"Well I will do everything in my power to protect her, I wont let you destroy what I have built," she said.
That was what bothered him the most as he thought about him and his mentor building Alex together. He knew she had done nothing but funded this.
"Built?" He scoffed, anger bubbling up inside of him as he stepped towards her, getting in her face, "You haven't built anything, you've bribed and stolen and killed,"
There was no point in fighting this now and Geiger knew that this would just cause more problems if he were to intimidate her.
"Dylan, let's go," Geiger said, "We should bounce man,"
He took a deep breath and stepped away from her, knowing that he could lose if he kept doing that. He turned his back to her and walked back to the group.
He didn't see the way that her face sank at the name. She reached forward, watching this man as he stepped away, "Your name is Dylan? When were you born? When is your birthday?"
Before he could get too far, she grabbed onto his arm and then chaos broke out. Everyone started to grab for their guns, unsure what she was going to do.
Link held his hand up, signalling to his men to put their guns down. When they did, he turned back to Samantha,
"May 16th," he said before pulling away from her, wiping blood from his nose, "Thank you for the pie. I will grab some when I destroy everything you have built,"
It was the middle of the day and Aubrey was taking a well deserved nap whilst Grace slept in the bassinet next to her when she heard a loud shriek of excitement.
She immediately jolted away, eyes darting to the door, one hand grabbing onto her gun.
But what she saw at the door was Crystal hugging a woman and a little boy and when they moved, she recognised them as Teri and Bean, the kid that she had been looking after.
Xavier walked up to the door and smiled at the sight of the mother and daughter asleep, "We got 'em back,"
"Good job," she replied
"Turns out they weren't being held hostage and instead, they were on a train to Colarado," he explained.
Aubrey sat up, brows furrowed as she realised there was only one train to Colarado and it should already be there, "Dakotas train?" She asked and he nodded, "They should have been there last month, that means they've not broken into the bunker yet,"
"Well Dakota is holding it for us, they're leaving tonight," he explained, looking at the woman as she figured everything out.
Her head was swimming with thoughts because this meant she was going to be able to see Link again.
"Let's go then," she said, picking Grace up and placing her into the carrier, strapping it against her chest.
He walked her outside and thats when she finally got to see Teri and Bean, "Aubrey, this is my wife Teri and Bean. Guys, this is my dear friend Aubrey and her baby girl Grace,"
Immediately, Teri came and gave her a hug, "Thank you for helping him get back to me,"
"No, I need to thank you. If he wouldn't have come looking for you, he wouldn't have come and helped me deliver my baby," she said, looking down at the little girl.
"She is adorable," Teri said with a smile, "How old is she?"
"Two weeks," she said.
Teri gasped, "You are looking very good for a mother two weeks postpartum,"
"Well the train is about 5 days long so I will have some time to rest," she said, "Speaking of the train, we should get going. Don't want Dakota leaving without us,"
As they walked back, Aubrey looked down at her baby and thought about the fact that she was going to be able to reunite her with her father finally.
As Xavier walked off, Crystal ushered Aubrey into a small room in the back where she would carry out her medical examinations, "Normally I charge for this but for a friend of Teri's, its on the house,"
Aubrey smiled, sitting down on the chair, just like an old doctors room from before. Grace was asleep on her chest.
"Do you mind if I take her? Crystal asked and she passed her the baby.
She lay her down on the table and checked her over, making sure her heart sounded okay, looking to see if all of her joints working.
"She looks like a perfectly healthy baby, you are lucky. Is she your first?" She asked.
Aubrey shook her head, "My first was a while ago, stillborn,"
"I'm sorry to hear that, do you mind if I leave her with Jackie whilst I check you over?" She asked.
She nodded, watching Grace with a smile, "You're a very polite nurse," she said with a laugh.
"You have to be with these people, some are scared of strangers," she explained, pulling another pair of latex gloves on, "Any complications with this pregnancy?"
"No, I don't think so. I had high blood pressure for a bit but it settled down," she explained.
Aubrey wondered what Annie would have thought of this. She would have loved the idea of working again, maybe she would have wanted to join these people.
She had been afraid of strangers too, and she had promise Aubrey that she would make sure Grace was never afraid, that the baby she helped look after during pregnancy was looked after.
"Do you mind if I just check you?" Crystal asked, gesturing to the stirrups.
She nodded, putting her legs in the stirrups, allowing the woman to raise the medical gown she had put her in earlier.
She examined everything for a moment, making sure that the postpartum mother was okay and healthy.
"Everything's looks good here, you seem to be a very healthy woman. You are lucky," she said, pulling her gloves up and asking her to get off the bed.
"I am," she said.
Aubrey thought back to all of the amazing medical care that she had been given by Annie, she didn't know how she would have handled the pregnancy otherwise.
"My friend, she was a medical resident before the world all fell apart. She looked after me for most of it," Aubrey explained as she dressed back into her normal clothes.
"Seems like a very good friend," she said and Aubrey could feel the tears burning behind her eyes
She missed her every day. She had looked after her like a sister for the last 8 months there and she knew that when she told Link all that had been done for her that he would be happy he had left her there with Annie too.
She took Grace back in her arms, thinking of her father for a moment, thinking of what he would think of all of this. She would be with him again soon.
"We have some more diapers and some bottles and all of that for when you run out. We also have some more clothes that you are welcome to take," Jackie explained.
"Thank you, thank you so much," she said, grateful that once again, strangers had come through and been the biggest help in her life.
After Link had told the cameras outside the bunker that he would be coming for them and that he wanted them to let him in, they just had to wait.
More and more people were starting to arrive but they were still waiting for the train. They needed the guns and supplies from the train in case things started to get nasty.
Link was lying in the bus, trying not to think about the fact that his child should have been born by now, that somewhere out there is a baby who is half him and half the love of his life and he has to wait to meet them.
When this was all over and they had made the world a better place to live in, it would all be worth it.
Outside, the men noticed a figure starting to walk towards them, "Gentleman," the woman dressed in a casual business suit said.
Immediately, they all aimed their guns at her because she was not part of their group, and that meant that she must be from inside the bunker.
"It's just me, I'm Jane. The leader of the community is willing to meet with you, I've been asked to deliver the terms," she explained.
She walked closer, holding out a piece of paper. Gator stepped forward to grab it but as he did, she grabbed him by the neck, taking his gun from his holster and holding it against his head.
"Wheres the cutie with the cards?" She asked and when nobody moved, she laughed, "Im not playing,"
"I'm here," Link said with his hands raised as he stepped out of the bus, "Please lower your gun,"
She looked him up and down, a smirk on her face, "My boss is willing to meet but only with you,"
"Understood, and fine, but I'll be bringing my men," he agreed.
"You can bring two men, unarmed," she said with a scoff, shocked he would think they would allow armed men anywhere near the bunker.
The two negotiated for a few moments, going back and forth about who they could bring and eventually settled in five men, unarmed.
Link sat down in the folding chair, looking at the woman with skepticism.
"You guys have apple pie in there? All the things I crave the most, I think of a good old fashioned pie the most," he said.
Jane looked at him confused, wondering why out of all the things he could have asked for, he asked for apple pie. Little did he know that it was his fiancé's favourite.
Aubrey had always loved pie, they had made a really crappy pie once but it made everyone smile. He wondered for a split second what her pregnancy cravings were.
"We have pie, it's really good actually," the woman explained, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Five men, unarmed and a slice of applied pie," Link suggested, laying out the final terms of the agreement.
"I'll see what I can do," she smiled, a flirty demeanour to the way she acted, "I will let him go now, do not try and attack me,"
She handed the gun back to Gator before stepping away from the scene. She gave them a flirty little wave before she started to walk away back up the mountain.
The men all looked at each other, knowing that even if they had finally gotten a conversation with them, that they were dangerous and they needed to go in prepared.
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When they arrived in Atlanta they made their way to the coordinates and found that they had arrived at an old mailing room. It seemed deserted except for one man who stood at the door, waiting.
"Where the fuck is my wife?" Xavier asked, holding his gun steady, ready for if this man were to fight back.
Aubrey was ready too. She had one hand on Grace's head, ready to protect her at any moment, the other on her gun.
"Its a long story," he explained.
"We have time," Aubrey stated very bluntly, there was something weird about this man.
"I survived the last few years here with a small group of people including your wife. My best friend betrayed us and a group of armed men came and took her, they took everyone," he explained.
There was silence as they both wondered whether the story that they were just told was true. That would mean that Teri wasn't even here.
"Can you put the gun down?" The man asked, clearly nervous.
"How many men?" Aubrey asked.
"What kind of weapons?" Xavied followed up.
"5 or 6 maybe, and I don't know about weapons," he seemed scared, hand held up in surrender, but she felt there was something he wasn't telling them, "I'll tell you everything, just put the gun down,"
Her and Xavier shared a look, one that said they could trust this guy to an extent. He nodded and they both put their guns down.
The man, Gary, ushered them into the mail room, showing them maps of the area and explaining about how he had set this all up
Aubrey could hear the baby starting to fuss, her cries getting a little bit louder. She started to shush her, bouncing her up and down slightly.
"Im gonna go feed her," she said, looking down at her watch.
Xavier nodded, watching as she walked over to a secluded corner and sat down. She pulled Grace from the baby carrier and cradled her gently
"Its okay sweet girl," she said, the baby having calmed down a little bit at the rocking.
Aubrey looked up, seeing a painting of 9 people and she recognised the name under one of them, "Is this your wife?"
Xavier walked over, tears brimming in his eyes as he looked at the picture of his wife. It looked just like her.
After she had fed Grace, Gary showed them around the facility and what they had set up for themselves.
"That was her bed," he said, pointing at one of the bottom bunk beds.
The man wandered around, wondering what his wife's life had been like for all those years they had been separated.
He noticed something under her pillow and pulled out a picture of all of the people that lived there. He ran a finger over his wife's face, a smile pulling at his lips.
"We took that photo the day before she was taken, 12 days ago," Gary explained.
Aubrey scoffed, turning to the man, "12 days, and you've done nothing to find them?"
"I know where they are and I tried to rescue them but I couldn't," he said, something feeling odd about it all, "I'm just a mailman,"
"Show me," Xavier said, also angry that this man had done nothing to help his wife.
"I'll stay here Xavier, think she needs to sleep," Aubrey said, she was never one to resist a good recon mission but she knew that both of them needed the rest.
Xavier agreed, promising to come home as soon as possible. He started to pack a few things into his backpack, walking back into the main room.
"Whats her name?" Gary asked.
"Grace," she said, rocking the baby in her arms.
"I can hold her if you like," he offered, noticing that she was getting a bit tired.
Before Aubrey could turn him down, Xavier jumped in, "You may know my wife, but I dont know you. Nobody but her and I touch this baby,"
"Sorry, I just want to help," the man said, sheepish. He was almost offended they wouldn't let him hold the baby.
"Do you have anything that can give us a spark of electricity?" Xavier asked.
He shook his head, "Everything's dead,"
"I know you had something that could power a radio," he said, knowing that there was some sort of power.
"Its been destroyed," he explained, mentioning how Ennis, the man who had double crossed them, had destroyed it, "We never got it working again,"
Xavier shook his head, a sad look on his face. He was not ready to give up yet, "I spent every day for the last 3 years thinking she was gone then I heard that voice. That will not be the last time I heard her voice,"
Gary watched as the cogs turned in the other man's head as he started to figure out what he could do to get his wife back.
"I'm gonna go back to the train and make a distraction," Xavier explained, knowing exactly what he needed now.
"What kind of distraction?" Gary asked.
Aubrey saw what items Xavier was looking at and new exactly what he wanted to build, "A bomb," she said, "Let me help, I have worked in nuclear plants, I can do this,"
"You are nearly 2 weeks postpartum and still need to rest," he said, and even though she wanted to help, she knew that he was right, "You will stay here. When we find the stuff we will build it,"
After the recon mission that Gary and Xavier went on, Gary explained that there was a place where they could get the items that he needed to build the bomb.
It was only an hours walk away and when they arrived, Aubrey noticed that there was a bustling market full of people who were selling and trading things they had built or found.
"All we need is something we can use as a detonator," Aubrey explained to Gary, "Where here can we find it?"
"Ive never been here but theyre the only ones we can trust," he explained as they looked around at booths of people.
There was a drag queen running an auction, and small children running around one particular work station and Aubrey smiled because this is what her and Link had been fighting for.
There were so many good people in the world who just wanted normalcy. They wanted to restart the world so that everyone could live like this and be happy again.
"Excuse me, looking for a working car battery," Xavier asked as he walked up to a man who seemed to have a lot of electronics.
The man just sat there in silence, sharpening his knife.
"Alright, home much for those two old field walkies?" Aubrey asked, pointing behind him.
"What you got?" The man asked, looking up.
Xavier looked at Gary who started to rummage through his bag but there didn't seem to be anything of value.
"I ain't seen a working car battery in 3 years, so you ain't a local. We good people around here, we don't want any problems," the man said.
The two looked at each other and both knew that this place would not be friendly to outsiders like them. They began to walk away when suddenly someone started to call for Gary.
They turned around, watching as two women rushed over and gave him a hug. One of them looked at Xavier and Aubrey.
"Who this?" She asked.
"Crystal, Jackie. This is Aubrey, her baby Grace and Xavier Collins," he introduced.
The two women's eyes went wide when they heard the name, almost like Teri had told them all about him, "Where's Teri?"
He explained everything that had happened with Ennis meeting people on a train and then them kidnapping Teri and the othwrs.
"I came back, they had taken everything. Everyone's gone," he explained.
"Ennis told the others where it was, hes working with them?" Jackie questioned, shaking her head, "That motherfucker,"
Crystal nodded, "We all love Teri, we'd do anything to help her,"
"I'm gonna get her back, and I am going to build a bomb to do it," he explained.
"We came here for supplies, radio, ammo, clacker," Aubrey told thrm.
Jackie nodded her head, "If theres anything you need, we're here for you,"
Aubrey and Xavier shared a look, they both knew she wouldn't be able to come with them on the mission, "Can I stay for the night, Xavier won't let me come help save Teri,"
"Because you are a week postpartum," he said.
She rolled her eyes but Crystal nodded, "He's right, you should rest. We will check you out and make sure you're okay,"
Xavier hugged her, hating that he was having to leave her and Grace behind for a while but he would be back with his wife soon enough.
"Look after yourself kid," he said, patting her on the shoulder.
"I will, you know I can," she replied, watching as him and Gary walked away.
