.・゜-: ✧☾　☽✧ :-゜・.

𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐎𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋. watching as death passed them, as they nearly escaped it. Living out in the open, constantly exposed to any threat. And every time they found themselves under a threat, Stella found herself standing in front of her family, using her body as a shield. And whenever she did, she sound find Levi standing before her, doing the same thing with her as she was doing with her family.

Stella had learned how do live in fear and hunger. How to survive without water or shelter. That was her reality and life until they found the farm. Living there made them all weak. Even Stella felt like the weakest and most vulnerable version of herself, constantly having to rely on others. After months in danger and without shelter, Stella learned how to defend herself and her group. She was stronger and was ready to do anything to protect her family, at any cost.

They stopped before the decayed house. As they moved towards the beaten up door Stella tightened her grip on her gun. She was more skilled with her bow, but in a close up combat the gun was easier to use. At the end of her gun she had placed a silencer which she had found in an abandoned house a while back. Her gun was lifted before her as she approached the door. Rick used his foot to kick it down and him and Levi entered first, taking down two walkers on the inside. The two were followed by Daryl, Stella and lastly Carl.

Carl was older now, more mature. He grew up fast, but Stella believed that he was forced to. Being a child in an apocalypse makes you vulnerable. No one wants to feel vulnerable and weak.
Stella wasn't ever fond of the idea of him joining the older ones as they searched the houses, that's why she always kept an eye on him. Even though Carl told her he could handle himself. Stella didn't doubt it. He was strong and knew how to use a gun. But she didn't care if he could use a weapon or if he was stronger, she would always look out for him.

Stella bolted through the door and into an empty hallway. She looked through every room until she found the kitchen. A weak groaning was heard from behind the counter. She hurried behind it and saw a walker who'd been split in half, trying desperately to crawl towards her. The blonde quickly placed a bullet in its head, watching as it fell lifeless to the ground.

They continued to search the house, making sure it was safe. Daryl came downstairs holding a dead owl in his hands. Stella frowned as she watched him pick the feathers off the dead animal.
Dinner is served. She thought to herself.

They all put down their weapons as Rick got the rest of the group inside. Stella watched as her mother struggled to carry a heavy bag inside.

"Here, let me take that." Stella said, grabbing the bag from her mother who gave her a thankful smile. Stella's eyes trailed down to the big bump on her t-shirt covered stomach.

Everyone was silent which was a telltale of the devastation and heavy resignation. The last months had been rough for everyone. Sleepless nights, restless days without food or water. Stella felt hopeless.

Levi and Rick stood guard as everyone started packing up. Carl came into the room after scavenging the kitchen for food, with a can in his hand. Everyone stared at the can with excitement glowing in their eyes. That was the most food they'd found in a long time.

Everyone's excitement was short lived as they read the label of it. Dogs food.

Rick walked over to Carl and grabbed the can before slinging it across the room causing everyone to flinch slightly. Stella gently rubbed Carl's back.
"It's okay. You did your best. We'll find some real food next time." Stella whispered to Carl.

A few hours of silence passed. Out of boredom, Stella decided to take another look up stairs, maybe find something the others missed. She walked up the creaking steps, leading to a long hallway with doors on both sides. She looked through all the empty rooms before opening a door with the name August on it. The door creaked open, revealing a large bedroom with emerald green walls and a big white bed. But what caught Stella's eyes was a brown wooden piano placed in the far end of the room. She sat down on the patterned piano stool and let her fingers graze the tiles without adding any pressure.

She used to love playing the piano and did it all the time when she was younger. She still remembered a few songs. One song specifically. Lilly's mother, Lucille taught her how to play it when they were 11. Ever since, it had been Stella's favorite song on the piano. Can't help falling in love by Elvis Presley.

Stella gently pressed one of the tiles making a light sound, before she placed her second hand on the piano tiles. She began putting pressure on them as she began to remember the chords. The music came flooding out. Her now self controlled fingers moving rhythmically. She played for a while not even realizing Levi standing in the doorway, admiring her as she played.

She jumped in shock as she saw him.

"Levi! You scared the crap out of me!" Stella exclaimed.

"Sorry." He laughed. "That was beautiful. You're like Van Gogh or whatever"

"Van Gogh was a painter, you idiot." Stella laughed

"Okay, Mozart. I didn't know you could do that."

"Well, I'm full of surprises." Stella smiled.

"Yeah I see that now." Levi returned her smile.

"It's not that hard really. You just have to learn the accords. Come here, I'll show you." Stella waved him over.

Levi walked over and sat down next to her. He cleared his throat nervously as the two of them sat close together.

"Here, just follow me." Stella said as she took his hand and placed it on the tiles before doing the same with her own. Levi followed her lead as she began to play slowly but he quickly messed up by pressing the wrong tile. They tried multiple times but Levi seemed to have no control over his fingers as he kept making the same mistake over again.

"Fuck." He cursed causing Stella to giggle. "I'll just watch."

Stella smiled before she played the same song again. She felt Levi's body pressed against her side as they sat on the small stool and felt his eyes in the back for her neck, staring at her. Her heartbeat accelerated, feeling his warm hand slightly touching the side of her leg. Her head felt like a mess as she tried to focus on her fingers and the song.

She wasn't usually this nervous around Levi. He was her best friend. Her heart would always beat faster around him but she never knew why. She would always find herself defending and protecting him before anyone else. But that was always because he was her best friend.

But now, in this moment her stomach felt like it was filled with a swarm of butterflies. Her finger slipped and she pressed the wrong title. She had played this song so many times and never messed up. What was going on? She breathed out and chuckled nervously before she began to play again. She Immediately messed up and pulled her hand away from the piano, placing it in her lap.

She chuckled nervously once again and turned her face towards Levi's slightly. His hazel eyes were plastered on her lips. She stared into his eyes before letting her gaze trail down his face and landing on his pink lips. The two of them leaned forward, bringing their faces only inches away from each other.

Levi's hand trailed up her arm, sending shivers down Stella's spine. His hand continued up her shoulder before placing it on the side of her face. The blonde leaned into his hand, bringing their faces closer once again. Their noses were touching and Stella could feel his hot breath once again hitting her face as he breathed heavily.

"Is this okay?" Levi asked against her lips.

"Shut up." Stella giggled. Levis lips met hers and Stella let herself lean into the kiss. The rest of her laughter was lost against his lips. Everything around them disappeared. It was just him and her in that moment. Stella moved closer and placed her hand on his arm, lightly grabbing his shirt.

Stella felt Levi's hand travel to her thigh before trailing up to her neck and jawline. Levi pulled away for a second, still keeping his face close to hers, as he admired her eyes and her lips. He breathed heavily before moving his face back to hers, closing the air between them. But before his lips met hers again, T-dog shouted from downstairs.

"Levi! Stella! Walkers!"

The two stood up quickly before Levi placed a hand on Stella's back to gently pushing her forward and out of the room. Everyone gathered their belongings swiftly and quietly snuck out the back door. They placed their bags in their cars before everyone drove off.

𝐒𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃. Maggie and Glenn laid out the map on the hood of one of the cars as the adults crowded around it.

Stella stood with her back against the group, standing guard with her gaze locked on the road before her. She wished that she could be apart of the ongoing planning with the adults but she was always forced to stand guard. Levi was never given the job and was always there during the meetings and plannings. The men considered him strong, which he was. Probably a better fighter than most in the group. Levi and Stella had been practicing together since the fall for the farm.

Soon the adults had made a plan and Rick and Daryl had decided to go hunting. That's the only time that Stella was enough. She was one of the best hunters in the group thanks to her skills with her bow.

"Stella! Come one, we're going out to hunt!" Daryl shouted.
The blonde quickly grabbed her bow and arrows from the truck.

The three of them headed out into the forest next to the road. After walking for a bit without finding anything they began following an overgrown train track. Stella walked first with her bow steady. Suddenly she saw a movement in one of the bushes followed by a rustling sound. Within a second Stella had grabbed an arrow and shot it at the sound. She heard the animal squeal before she hurried into the bush so grab it. A smile inhabited her face as the grabbed the big white rabbit.

She cheered as she held the animal in the air. "Dad!" She turned to her father who has stopped a few metres ahead of her, staring at something in the distance.

Stella hurried over to her father gasping at the sight of the grey prison, roamed by walkers. The cracked walls grew tall surrounded by a fence.

"that's a shame." Daryl muttered but Stella watched as an idea grew in ricks head revealed by the growing smile on his face.

__________________________________

Suddenly, a flicker of hope grew in Stella's chest. The group stood with their weapons ready as Rick kneeled down and attempted to cut the wires of the fence. Stella shot an arrow into a lonely walker approaching them as Glenn pierced another dead with a spear before Maggie jammed a hammer into its skull.

"Watch the backside!" Rick shouted.

"Got it."

Levi climbed through the fence first, helping rick to pull the fence apart allowing the rest of the group to swiftly get to the other side.

They now stood between two fences, one on each side. Behind the fence towards the prison, walkers limped around, slowly noticing their presence. Levi and Glenn began tying the fence back together. Within seconds, at least two dozen of walkers were pressed against the fence and the group began to run up the gravel path between the two fences leading to a open surface with only a gate in the fence keeping them from the dead roaming the field.

"It's perfect. If we can shut that gate,prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these walkers. We'll be in the field tonight." Rick said.

"So how do we shut the gate?" Hershel questioned.

"I'll do it." Stella said, surprised by the confidence in her voice. In reality, she wasn't confident at all. Thinking about running into that field scared the living soul out of her but she wanted to feel like she accomplished something and she wanted people to look at her as the strong young woman instead of the scared little girl.

"No. It's a suicide run." Levi said.

"I can do it." Stella turned to him.

"I could do it. I'm the fastest." Glenn said.

"No. Daryl, go back to the other tower. Carol you've become a pretty good shot. Take your time. We don't have a lot of ammo to waste. Levi, you, Hershel and Carl take this tower. Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Ellie and Stella draw as many as you can over there." Rick pointed.

"Dad, come on. At least let me shoot. I'll pop 'em from up there with my bow." Stella pleaded.

"Okay, go." Rick sighed. "I'll run for the gate."

Stella followed Levi, Hershel and Carl up to the guard tower. She stood by the railing, holding her bow steadily as she grabbed an arrow. She watched as Lori helped rick open the gate. Her father ran toward the gate, shooting walkers as he did. Stella released her arrow letting it fly straight jnto the eye of a walker limping toward her father. They all continued shooting the walkers as Rick made it to the gate. In one swift move he pushed a walker with his foot before he closed the gate and then locking it with a chain.

Stella fired a last arrow into the only remaining walker before letting out a huff of air as her gaze traveled over the yard, looking over the bodies scattered across it.

"We did it." She whispered under her breath.

"Woohoo!" Levi cheered.

𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐈𝐃 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐀 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐅𝐄𝐈𝐋𝐃. A smile was plastered onto Stella's face as she leaned back and took a bite of the rabbit she had caught earlier. Everyone spoke loudly and laughed bringing a sense of comfort and calm to the Grimes girl. Feeling the warmth of the fire and hearing the sounds of joy around her brought back the hope that had extinguished after spending month out in the open. They were okay. Finally they felt safe. They had a place to settle down.

Stella looked at her mother whose eyes were plastered on her father. He had been walking around the perimeter since the sun began to set, making sure there were no holes or other problems with the fence.

"Bethy, sing paddy reilly for me." Hershel said. "I haven't read that since your mother was alive."

"Daddy, not that one please." Ellie said, keeping her eyes on the food on her plate.

"How about the parting glass?" Hershel asked.

"No one want to hear." Beth said.

"Why not?" Levi asked with a smile.

"I do" Stella smiled followed by everyone smiling and nodding in agreement.

Beth looked around, looking a bit uncomfortable before sighing. "Okay..."

"Off all the money that e'er I had I have spend it in good company. Oh and all the harm I've ever done, Alas it was to none by me.." As Beth began to sing , Stella leaned on loris shoulder. The sides off her mouth rose. Stella looked up and met Levi's gaze from the other side of the fire. They shared a moment of silence as she looked into the eyes of the capturer of her first kiss. Stella could see the reflection of the fire in his brown eyes. They still hadn't talked about what happened in the house earlier that day. Stella wasn't sure if she wanted to. She wanted to feel his lips on hers again. His hands on her legs. His warm breath brushing against her face.

Their eye contact broke as Rick sat down next to Stella after his forth and final round around the perimeter. Stella looked at his worried face and tried to give him a reassuring smile.

Beth continued to sing and soon Maggie and Ellie joined her.

"Here, mom." Stella said, handing her mother the rest for her food. "I'm not hungry."

"No, thank you sweetheart. You keep eating. You haven't had a proper meal like this in ages." Lori smiled.

"Mom I swear, I'm full." Stella lied.

"Oh, my sweet girl." Lori pulled a tug of hair behind Stella's ear. "Keep eating and don't make me force it in your mouth."

The two grimes women chuckled. Stella finally felt a rare sense of calm and peace. Even though they weren't as many people as they used to be, this group felt like a family and the prison felt like something they could call a home. But she couldn't help but feel as though everything was going to be taken away from them, soon.

_____ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ _____
𝟐𝟗𝟓𝟕 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬
𝐣𝐚𝐧 𝟏𝟖𝐭𝐡
𝟏𝟏 𝐀𝐌
_____ ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ _____

𝐀/𝐍

OMG.
finally Levi and Stella had their first kiss! I'm so bad at writing kisses and stuff but I'm working on it so trust me, there will be A LOT more! just wait!!!!

finally on season 3!

don't be a silent reader! please like and comment

love u all and thank u sm for almost 16k