#to let hershel grow as a person

[angelwings-crossbowstrings]

Blood Ties Chapter 27

Series Masterlist

Warnings: Poorly written smut; lots and lots of pregnancy stuff (kinda gross toward the last)

A/N: We are now exiting my area of expertise with pregnancy. Google will be my friend. If I made mistakes, please just pretend I didn’t. lol

gif by @daryl-dixon-daydreams

Opening your eyes, you had to immediately squint against the morning sun. It couldn’t be later than eight o’clock, give or take a few minutes. You were still in the same room Hershel had put you in two days ago, only allowed up to walk around, use the bathroom, and join for meals if you would like. Hershel had said you could still do light chores with no bending or reaching above your head, but Daryl had forbidden it without even saying a word. So, you mostly rested and focused on taking in enough water. Carl or Beth would bring each person’s bag so you could go through and inventory the contents, ensuring all the supplies were making it from each escape and taking note of any new supplies added. 

Stretching your legs, you winced at the ache in your pelvis. “Christ, Thumps. Why do you have to sit right on my bladder first thing in the morning?”

“S’prolly like a pillow.” 

You already wore a smirk when your head rolled toward the door, finding Daryl in the chair working on his crossbow. Did it really take that much upkeep? Or was he just that meticulous? Cradling your belly, you eased onto your side to face him, propping yourself on your elbow with your cheek on your palm. 

“Most women would find it creepy to wake up with a man watching them while tinkering with a weapon.” 

His hands kept moving but he looked up with a smirk of his own, a dark brow arched. “But not you?”

You shook your head against your hand, smiling gently. “Not me.” He laughed with a breath through his nose and refocused on what he was doing. You had to push yourself up on your arm and shimmy around a bit to get into an actual seated position. Your belly was warm and heavy against your upper thighs, a hand or foot pressing out next to your navel. You poked it and chuckled when it disappeared and popped right back out. “Good morning, baby.” 

In your peripheral, you could see Daryl had stilled, felt his eyes on you. He was watching the interaction in silence, as he usually did. Just as you watched his interactions without a word. You started to invite him over, but the baby shifted, the weight on your full bladder doubling and the discomfort growing tenfold. 

“Okay, time to pee. Like—yesterday.”

Your partner was already getting to his feet and standing next to the bed before you even maneuvered your way to the edge of the mattress. Daryl leaned forward for you to grab his biceps while his hands found purchase beneath your arms and pulled you the remainder of the way with what appeared to be little to no effort. Using the hold he still had on you, he lifted you straight up and let you find your footing. Your protruding stomach was pressed against him, immediately squashing any hope you had of stealing a kiss.

You looked up at him with a silly pout that instantly disappeared in the face of the tiny one-sided lift of his lips. He’d smiled at you before; hell, he’d even laughed at and with you. But this? This was the most peaceful, truest smile you had ever seen him wear. 

And then it was gone, replaced with a scowl that was half hearted at best. “What’s with the face?” 

“Nothing.” You brushed your fingers over his left temple at the same time that you felt his hands on either side of your belly. “As sweet as this moment is and as much as I love you, if we don’t get me somewhere to empty my bladder within the next two point three seconds—well, remember when I vomited on your boots?” 

“Gross.” Daryl’s lip curled. He knew where you were taking that implication and urged you toward the door with a hand on the small of your back. “Just walk. Or—waddle.” When you snapped your head around to gape at him, he was utterly stoic.

“I swear I’m gonna strap a watermelon to your stomach and we’ll see how sexy you can strut.”

The archer snorted, following you out the door.

You were impressed that you could still move as fast as you were, dodging and ducking, with Carol’s hand tight in one of yours. Your bag was on your shoulder, bouncing against your back, and your other hand braced the swell of your belly. The other woman was watchful, taking out anything that she knew you couldn’t get around. Daryl was at your heels, stabbing walkers that stumbled out from the sides.

“Get ‘er outta here, Carol!” He roared from behind you, sounding further away than you were entirely comfortable with, but he always said run, don’t look back. You had promised to listen to him. It’s how you kept the peace when you were just as stubborn as him. Each of you gave a little.

“I’m trying!” Carol hissed out through gritted teeth, letting go of your hand to push back a walker while she stabbed another. Your knife sheath was unsecured, the weapon easily accessible, but you had promised to only use it when absolutely necessary. The walker that Carol had shoved turned in a stagger that led it straight toward you. In your book, that qualified as necessary. You took it down with ease, unable to admit how good it felt to protect yourself because another took its place. And another. And another. “Go! Get to the truck!” 

You had the keys. Daryl always made sure you carried them now. You were perfectly capable of hot-wiring a vehicle but he didn’t want you wasting time. The two of you never discussed what would happen if he made it to the truck and you never did. He would never entertain the thought. Not for a moment. 

You gave Carol a look, one that said you knew you had to listen to her, to Daryl but that it was definitely not what you wanted to do. And then you ran, stabbing if needed, dodging when you could. There were so fucking many. You could hear the yells of the others making their way to the van, sending up a silent prayer that they all made it. Your lungs were on fire by the time you saw the truck. It should have been a straight shot but someone—who had yet to come clean because you were all running for your lives—had left the gate open and allowed the dead to fill the driveway.

You caught yourself against the cold metal passenger door, fumbling for the handle before jerking it open. You had lifted one foot into the cab when the door was forced inward, slamming it against the side of your head. With a shout, you pushed back, scrambling to get inside the truck while your ears rang and your vision blurred. How many head injuries were you going to rack up within a year? Hands were grabbing at you, pulling at your bag, your clothes, your hair. Finally, you were on the seat, holding the door tight while two arms and several hands kept you from closing it.

“Fuck!”

Their snarls and moans were so loud that you couldn’t hear anything beyond them and the steady knell in your ears. Hands hit the driver’s side window. More walkers. Daryl wasn’t there. Carol wasn’t there. You’d never be able to get across the seat to start the truck before at least one was in the cab with you, maybe more. 

But goddamnit, you had to try.  

It was the only option left. You had to save Thumper and that meant saving yourself. It was what Daryl made you promise.

Holding the door with one hand, you leaned and fumbled with the key against the ignition. “Come on!” After a few more tries, a few more agonizing seconds, the key slid home. “Yes!” You let the bag slide from your shoulder and to the floorboard. Turning yourself to put your feet against the door while still holding the handle was some seriously uncomfortable gymnastics shit but you didn’t hold the position long. Pushing against the door with your feet, you both propelled yourself toward the steering wheel and knocked back the walkers that had been blocking you. 

The seat was left between where it needed to be for you or Daryl to be able to drive. You could fix it later but you could fit well enough to get the fuck out of there. Turning the key, the engine barely started before you were throwing the shifter into drive. There were thumps that indicated a few had climbed into the bed but you could deal with that later. 

Mowing down walker after walker, you nearly sobbed when you saw the taillights of the van. The others had made it. Had everyone made it? Maybe Daryl and Carol were with them. It took only a few moments to get far enough away to stop. You pulled off the road, just behind the van, your passenger door hanging open. The truck rocked, reminding you that there were still the walkers in the bed, but as people filed out of the van, there was no Carol. No Daryl. 

And your world came to a screeching halt. “No.” You whispered against the hand you pressed to your mouth. Your other hand gripped the fabric of your coat over your stomach. Rick would never let the walkers get into the truck so you placed your head against the steering wheel and let the tears fall. How would you do this without Daryl? How could you live without him? The man you loved was gone and you knew in your heart of hearts that you needed to go back, face the herd, find him—along with Carol—and put them down. You wouldn’t leave them to walk. You couldn’t. You needed closure. A grave to visit if possible.

When the driver’s side door opened, you sobbed even harder, knowing Rick could never know how to comfort you. Your arms wrapped around your belly, your apologies to little Thumper for never being able to meet their father were choked down by each jerk of your shoulders, each wet breath. Distantly, inwardly, you hoped for a boy that you knew you would name DJ. You hoped he would be the spitting image of Daryl. 

“Christ, ya drive like a maniac. Ya hurt? Baby okay?”

You straightened so quickly that your belly bumped the steering wheel and you felt a twinge of pain in your back. Daryl—a little worse for wear—was standing at the door, staring at you like nothing had happened.

“Dar—how—” You sobbed.

“Jumped in the back ‘fore ya could peel outta there. Carol too.” He tilted his head and studied you, his eyes raking over you before stopping on the right side of your head. “Ya alright?” You didn’t even register his arm lifting, but then his calloused fingertips were touching a tender spot just behind your right temple. You hissed but that pain meant nothing. “Hey, talk to me.”

As quickly as you could manage with your rounded middle, you launched yourself at him, falling into his chest with his arms instantly encircling you beneath your own. He walked forward and pushed you back onto the seat for support and held you tight, his cheek against the top of your head.

“I thought you were dead, you absolute fucking asshole!”

A hand pressed against the back of your head, pulling you to rest against his collarbone. “M’right here. M’fine. Carol’s fine.” When he tried to push you back, you held on, digging your fingers into his back, taking fistfuls of his vest. “Want Hershel to look ya over, butcha gotta let go first.”

“No.” You stated bluntly.

He didn’t say anything for the longest time, simply letting you cling to him until your sobs had quieted to whimpers and hiccups, his large hands rubbing your back and cradling your head. “Alright. Least scoot over so I can drive. An’ ya gotta let ‘im take a look atcha when we get to wherever the fuck we’re going.”

With a sniff, you conceded, nodding against his chest. When you moved back across the seat, you kept a hand fisted in the front of his shirt until he climbed in after you. He was talking with Rick but you didn’t hear a word of it. Your forehead was pressed against the round of his shoulder, thigh against his, hands gripping the hem of his vest below the arm he had outstretched to the wheel. Your body rocked with his as he closed the door. He went still for a moment, likely examining how he was going to drive with you clinging to him like a fungus but not a word was said. You had never killed the engine, so he just shifted the gear and drove while you held onto him like a lifeline.

“Ssh. Gotta be qui—fuckin’ christ.”

You had purposefully clenched your walls around him while continuing the steady rocking of your hips. “Ssh,” you pressed a finger to your lips, “gotta be quiet, Daryl.” The scowl he gave you was impressive for a man teetering right on the edge of orgasm. You traced a line through the sheen of sweat on his chest, only stopping when you reached where your belly loomed over him. His fingers were digging into your thighs, moving up to your thickened waist to both guide and urge you. “I’m so close.”

Daryl only grunted, running a hand over your prominent belly and up to your breast, squeezing gently. You were still so sensitive—and sore—but with one flick of his thumb over your wet nipple, you crested, your palm swiftly covering your mouth to muffle your shout. He quickly let go of the soft mound of your chest to grab a thigh, digging blunt nails into your flesh as he followed you up, up, up with a series of heightened breaths, desperately keeping himself quiet as well.

Still panting, Daryl caught you by your bicep and rolled with you to lay you onto your side, slipping out of you in the process. You must have looked as dazed as you felt because he was brushing your sweaty mess of hair out of your face and narrowing his eyes. “Ya okay?”

“Mhm.” With a content sigh, you caught his hand and kissed his palm, smiling when he gave you that look as if he had no idea what to do next. “I love you.” His mouth twitched into a tiny smile, a hum vibrating behind his lips. He turned his hand to hold yours, placing them on the bed between you. He didn’t say it back but he didn’t need to; you knew. You knew about his dissent with emotions but he had said he loved you and you believed him. And that was that. “Let’s get cleaned up and go face the people we probably kept awake.” You chuckled.

He scoffed, throwing the blankets back from the bedroll as he sat up. The room was cold. There were even goosebumps on his skin where the air touched it, and that man was always hot. The house was more of a shack, one large room with the kitchen and a family area, one bedroom, and a bathroom. It was the third temporary safehouse in a week and a half. 

Daryl kept the truck close to the door now, as close as he could possibly get it. With you at around 38 weeks, he was taking no chances. Seriously. No chances. You had to pee? He was with you. He had to pee? You were with him. He was practically attached to your hip, but you were finding you didn’t feel crowded at all. You just couldn’t since the night you thought you’d lost him. 

The archer stood, pulling up his pants and underwear together, staring at the window as he buckled his belt. God, he was beautiful. The moonlight was bathing him just right. He didn’t look real. Licking your lips, you thought about asking him to get right back under the blankets but that train of thought derailed with the tightening of your abdomen. You made a noise of discomfort, even though this contraction didn’t hurt. It still wasn’t the best feeling in the world.

“What?” Daryl sniffed, looking down at you.

“Stupid fake contractions.” You grimaced, holding out a hand for something with which to clean yourself up. He was already on it, digging through the bag for the bra pads for you anyway. He tossed you one of his shirts, huffing a laugh when you regarded him with bewilderment. “Are we really going to have Carol washing jizz off one of your shirts? Oh my god, or Beth?! No! Give me something else!”

“Ain’t much else to use, Sunshine.” He tossed the bra pads at you but continued rifling through the bag. A box landed next to your hip which you recognized as squares of gauze. If it weren't for the fact that you not only needed to clean up the mess between your legs but the bedroll and blankets as well, you would have just thrown on your underwear and left it.

Daryl was buttoning his shirt and not really paying attention when you wiped through the sticky mess at your core, ready to open another square but then your hand was brought to a sudden halt. Along with your heart. 

“Daryl.” You knew there was fear in your voice, you couldn’t have hidden it if you tried. When you looked to him for reassurance, you found your expression mirrored.

“Hey, doc, get the fuck in here!” He bellowed, staring at the thick glob of red, white, and yellow on the white material. Everyone was asleep or had at least bedded down, so it would likely take a moment for anyone to appear in the doorway. Still, he moved fast, pulling the tank top he had tossed to you over your head. It had to be stretched over your belly and a portion of your breasts could be seen from the side but at least you were mostly covered since it was untelling how many would respond to his exclamation. 

“Daryl, it’s blood. I’m bleeding. Is this normal? Is something wrong?” You rambled, the hand holding the gauze shaking so fiercely that he was forced to take hold of your wrist to steady it.

“I dunno. Hershel can—he’ll look. S’gonna be okay.” On his knees beside you, he pulled you against him with his free arm, holding you so tightly that you just knew it was so you didn’t shatter. “Hershel!”

“What’s wrong?” Carol was the first in, wrapping her cardigan tightly around her, but Hershel was just behind her, wiping at his eyes.

“What on earth, son?”

“She’s bleedin’, she ain’t s’posed to bleed is she?” Now, you could feel Daryl shaking, even with his voice as steady as it was.

The others were filing into the room but Carol was on top of things, ushering them all right back out while the old man rolled up his sleeves.

“Carol, could you bring a couple more candles, please?” He asked, his tone so light that even you wanted to kick him. It was likely Daryl wanted to throw him out the window. “Let’s see what we have here.” Hershel picked up the one candle you and Daryl had lit and knelt down next to the bedroll, his knees cracking and popping. When he held his palm flat, you curled your lip, wishing gloves were something any of you had thought of on the runs. Daryl guided your hand with his hold on your wrist, keeping the gauze from flipping or spilling onto the man’s palm. “Hmm. Can you tell me what happened before this?”

You and Daryl turned beet red. There was obviously cum on the gauze as well.

“‘Sides the obvious?” The archer murmured.

“Okay, so sex.” Hershel nodded. Daryl blanched. “Anything else?”

You were suddenly blank, the fear gripping your heart so tightly that it was cutting off the circulation to your brain. How could he seem so calm about this?

“She had one’a them fake contractions.” Daryl supplied. If you weren’t a trembling wreck, you would have kissed him. 

Carol trotted back into the room with a candle in each hand, kneeling down next to the veterinarian. “Is that—?”

“I think so.”

You were looking back and forth between the two, still unable to find your voice. Once again, Daryl spoke for you. “Gonna make us guess?!” He snapped.

“Easy, Daryl.” Carol admonished, reaching a hand toward him but not touching.

“Don’t fuckin’ easy me! What the fuck is—”

“Calm down.” Hershel demanded in a no nonsense tone. You felt Daryl’s hold around your shoulders tighten. “I believe this is what is called the bloody show. Sometimes it just comes out on its own, but it can be triggered by intercourse. Now I have no way of knowing if the mucus plug has already passed and sadly, our woodland toilet would make it difficult to know anyway. It could actually be present in this. Regardless, that hardly matters.”

“M’gonna need some English an’ real fuckin’ quick, doc.”

“She’s fine, Daryl.” Carol soothed. “You know we wouldn’t say that if she weren’t.” The archer looked back and forth between the two again while you looked up at him. It took a long moment of uncomfortable silence but you felt the tension pressed against you loosen ever so slight. “Let him finish.”

Daryl gave a curt nod.

“This usually means the cervix is thinning and dilating; that the baby is nearly ready to be born. Now the contraction,” he continued while twisting to place the gauze somewhere behind him, “could have been Braxton Hicks, yes. It could have also been the real thing. Was it painful?”

You shook your head.

“They aren’t always in the beginning. According to my reading, some women are lucky enough to have very mild contractions all throughout labor and delivery.” He smiled, trying so hard to settle the unease eating its way through your sternum. “I’d like to examine you. Would you allow that?”

You nodded, feeling Daryl turn his head to see your permission with his own eyes.

“Okay, lie back please. Carol, I’ll need some water and soap please.” The woman was up and out the door before you could blink. “This will be just like the last one. Some mild discomfort but it shouldn’t be anything beyond that. Have you had any contractions since the last one?”

“No.” You sounded so small, even to your own ears.

“Okay, that’s good. We won’t rule anything out yet. Your water hasn’t broken, but I must warn you that it is possible I may accidentally cause that during the exam. If that happens, there’s no reason to be alarmed.” 

You were nodding, you felt yourself doing it but it didn’t feel like you were really there at all. The fear had won and you were falling victim to the panic stirring up within you, its tendrils snaking around your lungs, making it impossible to breathe. 

Then Daryl released your wrist and slipped his hand into yours.

He was listening carefully to Hershel, watching Carol return, but he was still attentive to what you needed at that moment as well. You felt the pressure in your chest recede, your lungs easily filling while your heartrate slowed. You were still scared. You still trembled, but so did he.

The vet had moved onto the bedroll but before he could do anything, Daryl was reaching down with a quick I got it and moving the blanket. His free hand was warm on your thigh, not removing it until you bent your knees and placed your feet flat. You watched the old man for a moment, suddenly self conscious when he stared impassively before his eyes flitted over to Daryl.

“Oh, uh—sorry for the—yeah.” The archer cleared his throat, his head ducking.

“Carol.” Hershel sighed. “If there are any runs to be made soon, please make sure gloves are mentioned as a necessity.” The other woman giggled behind her hand but quickly wiped it away and nodded. “Okay, here we go.”

It felt exactly as it had the first time, deeply uncomfortable and borderline painful at certain points, though this time you were able to remain still and silent. You chose to watch your partner as he eyed Hershel like a hawk, eyes squinted and focused. You squeezed his hand. Instantly, his attention was on you. His thumb swept back and forth over your knuckles, a grounding movement on which you could center yourself.

“Well.” Hershel had pulled his hand away and was washing up with the soap and water Carol had brought in for him. “You’re about 3cm, my dear. Now it’s anyone’s guess when your water will break or if it will at all. If not, I will likely need to intervene to speed things up but that’s down the road. Take it easy but walk around if you can. Drink lots of water, any extra that we can ration off for you. I’m sure others would be willing, myself included. Let me know of any contractions, even if they aren’t painful. We will need to start timing them. I can get Glenn to loan you the watch I gave to him, Daryl, but please don’t smash it.”

“Wait. That’s it?” You struggled to sit up until Daryl assisted you.

“That’s it. It’s a waiting game now.” Carol picked up what she could and promised to return for the rest, smiling at you before she left the room, likely to fill in the others. “But from the looks of things, your little Thumper will be making his or her debut in the very—and I mean very—near future.”

Both you and Daryl stared at the doorway long after it was empty. When you squeezed his hand, he squeezed back. And in unison, you both took a deep breath and uttered two words.

“Holy shit.”

[topazy]

Tomorrow's promise

Pairing: Daryl Dixon × OC, Rick Grimes × sister OC

Warnings: Swearing

Chapter: 3.08

“We’re not leaving.”

“We can’t stay here.”

Glenn shakes his head. “If Rick says we aren’t running, then we aren’t running.”

You readjust your arms slightly so Judith is in a better position as she feeds from the bottle. Since the governor's attack, there has been a contentious debate within your group about what to do next, adding to the growing tension. You personally wanted to leave, but without everyone's agreement, it would be impossible to do so. The best thing for your group to do was wait until the middle of the night, turn all the lights off, and try to sneak out, but there was no point in sharing that idea since it was probably too late.

“No, it's better to live like rats.”

You scoff at Merle, who was locked in one of the cells. He was a rat. Rick clicks his tongue. You ask, “You got a better idea?”

“Yeah, we should have slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn’t we? I’m sure he’s got scouts on every road out of this place by now.”

“We ain’t scared of that prick,” Daryl grunts. It was hard to take his rough exterior seriously as he walked up and down the cell block so Jace, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms, wouldn’t wake.

“Y’all should be. That truck through the fence was him just ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he’s got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to.”

Maggie glares at him, “Let’s put him in another cell block.”

Daryl shakes his head. “No, he’s got a point.”

“This is all you; you started this!” Maggie yells at Merle.

Another argument starts with whether the group should stay or leave. Your brother turns and goes to leave the cellblock, and you step in front of him. The look shared between you is a silent exchange of the unspoken burden you both carried. What happened to you, Woodbury, triggered something inside Rick. “We can’t ignore this; the governor will come back for us, and we need to be ready.”

When your brother starts to walk by you, Hershel furiously yells at him, “Get back here!”

Rick freezes on the spot.

“You’re slipping, Rick. We’ve all seen it, and we understand why, but now is not the time. You once said this isn’t a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family’s life in your hands, so get your head clear and do something.”

—

Daryl comes into your cell while you’re sitting on the floor reading to Jace. He sits down on the edge of the bed. His legs brush against yours as he stretches his limbs out.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” you say, taking Jace off your lap to let him crawl. “I haven’t had the chance to say it yet, but thank you for showing up when you did and saving my brother. I’m glad you’re back.”

He says nothing and picks at the dirt underneath his nails.

Something about his actions pulls at a memory—something you’d kept locked deep inside your brain for so long you almost forgot. Your lower lip trembles slightly as you remember Shane kneeling in front of you, begging you to say something as you chip the green polish off your nails.

“What’s going on between you and Glenn?”

You pause before answering, “nothing.”

Daryl glances down at you; he knows you’re lying. There was friction in your friendship with Glenn again; not only had he brought up Shane trying to kill to prove a point, he tried to convince your brother and Hershel to hand Merle over to the governor, despite what it would do to his brother. The irony was that Glenn was one of the kindest and softest people you knew, but the trauma he suffered was causing him to lash out.

“Pfft, fine, don’t tell me.”

You swat at Daryl’s leg playfully, saying, “It’s nothing to worry about.”

“Fine,” he said huffily. You knew things were hard for him with everyone in his ear bitching about Merle. “Why’s the kid running around collecting poles? Or is that another secret?”

“Stop teasing,” you laugh.

He lets out a deep, throaty chuckle. “Seriously though, Carl is hellbent on finding everything on the scavenger hunt you sent him on.”

“I wanted to keep him busy and made him a list. Beth offered to go with him and make sure he doesn’t stray into a cellblock we haven’t cleared yet. I’m going to sharpen down the poles he brings back, and once nightfall comes, start picking off the walkers. The last thing we need is the fence coming down and then swarming in again.”

“Is this your idea or Rick’s?”

“Mine.”

Daryl looks down when Jace hits his leg with a toy. He leans over and picks him up. “Your mom really is some kind of zombie-fighting wonder woman, huh?”

You smile while watching how gentle he is with Jace for a few moments until the sound of someone running catches your attention. Out of breath, Carl holds onto the doorframe and says, “You need to come now.”

Alarmed, you get to your feet. “Carl, what’s wrong?”

“Andrea is outside.”

Shit. This could be bad. “Was she alone?”

He nods. “I think so.”

Daryl places Jace onto the floor and rushes by you to get his arrows. “Whatever happens, Lil, guard the block. Anybody comes in here that you don’t know, light their asses up.”

Carl leaves right after. You step out of the cell and see a frightened-looking Beth holding Judith in her arms and Hershel. Your stomach turns; a teenage girl and a cripple would be no match for the governor’s men. “Take them and go into the cell right up the back; I’ll cover the door into the block. If anybody gets by, shoot them.”

Beth nods and does as you ask. It was hard to know if Andrea was a threat or not; she could have easily been manipulated or could have turned on your people for the governor.

Hershel pats your shoulder and says, “I’ll go with Bethy. I doubt anybody will get past... but if they do, I won’t let them near Jace and Judith.”

You let out a shaky breath, nervous for what was to come next. “Thank you; lock the door behind me.”

—

Sitting on the table in- front of the doorway, you tap your fingers against your thigh rhythmically with the others to return. You could hear footsteps and voices getting closer by, but the seconds seemed to drag on.

Rick met your eye as he opened the gate leading into your cellblock. You knew from the first look that he didn’t trust Andrea. You knock on the table and say, “Hershel, it’s safe.”

The older man unlocks the gate and joins the rest of you. Andrea lets out a loud gasp and claps at her mouth when she notices his missing leg. “Hershel, oh god.” She steps out of her embrace with Carol and glances around the room. “I can’t believe this. Where’s Shane?”

“He didn’t make it.”

“Oh, Lily, I'm so sorry.” She looks up at your brother and says, “And Lori?”

A lump forms in your throat, preventing you from answering for him. When Rick’s eyes become glossy, Hershel says, “She had a girl. Lori didn’t survive.”

“Neither did T-dog,” Carol adds.

“I’m so sorry.” She looks genuinely taken aback by the news of so many deaths. “Carl… Rick. Shane… I just, how did he die?”

You and Daryl exchange a look. In a gruff voice, he says, “The last thing any of us needs is to relive those moments at a time like this.”

Understanding, the blonde nods her head before changing the subject. “You all live here?”

At first, nobody says anything, then Glenn finally answers, “Here and the cell block.”

“There?” She points in the direction of the area you slept in. “Well, can I go in?”

Rick steps in front of her and says, “I won’t allow that.”

“I’m not an enemy, Rick.”

“Your boyfriend tore through our fences yesterday with a truck full of walkers and shot us up. And the vicious bastards he brought with him had Carl and Beth pinned down outside. They were trying to kill a couple of kids.”

Her eyes are filled with denial. “He said you fired first.”

“Well, he’s lying,” Rick deadpans.

In a softer tone, Hershel says, “He killed an inmate who survived in here.”

“We liked him. He was one of us.”

“I didn’t know anything about that. As soon as I found out, I came. I didn’t even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot-out.” Andrea was borderline defensive in her tone, and it was clear she wasn’t ready to hear what really happened.

“That was days ago.”

“As I said, I came as soon as I heard,” she says, spinning around to face Michonne. “What have you told them?”

“Nothing.”

“I don’t get it. I left Atlanta with you people, and now I’m the odd man out.”

“He almost killed Michonne. He tortured me and Lily, and he was going to kill us,” Glenn clarifies.

“With his finger on the triggers,” she points at Merle. “Isn’t he the one who kidnapped you? Who beat you?”

Your tongue pokes at the gap in your mouth, feeling for the tooth Merle knocked out.

She lets out a deep sigh. “I cannot excuse or explain what Philip has done. But I’m here, trying to bring us together. We have to work this out.”

“There’s nothing to work out; we’re going to kill him,” Rick says bluntly. “I don’t know how or when, but we will.”

She looks at him, horrified. “We can settle this. There is room at Woodbury for all of you.”

“Did your boyfriend tell you this?”

“No.”

Shaking your head, you stand up and ask, “Then why did you come here?”

“Because he’s gearing up for war. The people are terrified; they see you as killers. They’re training to attack.”

“I’ll tell you what. Next time you see Philip, you tell him I’m going to take his other eye.”

Andrea crinkles her nose at Daryl’s comment and looks back at your brother. “Rick, if you don’t sit down and try and work this out, I don’t know what’s going to happen. He has a whole town looking at you; you’ve lost so much already. You can’t stand alone anymore.”

“Unless you’re planning on helping us get inside and bring us to him, I’ve heard enough.”

—

While sewing two thin blankets together to make them thicker, you think about Andrea defending the governor and how she couldn’t explain or excuse the things he did. Is that how you sounded when talking about Shane? Shane had done a lot of bad things over the years, but you always tried to defend him. But he was nothing like the man who was trying to slaughter you all like animals for sport.

Your ears perk up when you hear a baby fussing. It wasn’t Jace because he was sleeping, so it must have been your niece. You peek your head out of the cell and see Carol placing the newborn into Andrea’s arms.

“Oh, look at you. Let me guess, Daryl named her ‘ass-kicker. That’s not her real name.”

“Judith.”

“Judith,” she repeats. “Hi, Judith, how precious are you?”

You weren’t sure why, but something about their interaction left you feeling uneasy. It was most likely a protective instinct to keep your family close and safe. You didn’t think Andrea was a real threat to Judith personally, but the blonde couldn’t be trusted.

“What happened to Lori?”

“During a C-section, Maggie and Lily…” The sadness in Carol's voice hurts to hear. It couldn’t have been easy for her to be around children after losing her own daughter not so long ago. “Carl had to-”

“Oh, my god.”

“T-dog died, leading me to safety.”

Andrea’s eyes gloss over. “And Shane?”

“Rick killed him. That night we left the farm, and the whole Randall thing was a lie. Shane tried to kill Rick.”

Your stomach drops. No, no, no. You wanted to scream that they were wrong and that Rick did nothing wrong. Your mother used to tell you that love calls for sacrifice, and losing Shane to keep your brother was exactly that. Salty tears roll down your cheeks. You were terrified that night would never leave you. It would never end.

“But Shane loved Rick.”

“And Shane loved Lori,” Carol said. “I feel bad for Lily. First, her fiancé cheats on her, then tries to kill her brother. Some people just have a string of bad luck.”

“Oh,” Andrea pauses before saying, “Ricks become cold. Unsteady.”

Your tears of sorrow and guilt quickly turn to hurt and anger. Something about her word choice triggered you. Hearing enough, you wipe your eyes before stepping out of the cell, making your presence known. You hold out your arms and say, “Give her to me.”

When the blonde hands your Judith, you smile at your niece and kiss her forehead. Maybe you were overreacting, but bad mouthing a man while holding his daughter was in bad taste.

Andrea lets out an exasperated sigh. “Lily.”

“Unsteady? When I refused to tell your boyfriend our location, he forced me to strip my clothes off and had one of his goons cut me in the leg so I couldn’t run. He put bags over our heads and made me and Glenn kneel on the ground. If my ‘unsteady’ brother hadn’t turned up, they would have put bullets through our heads.”

“I’m sorry.”

You look at Carol and say, “You’ve never told us what happened before.”

“You should know better than to gossip with someone on the opposite team.”

“Andrea,” Rick suddenly calls up from the ground floor. “I think you’ve over stayed your welcome.”

—

Everyone had gone outside except for Beth, who stayed to watch over the babies while you attempted to wash some of the group's clothes while the rest saw Andrea off.

With the weight of your emotions threatening to overwhelm you, you try your best to focus on the task at hand. What happened to you in Woodbury, hearing Carol's pity hurt. Andrea choosing to go back to the governor hurt.

Beth notices your red eyes and asks, “What’s wrong?”

“It's nothing,” you lie, trying to brush off her question. “Really, I’m fine.”

She sees right through you. Beth places the box of formula down, runs around from the other side of the table, and hugs you from behind. Using the back of your hand, you muffle a sob.

Everything still hurt, but it felt good to let some pent-up emotions out.

—

In a low voice, you motion to Beth, who is singing, “You have a good girl there, Hershel; she has a heart of gold.”

He smiles proudly.

Standing between Hershel and Daryl, you move over slightly when your brother comes to join, and your arm presses against Daryl’s. The contact was minimal, but just the feeling of his warmth seems to slow your rapid heartbeat.

In a quiet voice, Daryl says, “Some reunion, huh?”

“She’s in a jam.”

“We all are,” Hershel sighs. “Andrea’s persuasive. This fella’s armed to the teeth, bent on destruction.”

You look across at your brother and ask, “So, what are we going to do?”

“We match it. I’m going on a run tomorrow.”

“One of us should go with you.”

Rick offers you a small smile. “I’ll take Michonne. And Carl, he’s ready. You three hold it down here.”

“Got it.”

[deansapplepie]

Till THE DEAD do us part| Chapter 19

Chapter 18 Chapter 20

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Chapter 19: After all this time?

Summary: Hershel is recovering and you need to apologize to people that you hurt, even who you never thought you’d hurt.

Warnings: language, mentions of kink, mentions of possible naked people. 18+ MINORS PLEASE DON’T INTERACT.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Grimes!Reader (Rick’s sister)

Word Count: 1.8k

A/N: Not proof read. Just a small chapter cause reader needs to do things right after she made a mess.

Shouts. Shoots. Walkers. Long corridors. An unconscious Hershel in a cart. It was all flashes while you ran for Hershel’s life. When you realized the men were carrying him to his cell and you ran behind them to continue treating Hershel. Questions all around on what happened and you couldn’t answer none of them, the words just didn’t come out.

You and Carol kept stemming the blood. You thought about cauterizing it, but wasn’t very sure of it, so you followed what Carol said. It was heartbreaking, but she knew more about stemming human blood than you. “You were right, we shouldn’t have taken him with us.” Maggie cried in the cell hugging Beth.

You sighed, that was your fault. You let out your anger from Daryl on them. “I wasn’t Maggs. He should be allowed to do whatever he wanted to. I was just being an asshole. I’m sorry, it wasn’t your fault.”

Suddenly Carl appeared with a bag of medical supplies. You were impressed the things he found would be of help to Hershel. “Thanks Carl, it’ll be of help. You did a great job.” You said.

“It looks like the 12 year-old knows how to hand himself.” Carl bitterly said and here you knew you had screwed bad, he heard what you said and even though it was true, the last thing you thought you’d do in your life was hurting Carl.

“Carl, I…” you started to say, but before you could complete the sentence he left the cell.

You breath deeply, fuck… you needed to talk to him, apologize… but you couldn’t leave Hershel. What if something happened to him? What if he needed your assistance?

“Go talk to him. I’ll keep an eye on Hershel. There isn’t much we can do right now. You know it.” Carol told you, she saw how it was eating you alive not to talk with Carl and at the same time the need to protect Hershel.

“Thanks…” You exchanged a look with the woman and it thanked her even more than your words could.

You got up and left the cell to look for Carl. He was having a hard time having to grow up in this fucked up world, and that was scarily molding his personality. The last thing you wanted was for him to not feel safe and happy with you anymore. He was your nephew, he would always be the baby you carried so many years ago. You ended up finding him on the second floor sitting on the platform, his legs hanging in the air, his arms and face resting on the bars.

You sat by his side silently, he noticed your presence but said nothing. He also didn’t move or try to leave. “I’m sorry. I didn’t totally mean what I said earlier.” You told the boy.

“But you meant some of it.” That was his answer.

“Yes, because you weren’t supposed to be responsible to protect any of us. In the old world you’d never do that…”

“The old world doesn’t exist anymore.” Carl answered, he wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t less worrying.

“I know.” You answered, and thought a lot more before speaking again. “Adults are stupid. I was angry at Daryl and I let it out on everyone. I’m sorry.”

“Do you want me to kick his balls?” You almost chocked on your spit.

“Carl, language!” You disciplined him. “And, no!”

“No one gave me good examples in the last months.” He side eyed you and you tried to contain the grin that was building on your face. “Daryl and you especially…”

“Tell any of these bad words next to your mom and I’m throwing you through the fence to feed the walkers.” You joked and elbowed him. He snorted, it was good to hear him laughing, it had been quite a time since last time you heard his laughter. “So… does it mean I’m forgiven?”

“I can’t be angry at the best aunt for too long…” he answered.

You side hugged him and kissed the top of his head. “Good, I didn’t lose the best aunt position. I was a little concerned…” you played, being forgiven by him was a great relief in such a crazy day.

Later that day Hershel woke up and was at that moment sleeping safe and sound on his cell, with the care of everyone, but mainly his beloved daughters. When the men got back from their mission helping the found prisoners take a block for themselves they told you everything that happened and how they had to put down some of them, now only Oscar and Axel being alive.

After everything was settled, Rick sent you and Daryl to one of the towers for watch duty. Just as if you were kids that needed to be punished for fighting each other. Once at the tower, you sat your back resting on the wall, legs stretched and a gun and the crossbow resting on it. Silence. A deafening silence.

“Did you sleep well?” You cleared your throat and asked.

“Nah, I can’t sleep well without ya.” He answered. “Did ya?”

You breathed deeply. “I had a nightmare. One of the bad ones.” You confessed, images of it coming back to your mind.

“Why didn’t ya come to me?” He knew why, but he couldn’t really control when the words left his mouth.

“I thought you didn’t want me anymore.” Confessing it out aloud was a little embarrassing.

“I… after all this time?” It annoyed him a little, but he couldn’t blame you for this.

“The way you said it yesterday…” You said. “It looked like it.”

“That’s… Did I ever tell you that Merle already went to jail?” He asked and confessed at the same time. “Where I came from, nobody thought a single good thing about the Dixon’s. They knew my father was no good, Merle was no good… I wasn’t no good. They expected all the time that I’d end up imprisoned like my brother. I know it’s stupid, but I felt it would be true if I stayed in a cell.”

“That’s how you felt, that’s not stupid.” You reached for his hand taking a hold on it. “You could have told me.”

“I know. ‘M sorry.”

“I’m sorry too. For being a bitch.” You looked at him, a small smile on your face. You felt so bad when you fought with him, it didn’t happen very often, but it always made both of you feel bad.

“Let’s never go sleep with things unsolved an’more” He was never one for many words, but you changed it, maybe for the others he was still the grumpy man that would speak more with his expressions than with words. But for you… he was learning how to speak, how to express… and for you he would make a speech if it meant you’d not have a mis understanding like this again. “If something like this happens… let’s find each other and solve things.”

“You got a deal, babe.” You squeezed his hand and then intertwined your fingers.

“Come ‘ere.” He pulled your hand towards him and you didn’t hesitate to put the guns aside and sit across his lap.

You put an arm around his neck and hide your face there, inhaling his scent… you could all be dirty from months on the road, but you couldn’t care less when it was about him, he was always the same, so manly… so… Daryl. “It was very difficult to refuse your hug today in the morning, you know?” You softly said.

“Was it?” He played, you for sure knew how it took a lot out of him to demonstrate things like this somewhere people could see.

“Yeah, and I appreciate it.” You kissed his cheek tenderly.

“Ya saved Hershel’s life today, ya were amazing.” He put a lock of your hair behind your ear.

“I was panicking…” You confessed, but you didn’t need to, he knew it.

“I know, and it’s still one of the hottest things ya’ve ever done.”

You raised an eyebrow at him, he always had the strangest ideas about what was hot. You killing walkers? Hot! You deciding to cut an old man’s leg to save his life? Hot!

“Does Daryl Dixon have a kink on doctors/nurses or something?” You teased him.

“Nah… I don’t got those things. I’ve got ya, ya’re my kink.” He pecked your lips.

“I like the outcome of it…” you pressed your lips against his starting a lazy lovely kiss. You were so glad everything was fine again. You were so glad you solved this misunderstanding.

“I’m going up! I hope you two are dressed!” Carol’s voice coming from the stairs startled you.

You parted from each other and you sat by his side again. “Of course we’re dressed Carol, why wouldn’t we be? We’re on watch duty.”

“Honey, if I’m saying it’s because there’s a reason, and I’d rather find both of you dressed.” Your friend said showing up at the corner of the tower with two plates. “We prepared some food, so I thought it would be a good idea to bring it to you two. We all had a tough day.”

“Thanks Carol.” Daryl took the plates from her hand, cheeks blushed thinking of al the reasons she had to check you were both dressed before finishing going up the tower.

In the middle of dawn Rick came to the tower to take your place, and of course certify you were all good again. You two went back to block C. You walked to your cell, thinking that Daryl was going to his mattress at the stairs. You entered the cell and turned around to see if he was there and was surprised to see him right in front of you.

“You don’t have to Dar…” you said and put your hand on his shoulders. “I understand now, if you want I can sleep outside with you.”

“I ain’t here out of obligation or something, I want to be here with ya. I know ya put a lot of effort at cleaning it.” He caressed your cheeks with his thumbs while his big hands held your face.

“We can let the door open…” you said, you’d do anything so he didn’t feel caged. “If you ever can’t take it, tell me and we’re finding another place for us.”

“Alrigh.” He answered and he could swear after all this months together his heart still skipped a beat when you were so kind to him. “Let’s get to bed, babe.”

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[happy74827]

Lost On You

[Rick Grimes x Female!Reader]

Synopsis: Drawn to his strength and resilience, you've secretly fancied the widowed sheriff turned leader. But with recent events turning his smiles into forced fake ones, all that's on your mind is to make it known that he's not alone {Takes place in Season 5}.

WC: 2067

Category: Hurt/Comfort, Slight Angst

This is officially my first Walking Dead fanfic, which I'm honestly surprised hasn't happened earlier, but I've recently rewatched season five, and it made me remember just how much I love Rick. So, here we are.

『••✎••』

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the makeshift camp that had become a haven for the group after their escape from Terminus. The tension that had gripped them during their ordeal was slowly easing, and a sense of normalcy was tentatively settling in. Amid the camaraderie and relief, one person's heart was beating just a little faster than the rest – yours.

Ever since the days at the prison, you had found yourself drawn to Rick Grimes. His strength, his resilience, and the way he cared for his people… it resonated with you deeply. You found yourself admiring him from afar, with feelings growing with every shared moment. And now, as you sat by the campfire, watching Rick with Judith nestled safely in his arms, those feelings were impossible to ignore.

He changed, though. It was apparent in his eyes. Andrea had mentioned long ago how he was becoming “colder,” but you never saw it until now. Until you’ve (quite literally) were face-to-face with evil.

After the incident with Gareth and his people, Rick rarely smiled. And when he did, it was faker than Daryl’s chupacabra claim. Even when Judith giggled while tugging on his beard, or when Michonne and Carl had random competitions, he never smiled like he used to. The last time you saw him “happy” by definition was back when Hershel was still around.

Rick was no longer the man who gave you hope. You didn't know if it was the guilt of his past actions, the stress of the group's survival, or a combination of the two, but Rick Grimes had been lost somewhere along the road, and you wanted to find him.

Your gaze drifted down to your lap, where the remnants of a half-eaten dinner lay. You weren't sure what Carol had made tonight, but it was good. She was always an amazing cook.

Carol.

She was the only person who knew how you felt about Rick. It had been hard not to talk about it. You two were close, and it wasn't like you were a master at keeping secrets. Carol was, though. She had a talent for reading people and knew right away when you had developed a crush. She always teased you about it.

You were glad she didn't tell anyone, and you were glad to have her as a friend.

With the fire beginning to die down, and the food finished, the others began drifting back to their respective tents. First Michonne, then Carl, Daryl, Carol, and Tyreese. Sasha lingered for a bit, and eventually, Abraham and Rosita. Eugene and Tara had been gone all day scavenging for supplies, and Glenn and Maggie had disappeared into the woods an hour before. They had just recently returned, hand-in-hand, and were giggling and whispering as they headed for their tent.

As for you? Well, you were just waiting. Waiting and watching Rick. You didn't know why, exactly. Maybe you were hoping he would suddenly break out of this new, serious-all-the-time character he'd been portraying. Or maybe you were trying to figure out how to talk to him, how to tell him how you felt.

That thought sent your heart racing again. You took a deep breath and held it for a few seconds before letting it out slowly.

You couldn't help but feel like the entire world had been waiting for something to change. Waiting for a spark. And when you looked at Rick, you knew. You just knew.

There was something about him. Something special. Something you couldn't explain, but it drew you to him like a moth to a flame. He was the spark you had been waiting for, and the feeling was so strong you could hardly contain yourself.

Rick turned, and you met his eyes. They were a clear blue, a striking contrast to the dark hair that framed his face. His beard was starting to get long, and the curls atop his head were a bit wilder than usual.

Your eyes met his. The smile he gave you was weak, forced. You were tempted to stand up and give him a hug, just to make him feel better. But you didn't.

After a few moments of awkward silence, he stood up, adjusting Judith in his arms as he did so. She stirred, her eyelids fluttering a few times before falling shut once more.

"G'night."

"Night."

And then, he was gone.

You watched as the tent flap closed behind him. He had disappeared so quickly that you barely even had time to register what had happened. You felt like a part of you had just left with him. Your heart was beating a mile a minute. You had been sitting there, watching him, for a long time, and the sudden silence was deafening.

As you headed for your tent, the last of the campers called out to you.

"Night!"

You stopped in your tracks, turning towards the voice. Carl was smiling, waving at you. You raised a hand in response, flashing a brief smile before turning away.

"Night."

You were asleep almost instantly. The day's events had left you exhausted, and it didn't take long for sleep to overtake you. It overtook you to the point that you had slept in until after everyone else had gotten up.

Morning came and you exited the tent, squinting as the sunlight hit your face. The sun was high in the sky, and the others had begun the morning without you. You didn't mind; it wasn't the first time this had happened, and it probably wouldn't be the last.

As you made your way to the main area, you were greeted by several friendly faces.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Glenn teased. "We were starting to wonder if you were ever gonna get up."

You flashed a sheepish grin. "Sorry. I was just exhausted."

You scanned the area for a few minutes, noting that a couple of people were missing. Rick, for example, was nowhere to be seen.

"Hey, Glenn, where's Rick?"

Glenn glanced around the campsite. He scratched the back of his head and shrugged. "Not sure, actually. I haven't seen him this morning. Not since breakfast."

That was strange.

"I'm gonna go look for him," you said,

As you left, Glenn gave you the thumbs up in encouragement before his eyes flashed back to Maggie and Tara. Most likely retelling the events of the previous day.

You soon wandered through the trees, searching for any sign of Rick – or anyone for that matter. Both Daryl and Carol were also missing, but you weren’t concerned about those two. It was more concerning for those who stumbled upon them. Now Rick, on the other hand, he was different.

As of right now he wasn’t the man to mess with. Seeing how he handled those at Terminus, and hearing what had happened the night before from Michonne… you weren’t concerned about the possibility of him getting attacked or injured. Your concern fell towards his mentality.

He was “technically” the leader that everyone had listened and looked up to. Abraham made arguments, mostly of the importance of taking Eugene to DC, but Rick was the one who had the final say. That kind of power and responsibility to lead an entire group to their survival has heavy effects. And now, after so much loss and failure, it finally took its toll.

The sun shined brightly through the trees as you walked, and the air was warm. It was the kind of day you would have spent reading on your back porch, or maybe going for a hike. Before the world ended, anyway.

As you started walking, you couldn't help but notice the quiet. There was no sign of life anywhere. No birds, no insects, no Walkers. It was almost like the entire world had disappeared, leaving you all alone.

The forest became more thick and dense the further you walked into it, with the trees growing more close together. The sun still shined through the branches, but it was still early, and the shadows were deep.

You started your trail back towards the temporary camp when you noticed a noise coming from behind you. You spun around, heart pounding. It sounded like footsteps.

"Rick?"

There was no answer. Just the sound of the wind whistling through the trees.

"Rick?" You tried again.

Nothing.

The silence was unnerving. The sound of footsteps had stopped, and there was still no sign of life anywhere.

Then, suddenly, you heard a branch snap and everything that was peaceful turned into a war zone. You spun around fast with fists clenched. You didn’t even process what it was before you struck it in the face.

Your face fell once you opened your eyes to peek at the danger.

Ah, shit.

Rick straightened out, his hand running over his nose where you had accidentally struck. He seemed a little dazed, but otherwise was fine.

"Oh, god, I am so sorry," you said, wincing. "I didn't know it was you. I thought you were a… I don’t— oh, geez.”

Rick blinked a few times, regaining his composure. His hand fell from his nose, and he gave you a slight smile. Fake, again, but this time you didn’t blame him.

“What are you doin’ out here?” Rick’s voice was low, and he sounded tired. He didn’t look directly at you, instead choosing to gaze past you at the forest behind. It was almost as if he didn’t care to hear your answer.

And it was clear he wasn’t bothered by the fact that you had just punched him in the face.

You found yourself sighing at his words. It was a difficult question. One that had multiple answers.

What were you doing out here?

What was he doing out here?

Why were either of you out here instead of being with the group or resting up after the chaos of yesterday?

The questions buzzed in your head, but the answer was clear.

You were out here because of Rick. You were out here to find him. To talk to him.

You opened your mouth to respond, but nothing came out. The two of you stood in silence for what seemed like an eternity, and the awkwardness was palpable.

"You should be with the others.”

The words hung heavy in the air. They were simple enough, but the weight behind them was crushing.

"You should be with them, too," you countered.

Rick's gaze shifted to you, and you met his eyes.

The sun's rays broke through the treetops, illuminating his face. He looked tired. So tired. Rick had always had dark circles under his eyes, but the ones you were seeing now were new. They were a deeper shade than you'd ever seen, and they seemed to have grown bigger.

He was worn down, exhausted, and there was a hollowness to his stare. A dullness that had replaced the fire. And yet, despite all of that, there was still a warmth there. A sense of caring, of love, that was still present.

It was that warmth that gave you the courage to continue.

"I'm worried about you," you blurted.

His expression shifted slightly, his brows furrowing.

"You're worrying about me?"

You nodded, your eyes still fixed on his.

"Yeah. Yeah, I am."

He shook his head.

"You don't need to worry about me."

"Yes, I do. Because I care about you."

Rick stared at you for a moment. He seemed stunned, and the look on his face made your heart ache.

He let out a small sigh.

"You don't have to," he said, his voice quiet. "I'll be fine."

"You don't have to be the hero all the time, you know," you said. "You can let the rest of us help carry the load."

His eyes searched yours.

"You can't save everyone," you continued. "Sometimes you just have to accept that there are some things that are out of your control."

Rick became silent. You could see the pain and conflict swirling in his eyes. He wanted to accept your words, but the guilt was still eating away at him.

He closed his eyes, and the tension in his body seemed to ease a bit.

"I'm just… tired," he said. "I'm tired of seeing people die. Of losing people."

You placed a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"I know," you said. "I'm tired, too."

[companionjones]

Road Trips (Back and Forth)

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Fandom: The Walking Dead (AMC)

Summary: After four long months, Daryl is finally back in your life.

Warnings: Smut with some plot at the end, Cursing

This is an AU story.

*******

    You woke to the sound of water running. Most people would assume they had an intruder, but you knew it could only be one person. Jumping out of bed, you rushed into your bathroom and shower fully clothed.

    “Daryl--!” you cut yourself off by crashing your lips upon his. It had been four months since you’d last seen him.

    Dixon was lucky enough to practically catch you in his arms before the both of you could go toppling over.

    You had a second to breathe in his scent before Daryl pulled you from him. “I was trying to wash myself of all this dirt and grime before I said ‘hello’ to you,” he stated.

    Shaking your head, you testified, “You should always say hello to me first.” You tugged him downward so you could connect your lips again.

    Daryl let the kiss go on. “God, I missed the taste of ya’.” He moved you so you were pressed against the shower wall. He was squeezing your breasts over your shirt before removing the piece of clothing from the equation entirely, and throwing it over the top of the shower.

    You cried out as Daryl roughly pinched your nipples, but Daryl just swallowed the sound. He roughly pulled down the shorts you’d been wearing, and you stepped out of them as soon as they hit the floor. Daryl threw them in the same direction as your shirt.

    “Oh God, Daryl, please!” you begged breathlessly as you parted from his lips.

    Daryl Dixon was never one to waste time. “You don’t have to ask me twice, baby.”

    You gasped as Daryl picked you up and you circled your legs around him, and you shouted his name as Daryl swiftly entered you.

    “That’s it, babygirl. You always take-me-so-well!” Daryl stated as he started thrusting in and out of you.

    “D-a-r-y-l-!” you sounded out Dixon’s name in harmony with the sound of skin slapping throughout your bathroom. You were holding onto him for dear life.

    “Fuck, that’s it. Fuck, you’re so good for me. That’s my good-little-girl!”

    “Fuck yes! D-daddy, please! Oh, oh God, you feel so good!”

    “Feel good too, princess. Hold on just a little longer. A little longer for Daddy.”

    Your fingers were making marks on his back. “Oh, please, please, please! D-Daryl!” You screamed when you felt his warm semen release inside of you. You felt your eyes almost pop out of your head as your mouth hung open and you came with him.

    As you calmed down, you felt Daryl petting the back of your head and whispering sweet nothings into your ear. “That’s my girl...Did such a good job...Made me cum so hard I nearly fell over.”

    You giggled at that last one.

    “There’s my girl.” He kissed your cheek. “Think we can finish up in here?”

    You chuckled, “That’s if I can stand, Dixon.”

    He smiled at that.

    Yes, you were able to stand (barely), and in no time at all, you had helped Daryl finish his shower, and the two of you were wrapped up in each other’s arms in your bed.

    “How is everyone?” you wondered.

    Daryl went on to tell you that his motorcycle shop he owned a few states away with his best friend Rick Grimes was profiting well. Rick’s wife Michonne had just opened a self-defence dojo for women, and that was going great. Michonne and Rick’s kids: Carl, Judith and RJ were growing into very good people as well. Daryl’s other married friends, Maggie and Glenn, owned a private practice that, Daryl reported, had “just donated an ass-load” of money to charity; and their child, Hershel, had just developed his first crush.

    You had met all of those people the couple of times Daryl had brought you on a road trip to his home, and you all got along famously. You cared very much what was happening in their lives, as you knew they did your life as well.

    Speaking of your life, you were finishing up your college degree. That was cute because you were just starting college when you and Daryl had met while he had been on one of his many road trips. That was cute because since then, none of Daryl’s road trips didn’t involve you.

    “You know,” you began once Daryl was done relaying his friends’ current adventures, “I’m almost done school...I was thinking...once I’m done...I could come back with you?”

    Daryl nodded. “Another trip? Of course. Just tell me when.”

    You shook your head. “Not another trip like the other ones. I’m talking...more permanent...?”

    “You want to come live with me? He said it like he was still unsure if that was what you meant.

    “I do,” you whispered. “I figured it makes sense ‘cuz all your friends are there--” You were cut off when Daryl pulled you into a loving kiss.

    “I love you so much!” he exclaimed, “Of course you should move in with me! I mean, I keep the place pretty crummy, but that was before I knew you were coming. I’ll hire some lady to clean it...what’re you laughin’ at?” Daryl asked with a smile on his face.

    “You. I’m laughing at you,” you happily admitted before rolling on top of him and continuing the kiss.

*******

Author’s Note: Thank you so much for reading! Fill up that heart and reblog if you liked it. I would also really appreciate a comment, if you have the time. If you would like to read more, check out my masterlist. Have a nice day, night, or whatever time it is for you! <3 <3 <3

[sweeetrandall]

Im gonna talk about personalities (and autism) in professor layton for a second, especially in miracle mask.

it is very tragic that layton isn’t even really his own person. Like he was struck with death during a time he was still struggling to form his own identity. He really was sort of just following Randall around and letting him take him by the hand and thrust him into anything. This is a relationship I found myself in again and again growing up, getting “adopted” by an extroverted kid and then getting all my social connections through them.

This kind of relationship makes it easy to lose your own personhood as it takes away nearly all your agency in terms of your social life. You begin surrounding yourself with people and personalities that match whoever adopted you rather than your own tastes, and you begin conforming in order to survive more or less.

This sounds pretty tragic, and in some ways it is, but it’s a lot better (and easier) than being alone, which often happens if you don’t get “taken in”.

I think Randall was an overall good influence on Hershel and positive presence in his life. It just happens that Hershel himself seems to have been especially prone to this sort of thing, to the point such a lack of personal identity (or, at least, instability in finding it) caused him to completely adopt Randall’s passions and interests out of sheer guilt, almost as if he owed him a debt. After all, it’s easy to feel indebted to the person who goes out of their way to talk to the “autistic kid” …. Part of this could easily be because Hershel had already begun integrating Randall’s interests into himself (likely subconsciously as part of this survival mechanism) and being suddenly ripped away from this it was pushed to an extreme as a way of filling that void.

Hersh also shows signs of generally not thinking much of himself. Being a more secluded kid makes it easy to develop this kind of self image…and also why having a friend who constantly encourages you like Randall is so intoxicating.

We see Hershel time and time again say how he isn’t that interested in archaeology or puzzles, nor is he confident in his ability to do either - to the point he actively expects himself to get incorrect answers, as his puzzle solve animation shows a brace for a huge “INCORRECT” sign only to be surprised he found a solution.

Meanwhile, Randall is the face of confidence.

I don’t need to point out how next time we see Hershel, he has faith in his own puzzle solving abilities - “My intuition should serve me well”, even taking from Randall’s personal lexacon, “Critical thinking is the key to success.”

I won’t ignore the grief and guilt, as the role it plays is obvious. I only want to point out how instead of being the source itself of Hershel’s radical adoption of Randall’s personality, I read it more as an extreme driver of an already existing tendency to mimic those around him as a sort of survival mechanism. In times of crisis these mechanisms are put into overdrive.

(As others have pointed out, this also happens with Claire and the gentleman persona she encouraged him into, but that’s another subject.)

I also want to examine this in Randall himself, since we see a pretty interesting inversion of Hershel’s situation on his part.

The risk-taking, erratic behavior we see in Randall is something I’m pretty sure stems from his hatred for his father and the general life he is made to live. A stuffy mansion doesn’t suit him, if his kind of goofy outfit has anything to say about it. He stands in stark contrast to the other rich Stansbury kid, Dalston, who is altogether enthusiastic about business and wealth.

Where I think this gets especially interesting is when Randall falls into Akbadain. Having experienced a “reset”, he quickly adapts to his new life. He isn’t an entirely different person - he still has proficiency in puzzles as Firth/Tannenbaum tells us.

And if his reaction to Descole’s letter was anything to go by, he’s still as impulsive and emotionally driven as ever.

What we get to see from his time in Craggy Dale is a Randall relieved of his old life - no smothering father, no family fortune, no mansion. In fact, we get a life that is essentially a polar opposite, complete with a loving adoptive father and slow-paced life that “tames the wildest of hearts”. Being allowed to breathe and live slowly creates a Randall who, while still brainy and enthusiastic, is radically different from the Randall Hershel, Henry, and Angela knew.

This is why the ending of Miracle Mask sort of bothers me, as I fully believe Randall would not want to pick up where he left of when he was 17. He literally got himself “killed” living that life, likely pushed and simultaneously blinded by the pressure from his family, which mixed horribly with his own impulsivity and need for freedom. I would imagine growing up in a mansion causes you to develop a less than realistic view of life and your own abilities.

This is where Hersh comes back in, as it’s pretty serendipitous in my eyes that the person he “absorbed” the personality of happened to move on from that personality in a pretty dramatic way. This way there isn’t any sort of doppelganger tension. Ultimately, Randall did want Hershel to develop an interest in archaeology and puzzles, and it seems he’s satisfied with that.

(also I think it’s a little bit creepy that they had Randall adopt the same haircut and glasses he had when he was 17 with a “now you’re back to normal” attitude, going off what I just discussed, but I digress)

Essentially, it’s crystal clear to me how Hershel developed his personality considering his upbringing eerily reflecting the way I survived as an autistic kid, and the fact much of Randall’s personality/life direction was derived from the circumstances of the life he later shed makes it kind of poetic. At the end of it all I think they have a lot to learn from each other just as they did when they were teens, especially from the experience they gained since then.

[whateverisbeautiful]

♥️ Ranking Richonne

#23: Glad To See You (S4E01)

Platonic where? 😋 I love this lovely scene that lets us know Rick and Michonne had fully won each other over during the time jump between s3 and s4. This scene arrives after several couples are spotlighted in the ep - Which is no coincidence. It also arrives directly after the sweet 'whole new plant' scene with our beloved Hershel - Which is no coincidence. Michonne even whistles to get your attention with it. Richonne and the family they form together are Rick and Michonne’s whole new plant...

I love that as the queen arrives on her horse it’s Rick and Carl who rush to let her in. Like Rick hears her coming and eagerly stands up (with a subtle smile I do believe) and immediately looks over to Carl, who is ready to run over, because they know they’ve both grown really fond of our girl Michonne.

The way Rick and Carl hustle over to her with smiles on their faces will forever melt my heart. And as if their whole body language didn’t make it clear they were happy she’s back, the first thing Rick sweetly tells Michonne is, “We’re glad to see you.” I love how much Rick and Carl like her and can’t hide it.

It's funny too because I always thought it was both Rick and Carl donning big smiles when they run to her, but watching it back, Carl is actually way more subtle in his expression than Rick lol. Gotta love that extra man. 😋

It’s sweet the way Michonne says, “Glad to see you too.” Rick and Michonne are both just the cutest, and they already look like they go together. Every scene they have reminds you that they are meant to be each other's person.

I love that Michonne got Carl that comic, and he’s so excited about it. And she's clearly so happy to have put a smile on his face. Their friendship is everything. And Carl's sincere little thank you. She brings out such a sweet side of him.

I adore that Michonne's personality is coming out more with her boys and Rick gets to witness her bond with his son here. Through Carl, Michonne began to be a mom again and I just so appreciate that. 

And Michonne saying, "I get to read them when you’re done" - it's pretty much canon that she and her kids love books together and it’s adorable. 😊

Then it's so sweet Michonne's playful teasing of Rick with the razor and saying his face is losing the war. Sis told on herself a little bit, thinking about his face while out on her run. But I mean again, who can blame her? 

And it's interesting that the show highlights her getting gifts for Carl and Rick specifically, showing how they're who she's grown closest to and who she thinks about while she's out. Even while somewhat still in her lone wolf era, they were already becoming family. 🥹

I like how getting gifts for both of them helps suggest that Michonne's not just on the fast track to becoming Carl's future mom, but also Rick's future wife. She's growing an undeniable bond with both of them.

I think it’s cute how Rick takes the razor and ponders what it all means, and then Michonne brings some playfulness when teasing him and smiling. She likes him, y’all. 😊 And Rick needs this kind of levity in his life. It's great how before Rick and Michonne loved each other, they really really liked each other as people and it didn't take long for them to realize that.

Also, one of the many things I so adore about how Andy and Danai play their characters is that they never play them one-dimensional. Instead of just coming across as typical 'strong and stoic survivors,' they instead add such compelling layers to their characters.

Rick isn't just tough, he's also capable of being truly warm and affectionate. Michonne isn't just a warrior, she's capable of being genuinely warm, affectionate, and playful too. 👌🏽

So Rick gives a little laugh when she teases him, and then he’s quiet for a bit. And watching this back, I'm tickled because he’s definitely a little nervous around her. 😊 This is Richonne's crush era after all, and so he seems to be feeling a lot inside perhaps.

And then he steps closer to her and asks if she’s going to stay a little while, which is something Rick always wants - Michonne to stay with him awhile. And I like that he can’t help but make it clear he wants her around.

I'm telling you, they’re so adorable in every frame of the scene, and their body language is giving ‘this won’t be platonic for long’ lol. 

Michonne answers, “Just a little while,” and Rick nods cuz more time around her is always music to his ears.

Then Daryl arrives, and y’all, this part of the scene will always be curious to me.

Cuz they have Daryl say glad to see Michonne in one piece and look right over at Rick, almost like he’s especially speaking for Rick (who we already know is particularly glad to see her from their moment just seconds before). And then Rick looks from Daryl over to Michonne like he wants Daryl to be more subtle or something lol. Which had me like...

Rick has that little frustrated reaction when Michonne says she’s going to look over near Macon, and Michonne seems to notice Rick’s reaction cuz she then emphasizes, "it’s worth a shot."

It’s interesting how Rick isn’t very talkative at this moment, but his face is giving away that he clearly has thoughts and doesn't want her to go lol. But he knows Michonne can do what she wants, even if he most wants her here safe. 

Rick says he’s going to stay at the prison when Daryl says he’s going on a run, and then Michonne quickly volunteers to go. And y'all, again...

Cuz idk, it almost reads like knowing Rick was staying makes Michonne quickly volunteer to go since she can’t let herself get too close to him yet - cuz the sparks be sparking when they’re together and right now that's a bit too vulnerable after her traumas from the last time she let people in close. I mean, I'm just saying.

And Carl is quick to remind Michonne that she just got here, which is super cute. It's clear that, like his dad, Carl really wants her around and fully a part of the family. But we’re not there yet in their journey, so Michonne just smiles and says she’ll be back and then walks away. My heart is always so warmed to see her presence so wanted by her boys. 

Rick watches her go, of course, and then Daryl pats him in a seemingly sympathetic way before Rick goes to help them head out. And, y’all, I stand by it…Daryl knew something. 😋

I might not know what exactly, but brother Daryl knew early that something was stirring between Rick and Michonne and that she was special to Rick somehow.

I've noticed how several characters seemed to be picking up on something between Rick and Michonne even before Rick and Michonne became fully aware of their feelings - Carl in s3’s Clear, Daryl in this s4 premiere, Sasha in s5 when she tells Michonne “it worked out for you,” Deanna clocked Richonne real early, and even Abe in s6 wondered if Rick and Michonne had been intimate for awhile. Lol by the time Rick and Michonne made their romance official, you know team family was just like…

Season 4 is a big one in the making of Richonne, and Rick and Michonne's first scene together in season 4 effectively planted more seeds toward how much their relationship would blossom as this season progressed.

Establishing Rick, Michonne, and Carl’s dynamic and heightened fondness for each other in the season 4 premiere was a great way to set up how they would soon become family in the fullest sense by the end of the season.

Like to go from this scene at the prison to traveling as a trio in 4b and having such familial moments in the s4 finale is perfection. Rick and Michonne's fondness for each other only strengthened, and they became an undeniable family unit that managed to carve out some genuine happiness even wandering the woods with no home base. This truly is the season when Rick and Michonne start to become home to each other.

And I love that from the premiere to the finale of season four, these two only grew closer and closer and more and more glad to see each other. 😌

[sundrop-writes]

Announcing my new fic: Heaven's Gate

Heaven's Gate is a long oneshot starring Daryl Dixon and a gender neutral reader character, featuring angst, hurt and comfort, and some fluff.

NOW POSTED!!!!!

In this fic, you and Daryl get separated when the prison is attacked by the Governor, and though you both believe the other person is dead, you two end up finding each other at the most unexpected time. This fic is about hope, the human connection, and how love is about more than romance - it's about how people take pieces of each other and grow with them, never truly able to forget each other.

This fic is going to be a longer oneshot that is currently about 15k long - and will likely be longer by the time it has gone through editing. It is 80% of the way done in my drafts (not including editing), and I hope to have it posted by April 30th - which is a tentative date that may change. If you want to know for certain when the fic is posted, you can follow me here and turn on notifcations or you can subscribe to me on AO3 to get an email notification when the fic is posted. I am really excited to share this fic with all of you 💖.

Below is a short preview of the fic - so if you wanna get a better sense for the upcoming fic you can read it. If you enjoy this preview and you're excited for what the fic holds, please let me know!

Also an important note: with my gender neutral reader fics, I don't use any references to gender whatsoever (this is not a 'GN afab' fic). And in this fic in particular, I didn't use any pronouns (other than you/yours) or gendered terms for the reader - and at points where the terms they/them were used, I made it purposefully vague so that the dialogue could be referring to the whole group as 'they' or just the reader. I want my gender neutral fics to be enjoyed by everyone - cis women, cis men, gender non conforming people, trans people - every kind of fanfiction reader.

I am making this post for two major reasons - one, I want to generate as much excitement for oneshots as there is for series. Especially for oneshots that are longer than 10k because those take a lot of time and effort. If a series is like a TV show, then long oneshots are like a feature film. And two - nobody seems to read my pinned post where I announce new upcoming fics anyway, so I might as well make posts like these so that people can know what to expect from me. And hopefully you guys will get excited about my upcoming fics this way. And when I tag these posts with the relevant tags, people interested in those topics can follow me to anticipate the fic if they want to read it.

Heaven's Gate (Daryl Dixon x GN!Reader) - Preview

Preview Word Count: 1,800

Warnings: no pronouns used for the reader other than you/yours; there are major plot spoilers for The Walking Dead if you are watching the show for the first time - spoilers for Season 2 all the way up through Season 5; typical warnings for TWD - mentions of death, emotional despair; all of these themes and emotions are expanded upon in the full fic.

...

“Daryl!” 

You called out his name as you jogged up toward the stables, and he stopped in his tracks, waiting for you to catch up with him. 

“Daryl, hey.” You greeted him with a small smile. “Rick told me you’d be up here.” 

He grunted in reply. “Yeah. ‘m gonna take a horse out. Make better ground t’ look for the girl.” 

Your stomach clenched at him mentioning her. 

The group was supposed to be headed out towards Fort Bennet - supposed to be finding refuge at the hopefully safe military base. Instead, you were all setting up camp at the very reluctant Hershel Greene’s farm, not straying too far from where you had lost one of your own in the hopes of finding her. 

But that was why you had come to talk to Daryl in the first place. 

Sophia had become like a sister to you in the few short months that you had known her, and though it was unlikely, you were hopeful that she was alive - that she would be found. And you did believe that Daryl would be the one to find her. 

“How’s the trail?” You asked. “Do you think you know which way she headed? You - you can be honest with me.” 

You hesitated on the last part. But you did want his honesty more than anything. And you knew that he was never one to sugar-coat things. Even if you hadn’t told him that, he would have given you the truth anyway. 

“Trail’s a little muddy.” He said, doling out that honesty. “‘m gon follow the river. It’s her biggest landmark out there, so she’ll probably be somewhere around it.” 

You smiled at him. And then, you remembered - 

“I brought you something.” You noted, reaching for the back pocket of your jeans. 

Daryl watched with quiet curiosity as you pulled out a piece of paper - when you showed it to him, he quickly realized that it was a half-used set of stickers. 

“These are some of the stickers that I got for Sophia,” You explained. “My mom always used to tell me that cardinals are good luck.” 

You peeled off a sticker of a bright red bird - as much of a nature man as he was, Daryl was never one for bird watching. He didn’t care about identifying certain species of birds unless he could shoot and eat them. But he quickly reasoned that this must be the cardinal that you spoke of. 

“Give me your bow.” You said, shoving the rest of the sticker sheet into your back pocket again and holding out your hand expectantly. 

“I don’t need no luck.” He replied, voice full of snark. 

“Just give it.” You replied - equally snarky, equally stubborn. 

Daryl sighed and tugged his bow’s strap over his head, presenting it to you. You placed the sticker on the bow’s handle, in one of the places where it wasn’t as worn down from him holding it. 

“There,” You said, giving it back to him with a smile. “Now you’re all set.” 

It was more for you than it was for him - a token of good faith and protection. The idea that you could do something to bring Sophia home when you felt so powerless. 

Daryl let out a harsh sound - somewhere between a laugh and a sarcastic snort as he walked away. “Thanks.” 

“You’re welcome,” You replied brightly, edging on sarcastic once again. 

… 

When the prison was attacked, Daryl got out with Beth. 

He almost couldn’t stand her bright eyes, big eyes staring at him, waiting for answers - her chirpy little voice, prodding at him, demanding that they ‘follow the trail’ and go look for everyone else. Telling him that he was a tracker, that he could find them. As if it was his damn responsibility just because he had the skills to get it done. 

It was all too reminiscent of you, telling him that he could find Sophia. That it wasn’t an ‘if’ - it was a ‘when’. 

Perhaps that was what got him off his ass and doing what he did best - reading the dirt. 

“What’re you doin’?” He asked, staring at the girl curiously as she went to one of the bushes and rushed to pick berries from branches. Had she not gotten enough to eat that morning? 

“They’ll be hungry when we find them.” Beth told him confidently. 

Of course. That undefeatable streak of optimism. 

Daryl knew that blueberries weren’t your favorite - but he should have something to give you. He would be too busy tracking the footprints to properly hunt for squirrels or rabbits and clean them for you. So, he found himself pulling a large bandana from his back pocket and offering it to Beth - something to hold the berries in to keep them safe as an offering for you. 

“Here.” He grunted at her. 

Beth smiled at him. 

It was one of the last smiles she gave him for a long time. 

When they came across those bodies splayed out beside the tracks - any sense of hope was crushed inside of him. The picture you had gifted him was heavy inside his breast pocket, and he hated that tears threatened his eyes - even if he knew that none of those bodies belonged to you. There was no trace of you there. 

The days started to blur into each other, and Daryl couldn’t get you off his mind. 

One hazy evening, as they both stared into the fire with dead looks on their faces, he took the drawing out of his pocket and unfolded it. 

For good luck. 

He didn’t believe in luck - because it didn’t exist. The world was fucked. Nobody was lucky. You and your good luck were dead. 

He tossed the drawing into the fire, and it was only a moment, when the corner of it had barely caught, when Beth snatched it out. She stomped on it with her boot, successfully saving it. 

“Don’t do that.” She hissed at him. 

Daryl snatched it from her, and crumbled it up, tossing it aside. He let out a grunt, but refused to look at her. 

“That was from Y/N, wasn’t it?” She posed. 

He could feel her imposing stare as she waited for an answer. 

He didn’t give her one. 

“You can’t burn them just because you think they’re dead.” Beth sighed. “You can’t burn up memories. We’re gonna find them. Y/N, and Maggie, and Michonne, and - and everyone.” 

Daryl scoffed. “Yeah. Cause that’s gon’ happen.” 

Beth rolled her eyes, but didn’t speak any further on the subject. 

After she had fallen asleep - when the fire was dull, Daryl picked up the crumbled ball and smoothed it out again. The charred corner hadn’t even touched your bird. He felt like a fool doing it, just as much of a fool as he accused you of being, but he folded it neatly - well, as neatly as he could - and then put it back into his breast pocket again. 

But that was the thing - Daryl wished that he could. He wished he could burn up those memories. 

That you would stop haunting him. Then he wouldn’t have to feel like this anymore.

… 

“Can I see it again?” Beth asked, suddenly changing the subject. 

Again, this was a confusing little whip for Daryl - something that clearly only made sense to Beth in her own drunken mind. 

“See what?” Daryl replied. 

“The picture.” Beth answered. “The one you tried to burn.” 

Daryl felt a pinch of guilt surge over him at the thought. Oddly enough, this was the one time he would be willing to admit that Beth was right - you can’t burn up memories. 

“It was Y/N, wasn’t it? That drew it.” Beth added on, her words slurring slightly - she lifted the mason jar of booze to her lips again and Daryl was tempted to snatch it away from her. 

Instead, he found his hand drifting to his breast pocket and reaching to take the picture out. He presented it to Beth, who put down her drink to unfold it - she stared at the picture fondly under the brightness of the moonlight, tracing a finger over the slightly faded details. 

“You know… my daddy used to tell me that a cardinal is like an angel.” Beth said, recognizing the bird from her father’s teachings on the farm. “Someone - someone you loved who passed away, watching over you from heaven.” 

“Y/N said they was good luck.” Daryl replied. 

Beth shrugged. “Same thing.” 

It was this thought that kept Daryl going for a long time. The idea that even if you were dead, you were watching over him somehow. He sure as hell didn’t believe that someone like Merle would be an angel - but you, you definitely were. And even if it was a waste of your eternal life, you would be determined to watch over Daryl - to make sure that he was safe, well-guided. 

You would make sure that he was lucky. 

That thought alone carried him through the long journey to D.C. 

It was something that lingered in his mind as the group hunkered down in a random barn - as he spotted something carved into one of the wooden beams holding the place up. Even though it wasn’t colored, he could have sworn that the long tail and pointed head of the silhouette indicated that the carving was meant to be cardinal. Of course. 

Who knows who had stayed in the barn before them - if it had been left there by a weary traveler, or even put there by someone who had used the barn before the turn. But Daryl could have sworn that you - your ghost, your angelic hand - had led him to this very spot. 

It was a thought that gave him strength as he held the doors up - helped to keep them from caving in while the storm raged outside. 

Your luck, and your damn bird - you would keep him safe. 

When they reached Alexandria, and they were forced to give up their weapons - Daryl spotted your bird perched on the fence. Bright red, with its pointy head cocked sideways at him. All too knowing, staring at him like it wanted to say something. Just like it had been when he had fallen off the cliff out in the woods when he had been looking for Sophia. 

Oddly enough, it made him feel safe giving up his crossbow - perching it on top of the fully loaded cart of weapons before the awkward, bespeckled woman wheeled it away. 

Rick was still weary of this new place after Terminus, and Daryl understood. He followed Rick’s lead. Especially because he couldn’t tell Rick that he had a good feeling about this place because he saw a damn bird. 

But even if it was just in spirit, he felt you there. He knew that it was the home you had chosen for them.

[d1xonss]

Desert Rose

Chapter 14 ~ Thank you

✧ Pairing : Daryl Dixon x Rose

✧ Era : Season 2

✧ Word Count : 3.7k

In this chapter ~ Rose's boredom grows to be unbearable as she is advised to lay in bed and rest by the older man Hershel. However, it doesn't last as long as she assumes when she receives quite the unexpected present, and from the quiet archer no less.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ROSE POV *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I woke up the next morning with a lingering sting still present near my stomach, sore to the touch. But I quickly reminded myself that I had dealt with much worse in the past. This surely wasn't the first time I've been shot; being a cop clearly had its ups and downs. But all I wanted was to finally get up and out of this bed to help look for Sophia, however the pain in my side was surely preventing that much to my dismay.

Rick kept the promise he made and came in early this morning to check on me, and after reassuring him about fifty times that I was okay, he left to plan another search for Sophia. I knew in the back of my mind that he probably felt that he was to blame for what happened to me, so now he was trying to make up for it in every possible way. But in all honesty, it was just my dumbass standing too close to the animal. Still, I would much rather be in here rather than Carl who only stood inches away from the whole scene.

A sudden knock came from the other side of the door, snapping me out of my thoughts once it reached my ears.

"Come in." I called out softly.

The door opened, seeing Hershel pop his head in with a small smile, "Good morning. I just wanted to check a few things and give you these." he said holding up what looked like painkillers.

I smiled gratefully and took them, "Thank you."

He nodded before moving around to the other side of the bed, checking everything under the sun. My middle that was still bandaged up, my pulse to see if it was getting stronger, my head to see if I had a fever, and about five other things I didn't understand. He worked thoroughly and quietly, making sure everything was feeling okay by me before nodding silently to himself.

"Well, it seems like you are doing a lot better. I can go ahead and take this IV out of you now." he said as he carefully moved towards my arm.

"Thank God. Can I finally get out of this bed?" I asked him.

He chuckled a little to himself, "You act as if you've been in this bed for weeks."

I scoffed a little, "Yeah, well that's what it feels like. I am not the type of person to sit still." I replied.

"Well, let's just wait until the painkillers kick in. Your body went through a lot the past few days and you need time to heal. But later in the day if you're feeling up to it you can go outside, but don't do anything too active." he advised, removing the small needle from my arm.

I tried not to uncomfortably squirm as I looked away from the area, "I'm telling you right now, being in this bed all day hurts worse than the actual shot."

I felt him place a small bandage over the spot where it started to bleed, looking back up at him in time to see a thin lipped smile cross his face, "Rick mentioned you were stubborn."

My mouth dropped slightly. What an asshole. But the older man didn't say anything else as he quietly left the room. So, Rick was talking some shit about me behind my back to people that I hardly knew. Awesome.

I sighed and leaned my head back to stare at the ceiling, counting the small specks of paint that made little patterns in different places. This felt like torture. I hated feeling trapped and I was itching to go outside and feel the sun on my skin. Getting some fresh air would be nice and it would also be nice to know actually where the hell I was instead of being briefly told that I was on some farm.

But I found myself just sitting alone in the silence with nothing to do because I forgot to ask Glenn to grab my stuff when he was here last night. The last thing I needed right now was more sleep, and all I really wished for was something to keep myself busy if I wasn't allowed to leave for a while. What I would give right now for my notebook.

I was then pulled out of my small trance once more when another knock came, revealing Daryl as he slowly entered the room. Though I couldn't help but notice he obviously had something hidden behind his back.

"Hey, yer up." he stated while lingering near the door.

"Wow, thanks Captain Obvious." I replied, smiling sarcastically.

He gave me a small glare in return, still just standing by the door shifting uncomfortably like the thing in his hands was weighing him down heavily.

"I don't bite," I said jokingly, "Come over here."

His eyes met with mine again as he nodded small, hesitantly making his way over to me once he knew it was okay, sitting down on the edge of the chair with his hands still behind his back. He looked nervous, so I immediately assumed something was wrong.

"You okay? What are you hiding from me?" I asked to try and lighten the mood.

He cleared his throat, "Well, I uh...I brought ya some stuff." he admitted quietly.

My eyebrows raised in amusement, "More flowers?" I asked.

His cheeks instantly flushed red while he avoided my eyes yet again. I hadn't forgotten the conversation we had before Carl came into the room yesterday, but I didn't want to bring it up again. He seemed to not be completely comfortable talking about it, so I just let it be.

"Nah, some other stuff." he said while pulling something out from behind him. I instantly recognized this as two of the books I took from the CDC, feeling myself smile warmly at the sight.

"I noticed ya didn't have anything in here to keep ya busy while you rest so...yeah." he spoke.

I took them from his hands, "Thank you, that's very sweet of you." I said before putting the books down on the nightstand, right next to the Cherokee rose that now stood tall in a glass of water.

Turning back to face him again, his hands were still behind his back, "You have something else?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Uh yeah...it was something I found when we were lookin through them cars on the highway. I didn't know when to give it to ya, but I figured you'd be bored in here so..." he trailed off.

I waited patiently for him to reveal whatever he had to show me with a smile on my face. I couldn't bring myself to understand why he was so nervous. I thought it was about the sweetest thing in the work he thought to bring me things while I was stuck in here.

He then slowly brought his hands out from behind his back to reveal a real sketchbook. My smile disappeared from my face as I stared at it with wide eyes trying to figure out how he managed to find one. I had been looking for one since the beginning and couldn't seem to find one anywhere because apparently, they're scarce in the apocalypse or something.

I slowly took it from his hands as I examined the cover of it thoroughly, running my hand over the smooth surface. It looked almost brand new.

"I also found these," he said as he handed me a fresh watercolor palette, "I found em in the same car, they must have liked to draw and shit too." he finished while I slowly took the paints from him as well.

I almost couldn't believe the things he sought out just for me, truly at a loss for words. But I could easily tell that my silence was starting to worry him, because he then began to ramble.

"I just uh...thought...you would like em. If ya don't like it, it's okay, I can take it back. Glenn said somethin bout how ya said you were lookin for a new sketchbook or somethin and when I saw it, I just grabbed it in case ya wanted it but-"

I then quickly cut him off and discarded the new things, wrapping my arms around his neck and bringing him into a hug. He was clearly shocked at my actions because he stopped talking completely and his muscles tensed like he had just been burned. But then he soon started to relax after a few long seconds and began to hug me back, placing his hands hesitantly around my waist.

Not letting go of him, I whispered, "Thank you, thank you, thank you." however many times I could. Wanting him to know how much I truly loved it.

Eventually I let go of him after giving him one final squeeze, pulling away to see his face. He was smiling shyly, with his ears turning a bright red as he huffed out an awkward laugh.

I looked back down at the supplies once more to admire them, "I love them Daryl, thank you so much." I spoke gratefully. 

He smiled even wider, "No problem." he muttered.

I paused as an idea suddenly came to me, "Well now, since you got this for me you have to tell me the first thing I paint in here."

He sat there for a minute thinking before shrugging as if it was too hard to decide, "I dunno, yer the artist." he smirked.

"Just whatever comes to mind." I replied.

He thought about it again as he rubbed his hands together nervously before an idea came to him, "How bout the house?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "I could do that later when Hershel actually lets me leave this room." I joked.

He chuckled before nodding his head, "Alright, well...I gotta head out and look for Sophia some more, but I wanted to see ya before I left."

"Oh yeah, yeah of course, just be careful out there okay?"

He gave a small smile, "Always am."

Nodding my head, I watched him get up and begin to head towards the door, stopping once I called his name just one last time. "Thank you again, it really means a lot to me." I told him.

He winked back at me before turning to head out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. I let out a breath of air I didn't realize I was holding in, flopping back on the bed as my heart raced in my chest. I lifted my left arm up to check and see if I was having a heart attack. I wasn't. It might've just been a certain man making me feel all giddy inside like a goddamn teenager.

But I merely scoffed to myself at the thought, knowing there was absolutely no way he felt the same.

My eyes flew through chapters and chapters of books but nothing was curing the utter boredom that I was feeling inside this stuffy room. I placed the book down with a slam on the bedside table before swinging my legs over the side of the bed at an attempt to stand. Hershel didn't give me the okay, but hours had passed and the painkillers were working, leaving me feeling much better for the most part so fuck it.

Slowly and hesitantly walking outside past the screen door, I tilted my head up and let the sunshine hit my face, it felt nice, refreshing after not being able to get out. My eyes then opened and gazed upon my surroundings, the acres of land, noticing this place was really beautiful. I would have a lot of fun painting this. The ideas only flowing the longer I stood on the porch.

But my attention was quickly drawn to my left after a moment or two, noticing Maggie and Glenn having a quiet conversation together. Their hushed whispers seemed almost harsh, but I couldn't make out what they were saying from where I stood. Though it didn't last long before Maggie started to walk away towards me, with Glenn looking defeated from behind her.

Her expression seemed to brighten when she caught sight of me out and about, a smile forming on her face as she approached. "Hey, you're up! How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Painkillers really work wonders." I replied.

She laughed at that and nodded her head, "Oh I bet. But actually I'm glad I got a chance to see you. I gotta run and finish these chores, but when I'm done do you want to maybe...hangout?" she asked me.

I smiled at her and nodded, "Yeah, yeah I would like that."

She smiled back, "Great, I'll see ya later." she said before walking off towards the barn.

Turning back to look at Glenn, he had a confused and upset look on his face as he followed Maggie's retreating figure with his eyes. His eyebrows were furrowed in concern as he was clearly replaying the conversation over and over again in his mind.

I found myself walking over and taking a seat next to him, nudging his shoulder with mine. "What's wrong?" I asked.

He looked over at me and gave me a small smile before shaking his head, "Nothing."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "Don't lie to me."

He sighed, "Okay...okay. This is what I was going to tell you last night but everyone was there so I couldn't... so you know how Maggie and I went out on that run?"

"No, I think I was still unconscious for that part." I deadpanned.

"Oh right, sorry." he muttered before continuing, "Well, Maggie said that they needed more medical supplies because they were running low, and so she asked me to come into town because Rick recommended I go with her. Anyway, we get there, and everything is going fine, and I pick up something that I needed but she came around the corner and I panicked. So I dropped the thing I actually needed and picked up condoms on accident." he rambled.

I was silent for a few seconds as I stared at him, "Okay, I'm really confused as to where this is going."

"Oh, I'm getting to the weird part don't worry. So, I'm holding the condoms and then she asked me if she was sure, you and I weren't together since I was getting the condoms-"

"Woah, what?" I asked.

"Oh yeah, she asked if we were together because I came to see you when you were still passed out. Anyway I said no, that we were just friends and then all of a sudden, she offered to have sex with me."

I waited for him to say more as he gestured wildly with his hands, but I got nothing in return. "So...did you have sex with her?" I asked him.

"...Yeah," he responded.

"Okay, you got laid. I'm failing to see the problem here." I said.

He sighed, "The problem is, she doesn't actually like me. We just finished talking about it when you came outside."

My lips pulled together in a sympathetic smile as he just hung his head, "Glenn, I'm sorry." I said while wrapping one of my arms around his shoulders, pulling him into a side hug.

He hugged me back tight, squeezing me slightly before I hissed out in pain the minute I felt an excruciating pain in my side. He let go of me immediately and looked at me in shock, "Sorry, shit I'm sorry." he apologized quickly.

I waved him off, "No, you're good." I breathed while gently smoothing my hand over the bandage.

He sighed again and let a few moments of silence pass us before shrugging, "I just don't know what to do."

My eyes glanced back towards his face, seeing how much this was truly affecting him. "...Just give it time hon, I'm sure she'll come around." I assured.

He gave me a small smile and nodded before the conversation ventured off to talk about some other things to get his mind off of Maggie. I hoped they could work it out because I could see how this was slightly hurting him. Even though he didn't know her very well, he still had some feelings for her while she claimed to have none whatsoever.

Although the longer we spoke, the more I could tell he had something else on his mind, something else that was bothering him. I didn't ask though, if he wanted to tell me, he would when he was ready. That is one thing I didn't like to do to anyone. I absolutely hated to pry. If the person truly wanted to tell you, they would when the time was right. All I could do right now for him was listen, seeming to be the one thing he needed from me the most.

Though after a little while we split off as I eventually ventured further away from the house to start working on the painting that Daryl suggested. I walked a little further out towards the tents where everyone was staying at the moment to get a better full view of everything, briefly seeing Lori standing there hanging up some laundry to dry. I smiled at her as I passed, but then stopped myself and backtracked, wanting to properly do something I should've done last night.

"Hey Lori?" I said as I walked back over towards her.

"Yeah?" she responded as she hung up another shirt, clipping it in place.

"I never got a chance to say thank you."

Her brows furrowed, "Thank me? For what?"

"For giving me that blood transfusion," I said simply, "I know it was really important, and...I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."

She stopped there for a second as her expression softened, before walking over to me and giving me a hug. I almost didn't expect her sudden actions, but smiled a little to myself as I wrapped my arms around her.

"You're welcome honey. I'm so glad I could help you." she said while pulling away. "It's good to see you up and moving already." she pointed out.

"I was going stir crazy in that small ass room." I joked, "But hey, if you see Hershel, you didn't see me out here at all." I finished with a wink.

She nodded as she raised her hand up to zip her lips shut without saying another word. I smiled at her again gratefully before heading back to the perfect spot to start on my painting.

This seemed to be the exact moment I realized how truly beautiful this house was, the way the sun was hitting it was making it even prettier. I started with a sketch of the structure to get the basic idea and started painting the plants around the exterior first, adding different shades of green to the grass below. The light purple flowers popping up around the area gave the whole thing an even more perfect effect as I added those in as well.

I even made sure to add the line of fences in the background, not wanting to miss a single detail as my eyes glanced back and forth between the page and the surroundings. Feeling myself get lost in focus only made me remember how much I loved to do this. It was a good distraction and something I would surely love for the rest of my life, calming me in a certain way I wasn't able to explain.

I was working for a good long while before I felt someone walking up to me, looking back up to see it was Maggie coming at me with a smile on her face.

"Hey," she greeted while taking a seat next to me, "What are you painting? The house?" she asked, looking over my shoulder.

"Yeah, Daryl gave me the suggestion and I thought it was a pretty good idea." I said as I turned the paper so she could get a better look.

She smirked and nodded her head without saying anything, though I quickly noticed the look on her face, "What?" I asked.

"Nothing," she shrugged, "He's just so soft with you."

My eyes narrowed, "Huh?" I asked as if I couldn't understand.

She laughed at my blank expression, "I said he's soft with you. Just today he was snapping at people and telling them off, but when he's with you he smiles, he actually laughs, and gives you presents..." she trailed off.

My eyes glanced down at the sketchbook before turning back to her, "So you were eavesdropping?" I asked.

"No, not eavesdropping." she quickly defended, "I just happened to be passing by." she said, smiling innocently.

"Uh huh." I muttered, going back to painting as I attempted to ignore her suggestive eyes.

"I'm just saying, when you hadn't woken up yet, he was real worried about you. We all saw it." she said.

"You're preaching to the choir, believe me," I stated, "But everyone was kind of worried, I don't plan on reading too much into that."

"Okay that's fair...but I personally think it was something a little more than that." she told me.

"Whatever you say."

I then seemed to quickly change the subject, getting to know her more while I continued to paint the house. Although, I was a little surprised when she told me herself about what happened with Glenn, but I pretended I didn't know a thing as I listened to a different perspective. She then told me that the whole experience was eleven minutes of her life she was never going to get back, and that made me laugh louder than it probably should.

I knew this was hard for Glenn but for some reason I had a feeling it was all going to work out okay. She was actually very sweet, and I knew she would come around and love Glenn just like the rest of us did.

But after a while she then had to go off with her sister to do some more stuff around the house, and told me we would talk more later which I was looking forward to. I liked her, and we already got along much better than I ever expected.

Though after she left, my mind seemingly wandered back to Daryl. I couldn't help but think about how nice it was of him to get me these things just because he figured out how badly I had been wanting them. And if that wasn't bad enough, Maggie's words also seemed to replay a bit in my mind no matter how much I didn't want them to.

I had to agree, he was a little different around me then he was with anyone else, but I always assumed it was because I actually knew how to talk to him and when to give him his space. But I liked the kind of relationship we had; he was just a great person to have around I've come to find out. I just really hoped he was being safe out there.

~ Thanks for reading!

[carlsdarling]

How to save a cat Part II

Carl and Y/N take care of the cat together and grow closer… Everyone is 18 or over.

WARNINGS: angst, violence

"Stay behind me," Carl instructed you, raising his gun.

"Out of the question, I'll help you," you contradicted grimly and went after a female walker with the knife in your hand, stabbing her in the forehead.

It wasn't easy, but a little later you two had killed all six walkers. "Are you all right?" made Carl sure, wiping rotten blood from his hands. The stench of the undead was simply sickening.

"Yes," you muttered, already heading for the cabin, but Carl outran you and pulled you back.

"Wait, Y/N," he ordered curtly. "We don't know what's in the cabin. I want to check it first, to make sure if it’s safe." You sighed. You barely knew each other, but Carl was so overprotective. "All right," he then announced, and you entered the cabin. The cat had huddled in a corner, frightened, and was growling and hissing at you. Carefully, you approached him, murmuring soothingly at him. You reached out to him, ignoring all his snarling and fussing. The cat was obviously very young, and totally emaciated, full of fleas and ticks.

"He's not in good condition," Carl complained as you picked up the cat. "His leg seems to be broken." It hung down limply.

You cradled the little animal in your arms, giving him your warmth. "But he has a chance, doesn't he?" you asked with tears in your eyes. He felt so fragile.

"Maybe," Carl said distractedly as he rummaged around the cabin, then brought in a wooden box. "We can use this to transport the cat. Have Denise take a look at him. It's too bad Hershel isn't alive, he was a vet, but I think Denise can also splint his leg." Gently, you placed the cat in the crate, then made your way back to Alexandria. Your gloomy thoughts had faded for now, you now had a new mission; someone who needed you.

                                                 ***

Denise had bathed the cat, cleaned him up, put a splint on him, and given him an IV because he was dehydrated. It wasn't until the evening that you were able to pick him up, and Carl accompanied you. "He's a sweet boy," Denise commented, feeding the cat with some milk, boiled eggs and corned beef. "What are you going to call him?"

"He looks like a Garfield, I think," you said indecisively, stroking the reddish fur.

Carl nodded. "I think Garfield is a good name for him."

Your parents allowed you to keep Garfield - your dad had never objected to pets, he preferred that to you hanging around with people who didn't please him and who weren't worthy enough in his eyes.

But that very evening there was trouble again when you told your parents that you were going on a scavenging trip with Carl the next morning to get cat food and supplies for Garfield.

Your father looked at you sternly. "I hope you realize that the Grimes boy is no company for you," he said snidely. "Let him go with you to get the supplies for the cat, but I forbid you to befriend him."

"Why?" you enthused. "Carl's so friendly, and I like him."

"He's just the police chief's son," your father spat, cutting his bread in two halfs. He had appointed Rick as Alexandria's police chief. "He's not nearly good enough for you. He's under your class, and on top of that he's got this... disfigurement." Disgusted, he pointed to his own right eye.

You stopped eating. "That's so mean and shallow," you said, stunned. "It’s not Carl’s fault, after all, you know he got shot, and it doesn't make him a different person, he..."

You didn't see the slap coming, but it was so hard that your lip was split open and blood dripped onto the table.

"Go to your room," your father ordered. "Dinner is canceled for you. I've warned you. Don't you dare get involved with Carl Grimes." You looked to your mum, who, as usual, avoided your help-seeking gaze. There was a glass of scotch in front of her, and her glazed eyes revealed that she had once again consumed Valium. Never did your mum defend you, never did she speak her mind! All she did was to drug herself. Not once had she sided with you or poor Brooke, always accepting your father's tyranny. For that, you hated her almost as much as you hated your dad. She was such an incredible coward, and you despised her.

                                                  ***

Carl immediately noticed your swollen lip when you got into the car with him the next morning. "Who did that?" he asked, upset and gritting his teeth. You had intended to lie to him and claim that you had hit a door in the dark, but you were aware that he wouldn't believe that anyway.

"My dad," you countered cagily. "I don't want to talk about it, okay?" you immediately rebuffed.

Carl stared at you, horrified. "But it's not okay for him to treat you like that," he snapped. "He has no right to do that. My dad is chief of police, I could..." For the first time you noticed what a beautiful eye color Carl possessed, and what a handsome face, and how charmingly his dark hair contrasted with his fair skin.

"No!" you interrupted him, placing your hand on his. "Please don't, Carl. Please, stay out of this. I'll only get in more trouble," you said quietly, looking to the side.

Carl was silent for a moment. "Fine, if that's the way you want it," he grumbled disapprovingly. "But it's not okay!" You let that go uncommented, and the drive went on in silence.

You found a pet supply store and looted a large quantity of canned cat food, kibbles, and a litter box; also cat toys, a scratching tree, a cat bed, and lots of cat litter. "Thanks, Carl," you said as he started the motor and steered the car onto the road leading back to Alexandria.

"Do you want to go home already, or do we want to have some fun first?" asked Carl mischievously, winking at you, "Your dad doesn't have to know anything." He pointed to a large building to the right. It was painted in bright colors and the billboard on the street read, "Joyland - THE one and only indoor playground!" "Come on," Carl urged, "We don't have to stay long, just an hour or so. You look like you could use a little distraction." Finally nodding, he parked the car and you got out. Fortunately, there were no walkers anywhere to be seen.

Inside the building, daylight fell through the domes in the ceiling. There was a lot of playground equipment that you two were actually much too old for - a huge ball pit, several slides, and various trampolines. There was also a roller skating rink. Carl took a running start and jumped into the ball pit, laughing. "Come on in," he urged you, and finally you gave in. You frolicked in the ball pit, wrestling with each other, then you tried the slides and finally the biggest trampoline.

Eventually you were completely out of breath; sweaty, you let yourself drop in a corner of the trampoline to rest. Carl sat down next to you, drops of sweat were on his forehead, and his sweet face was all flushed. His eye sparkled with joy. "I'll go get us something to eat and drink," he announced, climbing down the ladder and running across the great hall, toward one of the abandoned vendor kiosks.

After a few minutes, he returned with masses of snacks and two cans of Coke. "I'm afraid the Coke isn't very cold," he commented. You didn't care, you were thirsty, and greedily you emptied your can. Carl tore open several bags of snacks and candy, and you stuffed yourselves with them without restraint.

"Look," you said with a giggle, holding up a bag of cheesy corn wheels. "Carlitos," the label read. "Some Carlitos for Carlito?" you asked. Carl grinned and reached for the bag. When you were satiated, you lay on the trampoline with your bellies full, looking up at the concrete ceiling and talking about all sorts of things. Carl turned his head to look at you. Crumbs from the Carlitos were stuck in the corner of his mouth, and you reached out to wipe them away and to stroke his cheek. Carl let it happen, then moved closer to you, pulled you into his arms, and you kissed for the first time. Carl's lips tasted like bell pepper chips and Coke, and they were so soft. Your injured lip hurt a little, but you hardly felt it.

"I can't let my parents know about this," you pressed around, when you were leaving the place and heading for the car. "They... they don't like you."

"Why not?" wondered Carl innocently. "They don't even know me."

"That's not the point, my dad just... doesn't think the son of a plain police chief is good company for me," you muttered angrily. „He's such a snob.“ You didn't want to tell Carl how spiteful your dad had been about his facial injury; you didn't want him to feel bad about his appearance.

"Oh," Carl said, concerned. He never expected that someone would find his father's profession inferior and therefore would reject him, Carl. "Then we'll just meet in secret, Y/N. And maybe your dad will change his mind," he said hopefully.

It's more like hell freezing over, you thought bitterly.

[specialagentlokitty]

Daryl x reader - take on the world together

Part 4:

The group spent a couple of weeks slowly branching out to all the places that you had walked past nearby, but they only managed to find one or two.

It wasn’t enough, not for the size of the group, not for the amount of people they had and even with them growing their own food, they still needed more.

You were sat inside, helping Carol with the washing while Spencer played with some of the other children by the lower cells.

“Hey (Y/N)?” Rick asked.

You looked up, pushing yourself from where you were sat, and followed him to his cell.

“We tried finding that large store you told Maggie about, but we can’t find it anywhere, do you think you’d remember how to get there?”

You nodded your head, against against the metal bars.

“Yeah, I can remember how to get there no issue. Just need a car so I can bring things back.”

“I’ll have a few people meet you out front.”

You shook your head.

“No, just me. I can’t bring Spencer with me, so I want everybody here just in case.”

“Carol will keep him safe, but I can’t just let you go out there alone. Two people.”

You thought for a moment, and you sighed.

“One person, Carol looks after Spencer, she is not to let him out of her sight or outside. If she has to go somewhere Beth or Hershel watches him, same rules apply.”

“You drive a hard bargain, deal. I’ll get you our best. Meet us at the front gate.”

You nodded, leaving the cell and you walked down the steps,

“Spencer?”

He turned around, and he ran over.

You smiled, crouching down in front of him.

“I need to go help look for supplies, it means I have to leave, but I can’t bring you with me, do you understand this?”

He nodded his head.

“You’re going to stay with Carol, Beth or Hershel, you’re not to go outside, you’re not to leave their sight, okay? You stay near them.”

“Okay.”

You smiled, placing your hand atop of his head, ruffling his hair.

“Good job.”

He frowned a little bit.

“Are you going alone?”

“No, someone is coming with me, I don’t know who.”

He nodded his head, placing his hands on your arm.

“Will you come back?”

You smiled, hold out your arms so he could hug you tightly, and you gently hugged him back.

“Of course I will, I told you I’d always come back…”

He nodded his head, and you pulled away.

“Come with me.”

Taking his hand, you led him to your cell, and you searching through some of your things before finding what you were looking for.

You had two jackets, and this was the one you had recently been wearing, so you wrapped it around him.

“Take good care of this jacket alright buddy?”

“Uh huh, and what do we do if we’re in danger?”

“We run, and we hide, and we don’t come out until someone we know says our name.”

You smiled softly, and you placed your hand on the side of his face.

“Yeah, that’s right. I might be too far away to hear you if you call for me, but you try anyway, and if I don’t respond, you go to Rick, or any of the council members, okay? You go straight to them.”

He nodded his head, and you stood up, sweeping him up into your arms and he giggled a little.

Walking out of the cell, you gestured for Carol to follow you, and she did, the three of you heading outside.

There was a car waiting, Rick, Daryl, Ty, and Carl all waiting by the gate.

“Daryl will go with you, he’s the best man we have.” Rick said.

You took a deep breath.

“I’d rather take Carl with me.”

Carl grinned at the thought of being able to go on a run.

“Trust me, Daryl is the guy you want in a tricky situation, he’s the best, and he’s fast. Sorry but he’s the only choice you get.”

You sighed, and you hugged Spencer softly, and he hugged you back tightly.

“Please come back…”

“I will, I promise.”

He nodded, and you set him on the ground, turning to speak to Carol.

“Sometimes he has trouble sleeping, sometimes he’s scared for what seems to be no reason. There’s always a reason, he might not tell you.”

“I’ll take good care of him, I promise.”

You glanced behind you to see Spencer gestured for Daryl to crouched down and turned back to Carol.

“His favourite song is this land is your land, if for whatever reason he gets scared, or won’t sleep you have to sing it to him, okay?”

“Yes, yes I’ll remember that. He’s going to be okay, you’ll come back and he’ll be as happy as he always is.”

You smiled, nodding your head.

You didn’t want to leave him behind, but it wasn’t safe to take him out there, and the camp needed more supplies and only you could find the place.

Spencer glanced back at you, and he tugged Daryl’s hand.

“What?”

Spencer made a motioned for him to crouch down, and he sighed heavily before crouching down.

He rested his arms on his knees.

“What do you want?”

Spencer glanced at you again.

“Will you make sure (Y/N) comes home…?”

Spencer sniffled a little bit, his lip trembling.

“I don’t want (Y/N) to leave me alone… I don’t want her to be hurt…”

“Woah, hey, don’t cry. I’ll bring her back kid, no need to get all emotional about it.”

Spencer sniffled a little.

“Really…?”

“Yes, jeez. I’ll bring her back, don’t sweat it.”

Spencer nodded his head, wiping his eyes with the sleeves of your jacket.

“Mister?”

Daryl sighed.

“What now?”

“You’ll be safe too, (Y/N) will keep you safe…”

Daryl furrowed his brows a little.

“How does she keep people safe?”

Spencer just smiled and ran back over to you to hug you one last time before hiding behind Carol to watch you leave.

Neither of you said anything in the car, you were driving since you knew which way to go.

It was a couple of hours away by foot, so by car it was a lot closer to get to, but it didn’t make it any less dangerous.

You pulled the car up in the parking lot, looking at all the abandoned cars.

“There was walkers here when we passed.”

“Check the cars, then the perimeter, then we go in.” Daryl said.

“I’ll take the cars, you take the perimeter, make it go faster?”

“Yeah.”

You both got out, and you walked up to each car, listening closely, knocking quietly on the metal.

When you were sure it was empty you would move on to the next one, and the final car had a walk in which you crush with your hand.

You then walked to the front of the store and crouched by the door, looking carefully.

“Anything?” Daryl whispered.

“One, you?”

“Nothing.”

You nodded your head, and you gestured for him to stay quiet, creeping up to the door you knocked twice.

You titled your head a little, listening for movement.

After a moment you turned to the man behind you.

“It’s clear so far, could be a couple stuck.”

“How the hell can you be sure?”

“I know things, learned things. I take one door you take the other?”

He nodded his head, and you both took a door, and he went to pulled his open but you grabbed his wrist.

“It’s alarmed…”

You pointed up, and he saw the alarm.

“Think it’s still active?”

You let go of his wrist and you let go of the foot.

“Yeah, do you know how to disable it?”

“I think so, give me your knife.”

You handed it over and he stood up, prying the cover off it before he began to work on disabling it.

You kept watch, standing in the doorway to make sure nothing came creeping up, and while he had his back turned you grabbed your other knife.

Dragging it across your palm, you put it back in your belt, putting some blood on your fingers and wiping it on the walls.

When you were done you wiped your hand on your cargos, looking at the now healed wound.

“Think I got it, let’s go.”

You both grabbed the doors and pulled them open, waiting for the alarm to go but it didn’t sound, so you walked in.

He handed your knife back, gestured to one half of the shop.

You nodded, grabbing a basket to begin you raid for the things you needed.

You took whatever you saw was important, filling up one basket and leaning it by the door before grabbing another, making your way back over.

You were just swiping the shelves clean of anything that was still good and useful.

Filling another basket you took it to the door and set it down to see Daryl setting down two of them.

“You got baby food on the side?” He asked.

“I think so, I’ll grab whatever there is, even if we don’t need it.”

He nodded and you made your way back over to look for the baby section, swiping food, diapers, wipes, toys, anything you could find.

Walking back to the doors you saw Daryl crouched, crossbow in hand and he gestured for you to be quiet.

You walked and set your basket down, crouching down opposite him and grabbed your knife.

“We can’t get out…”

You heard the growling and snarling, and you cursed, sneaking up to the doors to closed them.

You backed away and took your knife out your mouth.

“Any other doors?”

“Just this one, and by the sounds of it there’s a whole army of walkers just stormin’ through.”

You looked up, tilting your head to the side a little.

Daryl watched you as you titled your head in the other direction, and you pointed up, creeping over towards him.

He turned around, and you rested your back against the wall.

“They’re up there too, I don’t know how long this ceiling is going to hold…”

“How the fuck can tell?”

“Tilt your head a little bit cover one ear and listen…”

He scoffed and you rolled your eyes.

Placing a hand over his ear, you titled his head, and he could hear different steps this time, closer, and the creaking of the ceiling.

He could still hear the walkers outside but faintly.

You let him go, and he nodded his head.

“The fuck are we gonna do?”

You shook your head, running a hand over your hair.

“Just shut up for a second let me think…”

“We could wait it out, we got supplies.”

“For how long?”

Daryl sighed.

“We wait it out for the night if we can, block the doors, create a corner safe if the ceiling gives.”

You thought for a moment before pushing yourself up.

“Check for any damage in the ceiling.”

You crept around, shining your flashlight at the ceiling looking for any structural damage, and aside from a few small cracks there didn’t seem to be any.

You met Daryl back by the doors.

“Back corner, dust falling, dunno how long it’s gonna last.”

You thought for a moment while Daryl began blocking up the door, and you watched him.

There wasn’t a chance in hell you could go outside with him, and if the ceiling went then you would be screwed even more.

But of course you didn’t have a choice, so you began creating a safe corner, rounding up food for the both of you and any drinks that weren’t ruined.

It took a couple of hours, and Daryl was still checking everything over.

While he was you took your jacket off, cutting your calm and you squeezed your hand tightly so the blood would fall on the jacket and you wiped your hand over it, trying to cover as much as possible before throwing it back on.

You then wiped your hand clean again, setting your knife aside.

Daryl came back over and sat next to you.

“I don’t think that’s gonna last all night.”

“Then we take it as it comes.”

He nodded in agreement, both of you staying silent as you waited for the hopeful horde to leave so you could make a break for it

[darkartistyt]

this anon would love to hear ur thoughts on the toxicity and appeal of layherzen

Ok imagine: two extremely touch starved people who both desperately need therapy accidentally make each other's and their own issues worse

Things start out nice, as both of them realise more and more that they have a lot in common and are able to bond over it. They understand each other in a way that they feel very few could. They grow closer out of care for and a desire to help one another. They are able to fill the gaps in each other's lives in a way, hershel being to anton almost like a second sophia and anton to hershel like a second claire

But at the core of that is where the problems lie. Both of them have had a death grip on their pasts for so long, unable to fully move on from those they lost. But neither of them are able to recognise it, both in themselves and in each other. They think they're healing, because now they have each other, but little do either of them understand how wrong they are

With Hershel, it's pretty dependent on how you characterise him, but anton at least has already been shown to be obsessive and even a bit possessive ("Sophia belongs to me! You can't have her!"). Personally I feel like hershel, with everything that he's gone through already, is the type to cling onto his relationships with others out of fear of abandonment or of something tragic happening to them and him being unable to save them. Usually, this manifests in protectiveness, but Anton's not someone who really needs protection. Hershel also adopts the traits of those around him, intentionally or not, and that combination of things I think could provide an opportunity for him to reflect Anton's possessiveness

You have to also think, Anton's been completely alone for decades. He's a recluse in an abandoned town, waiting for the return of someone who he hadn't even realised had died. Sure, perhaps he could heal from it in time, but that's bound to fuck someone up for a while at least. Bringing Hershel into the mix here, while he thinks it could be exactly what he needs, is more likely to hinder any progress he was making than boost it

What appeals to me more is how it's a mutual thing, not just one person being too clingy and hurting the other. I don't usually like that, to be honest. But when it's BOTH? Hoho, now we're talking >:]

Gonna be honest, this is where things get a little off the rails. The specific way i think about this pairing hinges less on interpretation of them as characters and more on me being a fucking weirdo lmao

To me it gets to a point where they cannot and will not let go of each other. Even if one of them eventually figures out that there are some inherent issues with their relationship, they don't want to leave. Not only are they both terrified of losing someone they love yet again, but they both kinda feel like they own each other in a way. They're so tied to each other now that nothing less than death itself can pry them apart, like embers merging and growing into a bigger and bigger flame

Idk. The inherent eroticism of mutual ownership.........

[nebulablakemurphy]

But can we get a Daryl fic sample?

It’s like a Dead City/Daryl Dixon spinoff combo situation that follows Y/N and Daryl on their accidental trip to France. And their daughter Sophie, Carol, Maggie and Negan’s storyline to rescue Hershel Jr. in Manhattan at the same time. So that said, I hope you enjoy this free sample of ‘Way Down We Go’

“Never thought I’d get this close to seeing Lady Liberty in the flesh.” Negan huffs, staring out at the abandoned city of Manhattan.

“Not from ‘round here?” The girl, trailing behind him, inquires. Not that she really cares, but there’s not enough history between them for her to hate him the way Maggie does. And the silence is deafening.

“Virginia, born and raised. You?”

“I was born in a prison.” Sophie raises a shoulder, her Y/H/C hair shifting in it’s ponytail.

“Ain’t that some shit, kid.” Negan remarks.

“It was hardly a prison by then, try compound.” Carol interjects.

“It was a prison, Grandma.” Her parents used to tell her stories about it. How she was named after her mother’s little sister, who didn’t live long enough to see it. Sophie was the second baby born there, almost a year after Judith. They’re both grown now. Adults by all accounts of the old world. Still, when she wants to do anything even remotely dangerous, Carol follows…or her mom…or her dad. “But tomato, tomoto I guess.”

Y/N and Daryl are…different. As parents, they were fair, never came down too hard on her. Her father is an outdoor cat who learned to survive indoors. Her mother is the opposite.

They met at the first camp Rick’s group ever had and the rest is history. To this day they grumble when people ask what they are to each other, or assume that they are together, or worse; married.

They are Y/N and Daryl. That’s all.

Growing up, Sophie always thought they were in love. At least in the way she perceived love to be. Her father would come home after a long day and cling to her mother like it was the first and last time he’d see her for years. Sometimes her mother would cling. But it was rare and often meant that something was wrong.

He let Y/N drive his bike on occasion, hollering all the while, “watch where ya goin’, girl!”

Otherwise her father is a quiet man, her mother is more outspoken. And though Daryl Dixon is more than capable, Y/N Peletier never hesitates to put anyone who messes with him in their place.

Leaving their only child behind was not a decision they made lightly. But Sophie is old enough to make her own choices and she’s never been a risk taker. Staying in a place that’s familiar, versus abandoning it for the great unknown was a no brainer.

Which only adds to the irony of her current situation. Sophie and Carol on a mission with Maggie and Negan himself, to rescue Hershel from some guy called the Croat.

What a time to be alive.

————————————————————————

“Damnit, girl, stop movin’.” Daryl growls, applying pressure to the blade wound on Y/N’s thigh. Something to remember the prick they stole this boat by.

Aaron told Daryl a long time ago, that he could tell a good person from a bad one. Daryl doesn’t know if that’s true anymore, but this last group was not good people.

“Fuck,” Y/N shakes her head. “We’re fucked.” There goes any chance of getting home.

“Why don’t ya say it a little louder, maybe it’ll help.” He lets up slightly when her hand rests over his.

Her lips pressed together to contain the sound of her suffering.

“Lemme see.”

Y/N removes her hand and his. The muscles of her afflicted leg spasming of their own accord. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

“You’re gonna live.” Daryl murmurs, prodding around the gash. “Needs stitches though.”

Thunder cracks down, booming behind dark clouds in the overcast sky.

Y/N can’t help but laugh as the first drops of rain hit her upturned cheek. There’s a storm brewing and they’re stuck bobbing in the middle of nowhere.

“Now we’re fucked.” Daryl grumbles, under his breath.

Part 1

[mangledscrimp]

this is a response to your twitter post im on priv and also shy: i would literally love to see you talk about ranlay. any and all text related to ranlay is a valuable resource.

Mega ramble incoming; Miracle Mask spoilers, Unwound Future spoils, Layton anime spoils

Some silly or sad hcs abt ‘em (most of these are shared hcs or hcs I got from other peopleee ) I know they’re cringe LEAVE ME ALONEEE

(๑･̑3･̑๑)([ ˃̶͈̀]∀[˂̶͈́])

Ok Let’s start with some silly ones :3

Randall and Hershel’s Garden

Since Hershel practically lives at the University, Hershel and Randall start a garden there and plant fruits and vegetables to cook a nice meal at home. Or even walk together in the garden for a nice distraction from life and work.

2. Dancing

I like to think Randall is a pretty good dancer. Though, Hershel has two left feet. Randall teaches Hershel some basic moves as they intertwine their fingers. Or just hold hands and stare deeply into each-others eyes.

(Doodles I did of it hehehe)

-Randall doesn’t mind if Hershel can’t dance, he still enjoys doing anything with him regardless. He enjoys Hershel’s light that he brings into his life.

a song that I think they’d dance to together in their free time; (posted like this so you can listen to it as you scroll through ‘em HEHE )

3. Pajamas and Sleepin

What would Hershel and Randall wear to bed?Hershel wears a sweater all the time no matter the weather (well obviously not summer) , He feels pretty insecure about his body since he hasn’t been with someone in such an intimate way since Claire’s accident. Randall teases him for that as he kisses him and tells him how beautiful he looks at any given moment. Randall would only wear boxers to bed or just…nothing at all if you’re brave enough LOLL. Randall has a lot of body heat so he doesn’t need any PJs. Often times, Hershel holds Randall while they sleep for warmth but Randall starts sweating like crazy because of the blanket + Hershel’s body heat, he doesn’t tell Hershel to stop hugging him tho since he loves the affection. Randall often wakes up to Hershel either spooning him or Laying close to his chest. HEHEHEEEE

4.Wings

One of my favorite hcs with Randall is him growing wings from the mask in order for it to not be damaged. I like to think that his wings kinda flutter when he’s doing anything with Hershel. He just starts hovering in the air when Hershel kisses him, bringing hershel up with him as he holds his face

5.Annoyance

Randall annoys Hershel at any given moment he can. Pinching his cheeks, interrupting Hershel when he does lecture plans, nuzzling all over Hershel like a cat (hehehee), or even kissing him straight on the mouth when they argue. Hershel doesn’t mind what Randall does, in fact, he loves it. He enjoys the attention Randall gives him since it makes him feel special, like someone actually cares about him with a passion.

6. Hairsss (Inspired by sweeetrandall HEHEHE)

The more time Randall spent away from Henry and Angela, the more his hair grew out. Randall wanted to be more of his own person than who he was before the fall, and Henry and Angela didn’t really help with that. During his time with Hershel, his hair grew back into that spiky style we see after he unmasks himself in miracle mask, with side burns and a bit of beard scruff (i love that hc so muchhh rahhggh) . He feels much more confident in who he is with longer hair and a scruffy beard. Hershel enjoys his confidence and scratchy kisses. Hershel also has the occasional Beard Scruff since he rarely takes care of himself.

7. Relaxation

Randall and Hershel’s ideal vacation spot is anywhere they can be together. Hershel often spends time on the couch reading while Randall makes them tea so that they can cuddle together with a cup of belle classic, though Randall prefers a cup of chai.

Going a bit away from that, whenever Hershel tries to relax himself in the bathtub, Randall hops in beside him (Ranlay bathing RanLay bathing RanLay bathingggg, they need to be squeaky clean, no mud in sight)

(slowly entering the sad territory, so sorry)

8. Comforting

Hershel has nightmares in his sleep about his past, replaying the worst moments over and over again. From him and Randall’s adventure in the ruins to Claire’s explosion accident. He often wakes up in a cold sweat from his nightmares. Whenever this happens or when Randall feels hershel squirming next to him, he’ll wrap his arms around him and whisper sweet words in Hershel’s ears with a tired but loving voice to try and calm him down.

9. Wishing

(This is during stansbury before the fall)

Randall would spend so much time together with Hershel. Going on expeditions or studying together for a big test at home. It would make Randall start to fall in love with Hershel the more he hanged out with him. Randall would often find himself wishing that Hershel was a girl. He knew that at home he would be shamed for ever finding interest in a man, none the less one of his best friends. Often going to their tree study spot under the stars, wishing and begging that Hershel would magically turn into a girl so that he could be with him. Randall still loved Angela a lot and would do absolutely anything for her. But his feelings were torn apart between his forbidden love for Hershel and Angela.

10. Flowers

Before Hershel set off to find the relic treasure, he would often send flowers to Randall every week while he was out on an adventure. Bouquets with a mixture of trillium flowers and violets would always be at Randall’s doorstep with a hand written note attached possibly saying;

“My love, I’m out on another busy trip but i hope these flowers brighten your days without me. I will be back fairly soon. Enjoy the flowers, my darling.

-With love, Hershel Layton”

Randall would enjoy receiving these flowers in person or delivered to his doorstep. But a year after Hershel had gone to discover the secret behind the relic treasure, Randall received these bouquets less and less each passing month. He began to worry about Hershel’s whereabouts and question where and why he was gone for so long without a call or a letter. Randall grew depressed and longed for Hershel as he had no contact from him in years. After receiving a call from the hospital Hershel was staying at he immediately ran over and held Hershel’s hand with tears flowing out of his eyes happy to see his beloved partner return, gently kissing his hand. Sadly Hershel couldn’t feel it since he was trapped in an ice bath for so long. Randall didn’t care as he continued to kiss him.

Song that gave me inspo for this;

ok. my silly babies.

[mydarllinglover]

Alone || The Bridge

Previous

The next day, Rick, Michonne, Natalia and Daryl travelled to The Hilltop, Rick and Michonne had rode on horse back whilst Natalia had managed to convince Daryl that she was okay to ride with him on the bike, she wasn't safer with anyone more than him.

Maggie had greeted them, as the horses were dealt with, a mark was on her upper cheek, and she looked tired, her eye was bruised.

Natalia was angry when Maggie had told them what Gregory had done the night before, preying on an sobered alcoholic, who had just lost his son, to kill Maggie, so that he could take her place.

Rick had gone to talk to her, but also to talk to Maggie about help with the bridge, that he'd also managed to rope Daryl into joining.

Natalia had volunteered to watch Hershel as they talked, explaining that she needed to catch as much baby fever as she could, and no one was better at that, than little Rhee, one of the most adorable babies known to man.

"See, you're great with them, they love you." Michonne said, as she bounced the baby on her knee. "Now just imagine two of them."

"Michonne, you're killing it." She warned, closing her eyes and trying to get back into the mood of being excited for a baby.

"It don't matter If you get it or not, we're having them either way." Daryl said, as the pair watched the woman.

Natalia pouted, turning the baby to face her.

"Why, Hershel, why does bad things happen to me?"

He cooed in response, grabbing at her hair.

"Who am I kidding, you're so cute." She hugged him to her.

Maggie had decided that Gregory was to be publicly hung for his crimes against their leader, but also for causing Enid to face injuries so severe that the poor girl was resting in a wheelchair.

It was being held after all the children had been put to beds, torches were lit as the people were stood around, and Daryl was the person who had been asked to set the ordeal up.

Tammy-Rose and Earl were stood behind him, he was handcuffed, and looked disgusted with himself for his actions, Earl was a kind man, who had been influenced into making a horrible mistake.

"I don't want to do this." Maggie started, talking to the people. "But people need to understand that at Hilltop, the punishment fits the crime. Do you have any final words?" She asked the man sat on top of a horse, a noose around his neck.

"What you're doing isn't right. Somebody stop this, please. Killing me In the dead of night because you're ashamed." Gregory sobbed.

"You're wrong. I'm not ashamed." She told him, before nodding to Daryl.

"Stop this! Please! Now, for the love of God, stop it!"

Two children had wondered out, looking at what was happening.

"Maggie, stop!" Michonne cried, catching Natalia's attention as Rick held her, stopping her from running ahead.

Daryl hit the horse hard, it let out a whine as it marched ahead, causing Gregory's body to fly in the air, his neck snapping at the force.

"Get the children back in bed." Maggie ordered. "I made this decision. But this is not the beginning of something. I don't want to go through it again."

A wave of Nausea came over Natalia as she watched Gregory's dead body swing through the air, like a depressing pinata.

She jogged away, a hand over her mouth as the bile rose.

Michonne raced after, to help her friend.

A month had passed since the hanging.

Natalia was four months pregnant, and she was already growing bigger than her clothes could handle, everyone had been pretty heavy on her case about letting it go for so long, the signs were all there and she tried her damned hardest to ignore it.

She had started living in dungarees.

Daryl was pissed that he'd already missed a chunk of it, well, of what they were aware of, Rick had everyone working hard at the bridge, camping out, and her husband was the one in charge of keeping the Saviours in order, as they were doing most of the work, once again dragged away from his wife and kid.

Natalia was in Sully's old bedroom, they were converting it into the nursery, or Natalia was, to keep herself busy, considering no one would let her do anything, she was the first person to carry twins since the world fell apart, and currently the only pregnant person, and the people took the saying "It takes a village..." Very seriously. She also wanted to get it done before she was too big to finish it.

She was sad that she had to decorate the room, she missed him terribly, she missed her old life, her old family, the pregnancy was reminding her a lot of the start of everything, what she had gone through by herself, that she'd lost two babies to the world, the universe must've thought this was some cruel joke.

"Mom! Uncle Rick's here." Evie called from downstairs, she was doing some school work in the kitchen, before bed.

"Tell him I'm up here." She called down, Natalia had just finished painting the room, choosing pastel colours, they were going to be finding out the genders soon, though Natalia had betted on girls, she had a dream about it, she was certain it was girls, but Siddiq was busy at the camp, he hadn't been able to do the scan yet, she'd have to wait until he got back, she'd be ready in about two weeks anyway, the "official time".

"Hey." Rick greeted, standing in the doorway of the nursery.

Natalia was sat in front of a pile of wood, attempting to start the build of the crib, she had decided that they were going to have one big one, she heard once that twins didn't like being separated.

"Hi." She let out a sigh, sitting up as she looked at him, offering a smile.

"You getting on alright?" He gestured to the wood.

"We've known each other long enough, that it would just be rude to lie to you, right?"

"Lemme take a look." He entered the room, "The colour looks nice."

"Thanks, Daryl said I could do whatever I wanted in here, he's been too busy to, y'know." She raised her brows.

Rick sat down beside her.

"I want you to join me, tomorrow." He said. "I want you to see what we're up to, the bridge, you should see the building process, the future we're building for these ones." He looked at her bulging stomach.

"You sure that's a good idea, little weak delicate me on a building site in the middle of the woods?"

"Nat." He eyed her. "There ain't nothing weak or delicate about you, we've known each other long enough to know that."

She chuckled.

"Thanks, Rick."

"Also, I'm gonna ask Siddiq to come home, to help out with, y'know."

A bug was going around, so Natalia had been on house arrest anyway, until it passed, in hopes that she didn't catch it.

"Alright, let's see if we can manage this." He rubbed his hands together, rolling his shoulders. "Oh, that reminds me."

He looked behind him, grabbing the two things he had sat on. "Found these, wanted you have 'em for the twins, a gift from their Uncle Rick."

He handed her two teddy bunnies, one was a soft green, the other a baby blue.

"Thought they'd go with Sully's that Evie keeps in her room." He explained as she stared at them, her heart melting.

"Rick, thank you." She turned, wrapping her arms around him as she hugged her friend, the man she had first grown close to in this world, the first person to take her in after so long alone.

"Okay. We got this." Rick said, when she pulled away, picking up a piece of wood. "God, when me and Lori were putting Carls crib together, we both ended up in tears." He smiled.

"I bet he's laughing at me right now, the little twerp put a curse on me" She laughed, reminding herself what was in the letter in the drawer of her bedside table. "You know, if one of them turns out to be a boy, I've been contracted to name them CJ." She told Rick, who smiled, but it hadn't reached his eyes all the way.

It had taken the pair most of the night to put it together, Evie had ended up taking herself to bed considering both adults were stressed and frustrated at the furniture, but they successfully managed it.

Natalia placed the two teddies in the crib, ready for the next five months.

"Pregnant lady coming through, back up, make way." Rick told the people as he guided Natalia through.

She was dressed in a light wash, blue pair of jean dungarees, a white tank top underneath, one advantage she found, was her boobs were getting bigger, too.

"Rick, people can clearly see what I am, A and B are more than enough of a obvious sign." She gestured to her swelled abdomen, as people backed away.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Daryl had dropped the stuff that was in his hands staring at Natalia.

"I asked Nat to come." Rick took the heat from the ill-tempered archer, who was only growing more impatient the bigger his wife was getting, more protective and obsessive over her well being, as well.

"Nat." Aaron greeted. "Good to see you." He hugged his friend, minding out for the bump. "And you guys, too." He said to her stomach. "Lil Erin and lil Aaron."

"Hey, how's it going, you boys hard at work?" She grinned, Rick patted her shoulder as he went off to get updates from everybody else.

"Of course." Jerry came over, "Aarons just been telling us all horror stories about Gracie, that means double the trouble for you pair, with these munchkins."

"Alright, alright, get your paws off 'er." Daryl nudged the gathering people away, pulling Natalia towards him. "How long you staying?"

"Only a couple days, Rick wanted me to see every body in action, and to get some fresh air, away from all the sick people." She reached up, kissing his cheek. "And I missed you."

He scrunched the side of his face up, embarrassed of the PDA around everyone, especially the Saviours.

"Missed ya, too, an' Evie."

"Oh, she's still supplying baby names, Carol was wrong about her feeling left out, that girl won't shut up about having baby brothers and sisters, poor Judith's the one who's gotta listen to it all day."

"Come on, Imma get you a seat, sit in the sunshine whilst we get back to work." He told her, taking her hand and leading her towards his tent.

"Do you have to go back so soon, I just got here." She held his waist as he picked up a camping chair.

"Sorry, baby, gotta get that bridge down, so I can get home." He grabbed her hand again, leading her towards the construction.

Daryl had sat Natalia far away from the work, the tree's and anywhere she could find danger, but so that she was in his sights at all times, he'd even left her a canteen full of fresh clean water and a few snacks, that she tried refusing at their short amount, he'd also coaxed Carol into keeping the woman company, Rosita popped in from time to time, so had Tara, they had to pull Eugene away when he had started making the woman uncomfortable with his "Pregnancy facts."

"You thought about names, yet?" Carol asked, stood beside her.

"We don't even know the genders yet, gotta wait two more weeks, but me and Rick got a lot done in the nursery last night, he came over and helped me, when he offered about coming here." She explained.

"Awe, little Dixon babies, I can't wait." Carol let out a tiny squeal as her hands balled up into fists, shaking in excitement. "How are you feeling about it, compared to last month."

"Better." Natalia admitted. "I guess that's mostly down to the fact that I had to accept it, and had no other choice, I'm still shit scared, I just... I keep thinking about Lori, and what Carl and Maggie had to do, if something like that were to happen..."

"Natalia, stop. It's not going to, that was a completely different time, a very unfortunate setting, we have medicine, and we have the right equipment, and Siddiq's been training Enid as well as Evie, so she's gonna be there as well, if anything goes wrong, it'll still be okay, I promise you." Carol layed a hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks, Carol." She smiled up at the woman.

Henry had been on water duty, in charge that each person only had one cup each, that was until Justin got greedy, pushing the kid to the ground as he drank out of the tap.

Natalia jumped from her seat as everyone else looked at him.

Henry got to his feet, taking his stick as he knocked the man to the ground.

"Back off!" He told him.

"Hey man, it's cool, I got my ass handed to me by a kid one time, too." Another Saviour, Jed laughed at him. "Of course, I was 6 at the time."

Natalia headed over as Justin got to his feet.

"What the hell is your problem?" She called after him grabbing his arm, as he went for the boy, who went about his business.

"Stay out of it, bitch." He brushed her off, harshly, sending her falling to her ass.

Aaron ran to help her as Daryl grabbed Justin.

Laura and Carol had got to her as well, making sure she was okay.

"Hey! Leave 'em alone. Get back to work." He ordered.

"I don't need your people telling me what to do." Justin replied. "You're not my babysitter anymore, go deal with your whore of a wife."

He turned to walk away, but Daryl grabbed a hold of him again, causing Justin to turn and throw a fist, but Daryl managed to dodge it, throwing his own into the man's face, sending him flying into a large pile of sand.

He grabbed a handful of sand, chucking it into Daryl's face, temporarily blinding him, giving him the advantage he needed to push him to the ground.

The men began fighting as the Saviours gathered around, chanting.

When Aaron left Laura and Carol to assist Natalia, going to aid Daryl, the man who had teased Justin, threw his fists at him, dragging him into a fight.

"Hey! Hey! Break it up!" Rick shouted, running over with Eugene, pushing people out of the way. "Get back."

Rick grabbed Justin, pulling him away as Daryl tried to get past him, to throw another punch.

"I said enough. Enough." He turned on Daryl, as Justin was being restrained.

Daryl wiped at his nose, spitting blood as he went in search for Natalia.

"Thanks." She muttered to Laura, who had taken over fully as Carol went to check Henry.

"You alright, he hurt you?" Daryl asked her, checking her over.

"I'm fine, I'm more worried about you." Natalia replied, leading Daryl away and back to the camp, Rick had followed them.

"So, that asshole just gets a free pass? Is that it?" Daryl questioned when Rick had come to talk to him in the tent. "He pushed Nat!"

"It's just a few more days." Rick pressed. "I don't like it, either, but we're in a rush to get that work done. He's strong. The Saviours are over half the workforce, and we've had too many walk off's already."

"Yeah. 'Cause that's who they are." He turned back around. "Some of them ain't ever gonna fall in line just 'cause you say so."

"Daryl's right." Carol backed him up, Natalia was sat down, watching the three like a tennis match, her hand rubbed her stomach, the denim was covered in dust from getting pushed to the ground. "These people have never had to live together. And we can't expect them to just forget what's happened."

"It hasn't been easy. I know. It won't be, not for a while, but it's not about forgetting. It's about moving ahead, all of us, together. We keep doing that, they'll see we're all on the same side." Rick pushed.

"Are we, though?" Daryl questioned. "Are we on the same side, Rick?"

"Well, you tell me."

"Thing is, man, I've been tryin' to. But you don't seem to want to hear it. Nat, come on, you're gonna stay in my tent till you're going home." He helped her up. "I ain't wanna be on the same side as anyone who has it in their right mind to push a kid and a pregnant woman over, but guess that's just you." He told Rick, leading Natalia out of the tent.

"Daryl." Rick called, but they both ignored him.

"That was so hot, baby. The way you were defending my honour." Natalia looped her arm in his, leaning her head against his arm.

"What you after?" He looked down at her.

She smiled up at him, batting her lashes.

"Come on, grub time." He told her, leading her to the food tent, Natalia groaned, hitting her head against his bicep.

"Mood killer." She grumbled. "Where's Rosita, haven't seen her in a while."

"Out making noise for the herds with Arat." He answered.

"Oh, ditched me for the rat." She said, bitterly, even though she'd been talked out of killing the woman, she was still holding a grudge, a lot worse than the one she had on Laura.

Aaron and Daryl had been moved to work away from Justin, working on cutting up the tree's and storing them.

Natalia had stayed with them, watching as she ate up her food, and Daryl's, and Aarons, even though he wanted her in the tent, he was never able to deny the woman.

The horses were beginning to get spooked as they went about their work, walkers were approaching.

"I got it." Natalia sighed, picking up her knife that was beside her as she got to her feet.

"Stay." Daryl ordered, picking up a small branch and stabbing it into a walkers head, before turning for the other, but Natalia beat him to it, plunging her knife into the second walkers head, dropping it to the ground.

"I told you to stay" He fumed, pointing at her.

"And I told you I got it, which I did."

"Uh, guys!" one of the workers called, a herd was heading right for them.

"A herd's coming, bug out, now!" Daryl told the others.

Against Daryl's protests, Natalia had helped take down the closest walkers as the others evacuated.

One of the saviours had dropped the rope that was supporting a large trunk, letting it fall as he jumped from the stack.

Aaron had pushed the man helping him, away, letting it land and crush his own arm, screaming at the agonising pain.

"Aaron!" Natalia cried, dropping her latest walker kill and running for him.

"Get them mules out here!" Daryl pointed, following. "You, get over here right now!" He shouted at the Saviour responsible, as he got ready to lift the heavy log.

"Alright, it's gonna be alright, Aaron, you're okay." Natalia rambled.

"Go. Get out of here!" Aaron told them, as the walkers approached.

Natalia ran forward, taking the closest ones to them out, so they could continue helping the injured man.

"Come on. Get up. Get up!" Daryl encouraged, when Aaron was set free. "Natalia, come on!"

She was too preoccupied.

A walker had grabbed a hold of Daryl, attempting to take a bite out of his shoulder before an arrow shot through its head, from Beatrice.

The others had gathered, helping with the walkers.

"What the hell is Nat doing?" Rick asked, as she kicked a walker down.

"What the hell does it look like?" She turned to him.

"We got this, get him back to camp!" He decided, turning to Daryl and Aaron.

When they had got back to the camp, Carol and Rick had started chewing Natalia out for her recklessness, before she had brought up that someone was slacking on their job, turning their anger away from her, and onto Justin.

Carol had been the one to have it out with him, he was her responsibility after all.

"Daryl?" Natalia asked, when he stormed out of the infirmary, his arm dripping in blood, that wasn't his.

He ignored her, marching to the tent Carol and Justin were in, and then not even a minute later, Justin came tumbling out, Daryl on his trail as he shook his fist.

He punched him against a tree, then picked up a copper pan, smacking it against his head, hard.

"Daryl, stop!" Carol called.

Natalia felt like she stepped in enough, she was too caught up admiring the show.

Daryl grabbed Justin by his shirt, throwing his fist at the mans face, repeatedly.

"Daryl!" Carol grabbed, him stopping him from hitting the man again. "Daryl. I said stop." She hissed. "We'll deal with him, but not like this."

"There's only one way to deal with these assholes." He walked back to the infirmary, and Natalia followed, wanting to check on Aaron, who had recently got his arm amputated by trainee, Enid, who had to follow a tutorial from her book.

"How's he doing?" Natalia asked.

"Well, just be thankful Evie's too young to do this kinda stuff." Enid said. "Luckily he's just asleep, breathing."

"You done a good job." Daryl told her, taking the seat beside the bed.

"You want me to check you and the babies over, you've had a pretty hectic day." Enid offered, as Natalia let Daryl guide her to sit on his lap, as they watched over Aaron.

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine, A and B are as well." She smiled as Daryl rubbed a soothing hand over her bump, like he was trying to calm himself down from the fight. "Doctor Enid."

"You gonna call them A and B the whole time?" Enid laughed.

"That's what they are, this one is A" She pointed to her left. "And this one is B. Oh shit, or was it the other way around."

Enid laughed as Daryl tried to figure which was which as well.

"What do you think they are?"

Natalia looked at Daryl, wanting him to answer first, running her fingers through his hair

He shrugged.

"Long as they're alive an' breathing, I don't give a shit." He said. "But, one of each would be fine, be easier to tell the difference."

"I think they're gonna both be girls." Natalia said.

"How'd you know?" Daryl looked at her.

"Saw it in a dream."

He scoffed at that.

"No, I actually read that, that during pregnancy, mothers can actually predict stuff like that, but apparently you can tell as well, by the size or something."

Later in the night, Cyndi had come in for her hand, that Enid had to fix, she sliced it whilst peeling potato's, or so she said.

When she had left, Rick entered.

"Well done." He whispered to Enid, as Aaron continued to sleep. "He's gonna be all right?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "If we can keep the wound from getting infected. But he's still in a lot of pain."

"He's holding on, though." Daryl told him.

"One tough son of a bitch." Natalia repeated one of Daryl's most used phrases.

"Damn right I am." Aaron whispered.

Daryl patted Natalia's leg, signalling for her to get up so that Rick could take their chair.

Natalia did, kissing Aaron's cheek, before her and Daryl let Rick sit down.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you." He told the man. "We were all supposed to be working together. I thought we were."

"You couldn't have known." Aaron reassured him.

"I've been pushing everybody hard. I know I have. I put this project first. And you paid the price. Hell, Nat, she's been all over it as well."

"Remember when you said I wasn't weak and delicate." She mentioned.

"It was worth it." Aaron said. "When the dead started to rise... I thought I was seeing the end of everything. But you changed all of that, Rick. It's not the end of the world anymore. It's the start of a whole new one. I'll always be glad I was here to be a part of that. Anyway I gotta be around to see the mini Dixons wreck just as much havoc as their parents, too." He joked.

"Don't worry, gonna hire you as a full time babysitter if they're anything like their dad." Natalia teased, grinning wide.

"You got it." He nodded, his own smile on his face, even through his pain.

Daryl had encouraged Natalia to go back with Rick during the night, if she refused to go with him, Daryl would've taken her back, himself, today was enough to scare him back into putting her on lockdown, again.

"Hurry up and get this bridge done, so you can come home, Siddiq's back so we can have that scan pretty soon, and I can prove that dreams do mean something." She told Daryl, cupping his face as she kissed his lips throughout her sentence.

"Trust me, I'd rather be at home with you, Evie, A and B" He poked her sides. "Over anything, ya giving me leverage to not beat the shit outta another one of those pricks."

"I love you" She kissed him again.

"Love ya, too."

"Alright, are we gonna get goodbyes too, or are ya wasting them all on him?" Rosita asked.

"Yeah, I want a goodbye kiss from the pregnant lady that went up against a herd." Tara joined in.

"I too would like that, if you're offering." Eugene raised his hand.

"Ain't nobody getting any kisses off of Nat, 'Cept me." Daryl told them, he was attempting to come off more threatening than he did, but a grown man getting jealous and saying the word "kisses." Wasn't as imitating as he thought.

Natalia hugged her friends goodbye, a long line of people who came to love and care for her.

"Was pretty cool what you did, today." Laura told her, as she walked past her. "A bunch of these pussies could borrow some of your bravery." She looked around at the Saviour men.

"Thanks." She offered a half smile. "And for the bridge, Keep an eye on Daryl for me, trust you a lot more than I trust them, I'm gonna need his help pretty soon."

"You got it." She nodded.

"Hey, I'm glad-"

Natalia walked away from Arat, completely ignoring her existence.

"She killed my dog." Natalia muttered, when Rick gave her a look as they set off.

"You went up against a herd of walkers, like that?" Michonne asked, they were in the Grimes kitchen, something had happened at camp the next day, and Rick had gone back to deal with it, Evie was occupying Judith, she wasn't allowed into "work" just in case she passed the bug onto Natalia.

"What was I supposed to do? Aaron was hurt."

"How'd Daryl handle it, he go berserk like usual?"

"He was actually more mad I fought off one, it was Rick and Carol that shouted at me. Maggie fought in a war and I can't take out a few walkers?"

"Maggie wasn't eating for three, you're bigger now, than what she was throughout most of her pregnancy." Michonne tried to put it gently.

"Still, I got a few months left in me before I'm totally useless."

Next

[thesongbiird]

in your ideal world, what does life look like in the universe where beth has never died? how has beth developed without that happening? what kind of person has she become? what is her relationship like with some of the characters that came on after she died? do you think she would still eventually die from something else, if so what? or do you think she'd outlive everyone?

Oh my goodness, thank you so much for sending this!! I'm going to try and break this down bc I always have way too much to say about Beth in general, and I can feel this is gonna get long!

Firstly, in my ideal world, if Beth never died, I believe she would have continued her journey into becoming a fighter. We saw glimpses of who she was becoming. She was strong and resilient, and she survived that hospital all on her own like a damn boss. I think that experience would have made her believe in herself and her own capabilities and realise that she didn't have to be taken care of. She could protect herself and the people around her. I think she would have grown to be a real asset, tough and strong but never losing her heart and kindness. Honestly, I think the group really suffered with the loss of Hershel and then Beth, the two characters who had the most hope and optimism.

I think she would have absolutely thrived in Alexandria and would have thrown herself into the community. She would have remained close in particular with Daryl and Carol, given that she spent time after the fall of the prison with Daryl and she had taken care of Carol when she was in Grady. In terms of the characters Beth never got to meet there are a few relationships that I think could have been great to explore. I think she would have gotten close with Sasha, I feel that her and Maggie are fairly similar and Beth would gravitate toward her because of that. I feel that it could have been so interesting to see her dealing with the aftermath of Negan, especially given what we saw of Beth's character. She would struggle with her morals, despising Negan for what he did to Glenn and Maggie but I don't think she'd want him dead. I think on some level she'd agree with Rick's decision to keep him alive and maybe that would cause some conflict with Maggie.

If I'm being honest I think she probably still would have died. Most likely in Alpha's line up. Obviously I would have wanted her to live and to survive and have a long and happy life but I don't imagine that's too realistic. I also think that could have made the whole whisperer arc/Alpha's lineup a lot more impactful and interesting. On the show I liked it but the characters we lost weren't ones who had been around for particularly long.

On the whole I would say that Beth is a great example of wasted potential and killing a character for shock value. Personally I adore her character because she's the most relatable to me. She doesn't immediately know how to fight and thrive during the end of the world. She's soft and sweet and she struggles but then the writers gave us a glimpse of who she could become, without losing those traits I already loved about her and I feel that her death was a total waste of that potential. It wasn't the death itself but the timing of it that it found disappointing. If they'd continued her arc and let her grow and become the character that she was proving to be and killed her off later it would have been one of the most heartbreaking deaths in the show and a wonderful character arc. Instead it felt as though they had a great character potential which was totally thrown away.

I have ranted for so long but to conclude I love Beth Greene with my whole damn soul and I MISS HER EVERYDAY.