#daddy!daryl rj grimes

[daryl-dixon-daydreams]

Uncle!Daryl 😍❤️ mah heart!

Norman Reedus as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead S11 E10 - New Haunts

gifs by @daryl-dixon-daydreams | follow for more daily Daryl!

[afro-hispwriter]

Commonwealth

Season 11

Summary- it all started with the dress

Warnings- grinding, groping, semi-public sex, oral(f receiving, fingering, p in v sex, language, choking, squirting, missionary, side fucking, Daryl is OOC, implied breeding kink if you squint

A/n- I know I'm not one to describe the reader figure but for this story's sake reader has a curvy figure after having a baby:)

*REPOSTED*

-

The Commonwealth seemed like a godsend of a place just like how Alexandria was. 

But it was too good. To good for it to have worked for so long. Everyone there lived like it was back in the old world. From what you could tell it was Poor vs Rich again. 

"I don't like this place." You say as you look out the window to the civilization, Daryl sighs

"Me neither but we gotta try, for Victoria, Judith, and RJ." He walks up behind you and wraps his arms around your figure. 

"I met Pamela, I think she likes me because she invited me as her special guest to the party tomorrow night." You turn around in his arms and he scoffs.

"Mercer goin make me work the party." He says and leans his forehead against yours. 

"Aww, now you won't get to see me in my new dress. Its tight, low in all the right places, and has easy access." You nibbled his exposed collarbone then trailed up to his earlobe and tugged at it. Daryl groaned and started pushing his body close to yours.

"Ya should put it on now." He whispers but you smirk.

"I can't, you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow, can't let you ruin the dress." You pat his chest and walk away but you feel a smack delivered to your backside. "Hey! Don't you have work?"

"Ya but who cares when ya got this at home." Says Daryl and he grabs your ass and pulls it back against him. He kissed your neck all around and nibbled your skin. 

"Daryl work, and don't forget to stop and get dinner after, because if not we are going to have 4 ravenous kids." You gently push him off and he huffs. 

"4?" He asks as he walks to the door and you follow him.

"Ya the Grimes' kids, our little one and Dog."

"Whatever, see ya later." Daryl kisses you softly.

"Bye."

-

You had to explore the rest of the Commonwealth. So you plopped your little girl, Victoria, in her stroller that was gifted to you and set off with Judith, RJ, and Dog. As you walked all the kids wanted to play with dog and he was happy to receive all the attention. 

"Y/n!" You hear a voice exclaim and you see Pamela approaching you. You turn the stroller around and smile at her. 

"Pamela hey." She smiled at you and looks down at Victoria who was fussing in the stroller. 

"She's adorable." Says Pamela and reaches down to pinch her cheeks softly making Victoria giggle immediately. You glared at her and tightened your jaw.

She's lucky I don't take her hand off.

"Thank you." 

"So did you like that dress I sent you?" She asks and you nod.

"I love it, definitely something I would not have been able to wear before all this." 

"Well you'll get used to it, I can tell you have something special, something that can help us be better, and that's what we need here." Pamela sounded like someone you knew, but you just couldn't place a name. 

"Maybe." That's all you said before she bid you goodbye and left. You tipped the cover for the crib up and smiled down at Victoria and she smiled up at you with her two teeth. "Oh, baby what did mommy get herself into."

-

Daryl was back from his shift and was carrying dinner platters all the way up the old stairs. He made his way inside the apartment to see you all on the floor clearly waiting for him.

"Did you get lost?" Asks Judith and Daryl shut the door.

"Nah long line." He says and you take the plates. "They had some baby food." He says and you smile.

"That's good." You say and set the jars to the side and give RJ and Judith their plates. 

"Daddy!" Victoria stumbled across the apartment to reach her father and show him her new toy. Daryl smiled widely and picked her up. "Look bird." 

"Ya, that's a pretty cool bird." Says Daryl and kisses her head. He sets her down opened up Dogs and his own but instead of eating his own food Dog began eating Daryls.

"Hey no." Daryl shoves Dog away and you giggle.

"Aunt Y/n, Uncle Daryl, can I have an allowance?" Asks Judith and you stop eating and look at Daryl.

"Uh, let me and Y/n get our jobs goin and we'll talk about it." He says and you nod in agreement. A small conversation picks up about Judith making friends and how Daryl's first team building excise went while also talking about the prick Sebastian. You alternated between feeding yourself and feeding little Victoria who keeps running away and only comes back when she wants more food. 

Dinner was over and it was time to send everyone to bed. When the last child fell asleep you slipped into your own room and laid down on the bed. The shower was going, so you assumed Daryl was actually taking a shower. He came out of the shower with the towel low around his waist, water droplets falling down his skin and dripping down through his v-line.

"Oh, that's a sight to see." You say and twist your body and prop your head on your arm. Daryl scoffs and grabs a shirt and pants to slide on. You slide off the bed and wrap your arms around his bare torso and bite his shoulder softly. "We should do a challenge, we should go to bed naked and see who can take it." Daryl looks over his shoulder and looks down at you and shakes his head.

"Yer crazy." 

"You're no fun." You playfully pout and sit on the bed. Daryl finished sliding on his clothes and turned around to see you staring at him. He walked towards the bed and laid down behind you with his arms under his head. You crawled over to him and swung your leg over his hip and rested yourself on his lap.

"You look so beautiful." Says Daryl and lifts himself up to capture your lips. You wrap your fingers into his hair and tug making him groan deeply. His hands trailed down your body as you continued making out. He kneaded your sides then trailed down to grope your ass. He slid his hands back up your body and grabbed your breasts. You began grinding your core against his making you both moan. 

Daryl scrunches up your shirt and revealed your braless breasts and moaned. He took a breast in his mouth and sucked softly. Your nipples hardened and you arched your back to him. You felt him push his hips up to you and you smirked and pushed him away. He flopped on the bed dramatically and expected you to take control but all you did was slide off of him and lay down.

"Tomorrow love." You kiss his cheek and he looks at you in shock.

"Ya can't just leave me like that." He mumbles, accepting he wasn't getting anything until tomorrow,  well he hopes he does. You chuckle as he stands up and grabs his crotch, he then slides back in the bathroom and turns on the faucet so you wouldn't hear him.

-

"When do you have to be there?" You ask Daryl and he looks at the clock on the wall.

"Bout half an hour." He says and looks at you as you get ready. 

"Pamela mentioned something about a whole red carpet and cameras, not sure how I feel about it." You sigh and look at yourself in the small mirror. There was makeup all over the table, its been years since you've ever thought of using any. 

"Ya gotta try, for the kids, and their future." 

"I know, I know you said. I just wish Pamela would stop seeing me as 'someone who can change this place for the better'." You bunny-eared the last part with your fingers and Daryl took your hands in his.

"You're gonna do great, I'll be there the whole time, we just gotta see what this place is plannin then go from there." You smiled at him puckered your lips up to him so would kiss you.

"I just realized, I remember when we first came to Alexandria, I was the one who had to convince you that Alexandria was a good place. Now look at you, 7-8 years later now it's you convincing me this is a good place." You pulled him down to your lips again. His hands went to your face and gently held you.

"We both gotta watch out for each other." He pecks your lips again and walks to the door. "Carol came to me and said she can take care of the kids, said she and Ezekiel need some happiness or sum shit." You nod in understanding, they've been through a lot. 

"Ya that's good, and it's really good because that means we'll be alone." You bite your finger and Daryl cocks an eyebrow.

"Not teasin me are ya?" 

"No my love, we're going to fuck all night long." Now you look at the clock. "You're going to be late." 

"Alrigh, I'll see ya."

"See you."

-

You've most likely have wiped your hands on your dress over a 100 times over the nerves. You saw the flashes of cameras and felt nausea fall over you. 

"You got this." You told yourself and straightened yourself out. The dress you had on was black, had a split in the middle that revealed your cleavage and it was tight enough to show off every curve of your body. The heels you were wearing made you stumble quite a bit.

You were getting closer to the building and you heard gasps so you looked up. The camera was now pointed at you and people started complimenting you.

'She's gorgeous

'I love that dress'

"So sexy'

"You go, girl!" You turned to see Princess cheering for you and your face heated up.

Then they started clapping and smiling at you, the anxiety was too much but you continued looking ahead, smiling. And when you saw him. 

Daryl was in complete aw. He drowned out all the noise and could only look at you. You slowly walked to him until you were in front of him.

"What do you think?" You ask him, and all he did was raise a hand to the back of your neck and pull you roughly towards him, pulling you into a kiss. The kiss lasted only a few seconds before he pulled away.

"So fucking sexy, shit." His hand slid down to your ass and gropes it roughly. You placed your hands on his chest and tugged his shirt.

"Hey, we can't do it here." You giggle and he lets you go. "I'll see you inside." You kissed him on the cheeks and slowly walked away. Daryl leaned against the door's entrance and his eyes trailed down your body, staring at your ass the whole way. And even leaning forward to try and continue looking once you were almost out of sight.

"You're eyeing her like a piece of meat." Says Rosita and Daryl turns back to look at her.

"How can I not when ma girl looks like that?"

-

The party was in full swing, there was food and drinks. You were currently on your third glass of champagne and your nerves were officially gone. Daryl was standing by the entrance, ever so often you would lock eyes. You then slowly made your way to him and leaned against the wall in front of him.

"How's your night been?" You ask and he shrugs and looks you up and down. 

"S'been good, better now." You smile at him and push yourself off the wall and made your way to lean on him.

"This party is so boring, and this dress is getting really scratchy."

"I can think of a way to make it better." Daryl slid his arm around your waist and slowly started dragging you away.

"Daryl we're in public." You giggled and look back to Rosita who was looking away, choosing not to acknowledge what's about to happen. Daryl turned the corner and pushed you right up the wall.

"Not my goddamn concern right now." He says and grabs the skirt of your dress and scrunched it up in his hands. "Fuck, not wearin any panties?" Daryl cupped your mound making you gasp. He stuck his middle finger out and swirled it along your folds. Your stomach tensed and you began grinding yourself on his fingers. He dipped his finger inside and curled it pushing against something spongy inside of you. You gasped and grabbed his hair.

Daryl then dropped to his knees and dipped a second finger inside of you. With his right hand, he grabbed your calf and slowly brought your leg up to his shoulder, making your knee hook over. Daryl kisses your thigh, then went up further up your leg until his breath hit your finger-filled cunt. Daryl was thrusting his two fingers slowly, curling them to hit that spot. He licked at your folds and took your clit in between his lips.

"Daryl fuck." You pushed your lower half closer to him as the intense feeling of an orgasm was brewing. You slapped the hand that wasn't in Daryl's hair against the wall. Daryl squeezed your thigh and caressed it. He shook his head in your folds making you gasp. His tongue swirled, licking up everything. He then pushed his face deeper in, making his nose brush against your clit. He curled his fingers deep inside of you once again and made sure to thrust them against the spongy spot.

"I'm cumming." You threw your head back against the wall and bucked against his mouth. Daryl moaned deeply when he tasted your cum. 

Daryl pulled his finger out and kissed all-around when you heard gasps. 

Your head shot to the noise and you saw two women with their hands up to their mouths. They saw you out of breath with a hand still in Daryl's hair while he still had your leg over his shoulder. Daryl glared at them and they immediately left. Daryl looked up at you and let go of your leg so he could stand up. 

"Sorry, nobody shoulda seen that." You raised a hand up to his face and pulled his down for a kiss.

"It's okay." As another kiss was about to happen when screams were heard clearly coming from the party. 

"Come on." Daryl holds his hand out to guide you. Once you both got there you saw in the distance a waiter holding up a knife to a woman you've seen, Stephanie. Mercer was trying to talk him down and you see Rosita and a few other guards trying to go around. Daryl let go of your hand and went to help just as the waiter threw Stephanie to the ground and ran away. Daryl immediately ran after the waiter and you went to go check on Stephanie when Pamela's little prick son started yelling at Mercer.

"You're just going to stand there. GO AFTER HIM!" He yelled, Mercer then huffed and left. 

-

Sebastian, came with the waiter, Tyler, with Daryl in tow. The people started cheering for Sebastian for catching him. They entered the closed of section where you stood with Pamela. Daryl looked at you and you could tell he was clearly annoyed by something. You pouted your lips at him and he shrugged.

"Resist the Commonwealth!" You turn your attention back to see Tyler being dragged off. Pamela whispers something to Lance and he answers back, then they leave. You stood at the entrance of the currants and looked at both Daryl and Rosita and sighed. You turn to Daryl and wrap your arms around his torso to bring him into a hug.

"Let's go home." You kiss his cheek and he nods. "The parties over." You nod at Rosita and give her a small smile. People were already starting to leave so you made a quick escape. 

As you walked down the road in hand with Daryl your feet started to hurt.

"Shit my feet are killing me." You stopped for a second and huffed. Daryl stopped as well and let you hold onto his shoulder so you could slip the heels off your feet. "Ok come on, let's go hone do you can tell me about what happened." Daryl scoffed and you gave him a side glance.

"We goin be doin anythin but talkin." He says and raises a hand behind you to deliver a smack on your ass. You yelped and brought your hands to cover your ass and looked at Daryl in shock at his boldness. 

"There are still people around." 

"Guess we better get home." 

-

Daryl pushed you up against the wall right beside the door to the shared apartment. Daryl was kissing you hard while he had his hands on your waist. He reached over and opened the door but didn't stop kissing you all over as you entered the small apartment. Daryl began kissing down your neck, to the shoulders, then moving around to face you so he could kiss around your chest. You threw

"Help me take the dress off." You say and Daryl reaches behind you to unzip the dress. You started to unbutton his shirt as the dress fell down. Daryl pulled his shirt off then helped the dress come off completely when it got stuck around your hips. Daryl then bent down and threw you over his shoulder. You giggled and hit Daryls back playfully. 

"Continuin what we started." Daryl tossed you on the bed and crawled over you. His hand trailed down your body to your pussy and felt. "Still wet are we?"

"All for you." Smirking up at him made his dick jump. He slid off the bed and took his boots off. Then unbuckled his pants and let them fall down his legs. He was completely naked now(he doesn't wear boxers), his cock was hard and sticking straight up. You licked your lips and moaned at the sight. There was pre- cum leaking down his cock, he wrapped his fist around it and started jacking himself off. He climbed back on the bed and climbed in between your legs.

"Gonna make you cum so hard," Daryl says and lets go of his cock to grab your legs and place them over his shoulders. He reached back down and grasped his cock and brought the tip to your entrance.  He slowly pushed in making you both gasp. 

"Fuck please." You choked out and Daryl leaned forward so he can take a breast into his mouth. Once he was pushed all the way in, he started to thrust into you. Your pussy was making squelching noises after each thrust. 

"Love that fucking sound." Daryl groans as he pulls away from your breasts and shakes his head to move the hair out of his face. You grab the sheets and arch your back as an orgasm was building up. You started to match Daryl's slow but hard thrusts by thrusting back against him. Daryl fell forward but caught himself on his arms, he then kissed you while continuing his thrusts. He lifted your legs off his shoulders and let them wrap around his waist. 

"Harder Daryl, please make me cum." You whimpered and gasped when his cock hot something devastating inside of you. Your face tightened when you felt as if you were going to pee. "Daryl wait im-." You felt a gush leave your body and you screamed Daryl's name. Daryl felt the wetness splatter everywhere and groaned as your pussy tightened around his cock. He slowed down and pulled back but didn't pull out.  

You were breathing heavily and when you saw Daryl looking at you in both shock and lust, embarrassment filled your body.

"Daryl." You whimpered.

"Hey, you ok?" He asks and leans down to kiss you softly. 

"That's never happened before." You say and take a deep breath. 

"We can stop." Says Daryl and moves to pull out but you wrap your kegs around his waist to keep him there. 

"No we don't, make me so it again." You smirk up at him and Daryl felt his heart race. He nodded and got down to his previous position. He slowly started thrusting again, making sure to pay attention when he finds the spot. 

And he found it almost instantly.

He hit that spot repeatedly harshly until you lifted your hips as you squirted again. The for e pushed Daryl's cock out and he immediately grabbed it and brushed it along your clit to make you jump.

"Fuck." Daryl looked down at you again. A little bit of makeup was running down your cheeks, you were out of breath and sweaty. "Daryl you need to come." You lifted yourself up on shaky arms and kissed his chest. 

"Ya need a break." He starts but you shake your head but get an idea.

"Let's go on our sides." You propose and Daryl smirks at the thought. Fucking on your sides was one of your favorite positions to have sex in while you were pregnant. It was the position you felt the closest to each other. 

Daryl immediately went onto his side and so did you. Your back was pressed against his chest and he grabbed your left leg and hooked it over his leg. You grabbed his cock lightly but Daryl still groaned at the touch. You guided him to the entrance and Daryl pushed his hips forward making him sink into you. Daryl grabbed your leg that was over his and held it up while the one by your head snaked around and grab your neck. 

He squeezed his hand and you already felt dizzy. You pushed your hips back to give Daryl a signal to move and he did. His balls started slapping against your pussy. Your boobs were bouncing wildly at each thrust. You then reached back to grab the back of Daryl's head and grabbed his hair to bring his head closer so you could pull him into a sloppy kiss

Daryl let go of your leg and grabbed your waist instead so he had more control. He lifted his leg and thrusted even harder than before. You pushed your back against his chest harder that you could hear his heart beating harshly. Daryl was groaning loudly in your ear and those sounds brought butterflies to your stomach.

"F-fuck such a good girl, s-squeezin ma cock." Daryl moaned and dug his head in your shoulder. All that was heard were your high moans, skin slapping, and Daryl's deep groans. The same feeling you felt a while ago was coming back. Your vision went blank, you screamed loud. The force pushed Daryl put and you collapsed out of breath in your stomach.

Daryl growled and pushed himself onto his knees and settled behind you. He grabbed your hips and pulled up so you were ass up. He slammed himself in and started using your body to find his high, you loved it. He was going insanely fast and you felt him even hit your cervix make you groan. Daryl gripped your hips harshly as his own hips stuttered as he came deep inside of you. 

"Fuck." His groan came out deeper than usual as he finished. He then grabbed your hair and tugged you back and kissed you harshly. He pulled away out of breath and pulled out of you, he leaned back on his calves and watched his cum start to drip out.  

"Ya ok?" He asks and tries to catch his breath. You nodded and dug your head in the pillow. Daryl felt the urge to push his cum back inside of you, so that's what he did. He scooped up his cum with his fingers and pushed back in. You let out a huff and your thighs shook at how sensitive you became. "Sorry just- didn't want it comin out." 

"It's ok, I'm just tired." You say and yawn. Daryl grabbed his boxers and slide them off and was handing you a shirt but you were out cold. Daryl smiled slightly and settled in beside you. He covered both of you with a blanket and Daryl pulled you in tightly. He felt you dig your face in his neck and throw a leg over his to keep him trapped. 

"I love you, you're the most amazing and beautiful woman I've ever seen and ever will." Daryl kissed you softly when he saw your lips were puffed up. "I'd follow you anywhere." 

-

A/n- I could not figure out a goddamn ending, everything was so cringy but i just couldn't think of anything else.

[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

[itsmymeaningoflife]

11x18 review and obvs spoilers

* Judith narrating the little Daryl flashback hit me in the HEART

* Daryl not standing down for anyone but Carol? We’ve seen this before an it never gets old

* Uhhh Daryl… lose the tone before I make you lose it. I get he’s angry and Hornsby and his men were hunting them like dogs but… don’t take that tone with Carol she’s saved your ass… again

* Aaron looking between Daryl and Carol as they have their little old married couple back and fourth is EVERYTHING

* Carol out here again single-handedly sorting everything out for everyone else. Queen shit

* Oh lance has mommy issues

* Daryl packing Judith’s lil katana in his bag made my heart swell

* CAROL AND LYDIA MY HEART- “you have to take happiness wherever you can get it.” No stop that right now because I know that Carol has been trying so hard to let herself have happiness after everything that’s happened to her and her family so saying that to Lydia is just so lovely. I LOVE THEM

* NAHHHH DARYL WATCHED THAT WHOLE INTERACTION? Judith too? The Dixon squad makes me want to claw my eyes out from the cuteness

* “I never thanked you for saving her” this one. This is the one right here. I’m reading this as “I never thanked you for giving me another chance at getting my happiness”

* And the Daryl and Lydia hugs. Daddy Daryl is the best Daryl

* (Although I’m getting whiplash from the Daryl mood swings already)

* Yesss Judith call him out. Hold Daryl accountable. I love it when daughters give their father figures grief. Not one moments peace for this man

* Okay Carol I see you squeezing past Daryl a lil closer than needed

* Daryl didn’t choose the dad life but the dad life chose him… and preteen Judy is giving him a run for his money

* Judith looks more and more like Shane every damn day

* Carol and Zeke are still cute. They have a history and a GOOD one at that. I’m glad they had one last talk before parting ways. If my predictions are right I assume this will be the last time they talk

* Less screen time with the militons pleas e

* NOT THE NEGAN AND ANNIE BABY SCAN SHOT EXACTLY MIRRORING GLENN AND MAGGIES IM NOT OKAY AT ALL

* I don’t have a good feeling about Annie and the baby. I don’t think they’ll make it

* Daryl putting his vest back on? The symbolism… he’s going back to Alexandria to be his true self

* RJ READING COMICS LIKE HIS BIG BROTHER CARL IM SCREAMING

* These Grimes babies are making Daryl rethink his whole life choices

* Daryl loses Judith and goes straight to Carol for help? And him confiding in her that he doesn’t think he’s a good parent?? My heart!! And Daryl comparing himself to Rick?? I can’t do this

* I saw a lot of people saying that the Sophia mention was really glossed over but like… it’s not the first time she’s mentioned her since her death. All the other times she’s spoken about her hasn’t been teary. It’s been a long time for Carol. She’s made her peace with it (obvs it would still be painful but like I’m happy that she can talk about her daughter casually after all this time). And her sharing her feelings on parenting with Daryl of all people?? It’s a brilliant bonding moment between the two

* Carol casually touching Daryl’s forearm, telling him he’ll figure it out, I see you miss girl

* Eugene and Stephanie bore me a bit too. I don’t dislike their story but idk. I’ve never been that attached to Eugene even though he’s one of the longer standing characters atm.

* Mama rositaaaaa I love youuuuuu

* I’m not religious in the slightest so Gabes whole church speech fell a lil flat on me

* Hey Judy miss girl!! What you doing here?!?

* Daryl walking through the church looking for Judith parallels him walking into the church’ looking for Sophia in s2. Someone gif that parallel please

* Baby Daryl hiding out by the river on his own waiting for his dad to fall asleep is heartbreaking

* “You we’re alone a lot” OKAY THAT ONE FUCKING HURT KNOWING THAT THE WRITERS ARE PROBA SENDING DARYL OFF ON HIS OWN AT THE END OF ALL THIS FUCK YOU AMC

* Daryl admitting to Judith that he doesn’t know what he’s doing and he’s just trying to keep her safe *cries in daddy issues*

* “Help me up” DARYL YOU ARE SUCH AN OLD MAN I LOVE YOU (still not forgotten how you spoke to Carol at the start of the ep tho)

* Sebastian’s critique on the American Dream is the only good thing he’s said all season

* Daryl and Carol taking Judith to go say bye to her friends like the amazing co-parents they are >>

* Daryl is me watching this wrestling scene wtf is happening

* Okay Eugene and Stephanie toppling the government with a secret recording

* What’s with these shitty under the chin running shots?

* Why are there so many red apples this ep?

* Zeke saving one of Jerrys babies :,)

* Daryl panicking as he loses sight of Judith again. Bro that man would do anything of those kids. Those are HIS babies

* Judith stepping UP and with her daddies gun too :’)

* BYE SEBASTIAN HAHAHHA

* poor Judith tho man

Overall- again I enjoyed this ep way more than I expected to. Got better as it went on but there’s still some issues with like pacing and screen time and stuff. But at this point…I’m hopeful

[twdmusicboxmystery]

11x23: Family - First Thoughts

Okay, what did everyone else think of ep 23? I thought it was awesome! Not only was the end so heart-meltingly sweet (“Daddy?”) but it was totally full and action and BETH CALLBACKS!!! Did you catch them all? If not, keep reading!

***As always, spoilers for the episode abound below. Don’t read until you’ve watched!***

So, the first thing I want to point out is Judith’s monologue at the beginning. Obviously we’ve been paying close attention to those for this entire block of episodes. But this one REALLY reminded me of Beth’s monologue at the beginning of Inmates. Now, of course the words and images they showed were different. Because using the exact same ones would be obvious and wouldn’t work for what’s going on in the show right now. But the ideas are very similar. I’ve bolded corresponding ideas below. Check it out:

Judith: 

“For the longest time, we were just fighting to survive. Trying to get back what we lost. This family, my family, we would do anything to protect each other. And we’re fighting now for something else. Something bigger. A new beginning. But that comes with a cost. There’s always a cost. I never got to know my mom, Lori. My brother Carl dreamed of a day when we’d all live together in peace. My mom Michonne tired to hang up her sword. My dad Rick was searching for mercy. And me? Well, I guess I’m a Grimes too. I keep thinking about something my mom told me. A secret saying she used to share with my dad. It was like a good luck charm. For me and RJ, too. I was afraid to say it out loud. I was afraid to say so many things out loud. But we didn’t know when we started this, that this would be the day everything changed forever.”

Beth in Inmates: 

“Hey, I know it’s been a while. I’m gonna be honest. I forgot about you. After the farm, we were always moving. But something happened. Something good. Finally. We found a prison. Daddy thinks we can make it into a home. He says we can grow crops in the field. Find pigs and chickens. Stop running, stop scavenging. Lori’s baby is just about due. She’ll need a safe place when it comes. The rest of us, we just need a safe place to be. I woke up in my own bed yesterday. My own bed, in my own room. But I’ve been keeping my bag packed, keeping my gun close. I’ve been afraid to get my hopes up, thinking we can actually stay here. The thing is, I’ve been starting to get afraid that it’s easier just to be afraid. But this morning, Daddy said something: “If you don’t have hope, what’s the point of living?” So, I unpacked my bag, and I found you. So, I’m gonna start writing in you again. And I’m gonna write this down now because you should write down wishes to make ‘em come true. We can live here. We can live here for the rest of our lives.”

Okay, so again, obviously different words. But both talk about what was lost (the farm, or Judith just saying ‘what we lost.’) They also both talk about a new beginning. Judith actually says that, Beth talks about finding the prison. Both mention Lori in some way. It’s notable that Beth mentioned Judith’s birth, and now Judith, so much like Beth, is doing the monologues. And both talk about what being afraid, but trying to let go of that fear. Both actually use the words, “I was afraid” or “starting to get afraid.” 

I would even argue that Beth talks about her journal, though we don’t actually see it in the sequence, while Judith pulls out Michonne’s paper of laws that she had the community leaders sign. Both have to do with records of what has gone before, as well as planning for the future. 

See the similarities? Well, buckle up, grasshoppers, that’s just the beginning of the parallels.

Next, we have Rosita and Gabriel on the train, talking about faith. Again, Rosita = Daryl in Inmates, and Gabe = Beth. Rosita sort of mocks his faith a little, but he just smiles and affirms it. Very similar to Beth and Daryl’s exchange about faith in Inmates.

This one may be small potatoes, but it got an eyebrow raise from me. We see a walker, walking along the tracks, just before the train hits it. 

Maybe just an excuse for walker gore, but it reminded me of the walker we saw in 5x01 walking along the tracks. People called that the “Andrea walker” because it was wearing Andrea’s S3 outfit, but it also had a handcuff attached to one hand. There’s no doubt in my mind that it was a foreshadow of Beth’s arc.

Beth was already imprisoned at Grady by this time, and she took over many of comic-book-Andrea’s storylines. Especially her scars. So, seeing another walker walking along the traintracks felt like a callback to 5x01, and  hence, a Beth clue.

Next, we had Daryl telling Judith that after this mission, he’ll tell her every story he has about everyone who ever loved her. OBVIOUSLY that would include stories about Beth. 

And for the record, this is actually the second time he’s said something like this to someone. The other person was Lydia, back in 9x16, The Storm. When they were looking at the pictures above Maggie’s desk at Hilltop, he told her one day he’d tell her about them. As far as we know, he never has. But they aren’t putting things like this into the show by accident or without any intention of following them up. Granted, I don’t think we’ll see this in ep 24, but we will at some point. And of course we have the spinoffs coming up.

Next, we have Lydia’s arm. A sad development, but we’re not seeing any indication that she’ll die from it. With Cassidy Mclincy spotted in France, there’s a very good chance she’ll be part of the spinoff. But the main thing here is that, while they tried hard to equate it with Aaron losing his arm, it was really more reminiscent of Tyrese. 

Not only because it was a walker bite (Aaron’s was not) but because they held her arm out and cut it off with a sword. Even the camera angle was exactly like Tyreese’s in 5x09. You know, the last official episode we saw Beth in, with tons of foreshadows of the CRM. Just saying.

Seeing the group crouch outside the CW, looking for a way in reminded me of the end of 4x16, when Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Carl did something similar before going into Terminus.

Eugene fights with a trooper in his room. It reminded me a lot of Daryl’s fight with Officer Lecari in 5x07 Crossed. We already talked about how they called back to that in the earlier episode when Daryl and Carol had to fight people off, but this felt similar to me.

Now, for the biggest parallel. Since footage of Daryl carrying Judith surfaced some time ago, we’ve known for a while that Judith would be injured, but we didn’t know how. She was SHOT guys. SHOT. And the entire train station sequence was one big replay of Grady.

So, first we have Judith pushing Maggie out of the way. Oh man. We could go several ways on that. Judith, our little sheriff, just saved Maggie’s life. Beth’s sister. She was also being heroic and saving someone in general, just as Beth tried to save Noah.

As soon as she’s shot, just as Beth was shot, she goes down, and Daryl bends over here. The major difference here is that Judith is not shot in the head, and Daryl is not assuming she’s dead. He’s just terrified she might die of her injuries. 

WE also saw everything go into slow motion, just as at Grady. 

WE see Pamela’s reaction, just as we saw Dawn’s. 

And they showed other members of TF having terrified reactions to Judith being shot, just as we saw at Grady.

I also think there was a parallel to Rick’s disappearance here. Daryl tells Zeke to throw the fire extinguisher in the air. Fire extinguishers are symbols we’ve pointed at for some time. 

But it’s also red, and when Daryl shoots it, it explodes, giving them a way to escape. It’s very similar to Rick firing his gun at the red dynamite on the bridge, which saved the communities from the walker horde. I think there’s a purposeful parallel there.

Then, Daryl just so happens to carry Judith out in the same way he carried Beth. Now, AK said they wanted to equate it with Rick carrying Carl in S2 after he was shot. And given the parental relationship Daryl has with Judith, I think that’s valid. But with all the other Grady parallels, I don’t think we can discount the Beth parallels, either. It’s both.

But we can even go deeper than that. At the beginning, Judith put her (Carl’s/Rick’s) sheriff’s hat on RJ. This was very much a “new sheriff in town” moment. Now, it’s not exact, because the hat was put on Beth in 4x16, and Judith (the Beth character) put it on someone else, but I don’t think the details are super important here. 

I mean, it wouldn’t have made sense having someone else give it to Judith because she already had it. The point is, the hat was put on Beth’s head in 4x16, and a few episodes later (5x08) she was shot in the Grady sequence and carried out in Daryl’s arms. Here, Judith put the hat on RJ, and  a little later in the same episode, was shot in a very Grady-like sequence, and carried out in Daryl’s arms.

And I suspected (and kind of knew because of the leaked footage) that all of this stuff we’ve seen that’s been a clear repeat of 4b would culminate in a Grady like sequence.

And guys, that’s AWESOME for us. Because it shows that they’re doing repeat sequences to lead up to Beth’s return.

We don’t know for sure if we’ll see Beth in 11x24. I really hope we will, in an after-the-credits coda at least. But if we don’t, it won’t matter all that much to me (other than the usual disappointment). I know there will be those who roll their eyes and leave TD, talking about how we’ve been preaching her return for years and now the show has ended and we’re still holding on.

And okay. I totally get it. But people who say that don’t really understand the story TWD is trying to tell. Beth was never going to return until the CRM storyline came around. Of course we didn’t understand that back in S6, S7, S8, etc. But we’ve learned and understood more as each season progressed. Grady was tied to the CRM, and we know the CRM will be explored in the spinoffs, so either way, we’re looking to those for Beth’s story.

Meanwhile, they’ve done a complete retelling of 4b, right up to and threw the Grady storyline. This, in my mind, is obviously leading up to Beth showing up.

I’m going to do a more in-depth post later this week about the musical coda and how they’re using it here, but just trust me on this, guys. We’re right on track here.  

The other thing to ponder is that this simply MUST be a massive clue to what happened with Beth. I mean, in terms of why she was shot. Judith was shot when pushing someone out of the way; trying to save them. Now, Beth wasn’t doing that in a literal way when she was hit, but you could argue that she was confronting Dawn to try and save Noah.

But perhaps more to the point, Judith was shot accidentally. Pam was aiming for someone else (Maggie) and accidentally hit Judith. We still can’t say much about the details of how that happened with Beth, but to me, this is pretty good evidence that she was shot by accident. There were theories about someone trying to shoot Rick in that hallway, because he was a threat. But for me, especially given that the female officer says, “hold your fire. It was just about her,” it seems clear to me that someone at Grady was trying to take out Dawn. They were aiming for her, but hit Beth instead. 

Again, because of all the Coda parallels here, this is pretty good proof in my mind that that’s what happened in the hallway of Grady. And even that should bring everyone hope because the showrunners are STILL letting us believe Dawn shot her. If Beth wasn’t coming back and none of this was relevant, they would have explained the ending of Coda to us by now. The fact that they haven’t shows that they’re still planning to at some point. 

We even have some of the missing 17 days figured in here. While Daryl is carrying Judith, TF is running around, trying to escape, and ends up surrounded by walkers. Basically the exact thing we think happened with Beth during the missing 17 days, leading to her being left behind. They are even surrounded by chain link fences here, which is very reminiscent of Grady. Grady had the green military tents. Here, we have a different kind of military: the white CW troopers.

So yeah. I’m gonna leave you with that today, but there’s plenty more to say about this episode.

I also want to note that while AK said they would be ending the series very well and tying things up nicely, rather than JUST setting up for the spinoffs, it really isn’t looking that way. I kind of think she was full of it, lol. Maybe they will tie things up nicely the last five minutes of the next episode, but they have a LOT of ground to cover for just one more episode. Lots of action and stuff that still has to happen. So, I’m looking forward to a nice, cliff-hangery set up for the spinoffs.

Also, remember that the final episode won’t be put on the app one week early. So, no one will be seeing it until next Sunday. Can’t wait!

[shimmershae]

Okay. So I did one of these wish lists last season and got gifted way more than I ever could have anticipated so I thought why not do it again?

Shae’s wish list for Season 11.  

Putting it under a cut because it’s long and rambling.  And it will probably be revised and/or added to whenever the mood strikes me.  

Things I want to see in Season 11:  

 The actual episode.  Why the hell does everything have to be so dark in the literal sense?  

Carol and Daryl to have an epic reunion that will totally blow the reunion in the woods outside of Terminus out of the water.  C’mon.  It really feels like the stage is being set for it and you know Angela loves her callbacks.  What better moment to revisit than this one?  The one where we all just knew these two were embarking on something new (only they didn’t, not in the way we’d hoped)?  Like, it’s a seemingly insurmountable task but I know Norman and Melissa have it in them again.  The real question is:  do the writers?  

Judith and RJ bonding with Aunt Carol and her telling them stories of the old days and all the people they didn’t get to meet.  What better way to foster our nostalgia and make us remember why we fell in love with this show and its characters in the first place?  

More Carol and Dog because those scenes in Diverged were the epitome of precious. 

More Princess.  Princess’s “meet and greets” with all our community members, yes.  But Princess’s first meeting and assessment of Carol and Daryl.  Methinks she’d have something mighty interesting and enlightening to say.  

All this angst for Daryl and Carol eventually building to a head and Kang finally delivering on that “heart to heart” she mentioned what feels like a million and one years ago. 

Aaron and Gracie scenes because Aaron is such a good daddy, ya’ll.  

Rosita continuing to have significant screen time and not having to step back into the shadows just because Maggie is back.

Speaking of, I’m glad Maggie is back.  I really am. For the simple fact that Baby Hershel is the cutest alone.  But I’m not happy that everybody so far seems so ready to just defer to her when they’ve been perfectly fine making it without her.  That is not okay and that shit needs to stop soon-ish.   

Hershel making fast friends with Judith and RJ and Gracie and all the Jabila kids.  They’re the next generation, ya’ll.  I just really need this.  

More Jerry and Nabila, please.  Because I have a special soft spot for my Jabila.  

Jerry and Ezekiel scenes.  Because Jerry is Ezekiel’s person and the truest bond he has on the show.  

Kelly and Lydia striking up a friendship because Kelly’s a sweet cinnamon roll and Lydia is in desperate need of friends.  

More scenes of Lydia, period, and not just her seeking out Negan because they both feel like outcasts.  Lydia was raised in Hell.  Negan wreaked Hell.  It’s different and I don’t appreciate the heavy-handedness of Angela trying to make Negan into something he has no right to be.  Leave him at an antihero if you must persist but stop trying to convince us he’s earned his place as a good guy because he hasn’t.  JDM may have risen to the challenge of making him a much more compelling, shades of gray character these past two seasons, but Negan is still the guy that gleefully bashed Glenn’s head in with a barb-wire wrapped baseball bat and if he’s not going to show remorse about it?  The least he can do is show the common sense not to go out of his way to antagonize Maggie.

Kelly reuniting with Connie and Carol getting to have a hand in doing in.  Some acknowledgment from Connie that she chose to go back into the cave with Magna would be nice but ultimately not necessary because I don’t think Connie blames Carol at all.  

Dog surviving the season unscathed and getting all the cuddles he deserves.  

The not-so-rosy truth about Leah being exposed and Daryl making his choice clear once and for all.  Spoiler alert?  Leah doesn’t even rank.  

I’d love the fake dating/fake marriage trope to be trotted out at the good old Commonwealth with Carol and Daryl because I think it would be so much freaking fun and hey. If Kang is going to continue to give us fanfic (unknown child, a la Rick and Michonne), why not try out a true blue?

Some freaking clue as to why/how Rosita and Father Gabe hooked up.  Like I just don’t get it, especially when you consider Siddiq was RIGHT THERE.  The amount of distrust Rosita and the rest of Team Family had in him back in the early days of their arriving in Alexandria.  I just find it hard to wrap my mind around this relationship when it wasn’t even on the radar pre-time jump. 

That said, Father Gabe did have a great scene with Judith in (what was then) the Season Finale where he gave her a message for Rosita and I did find it touching.  So I dunno, ya’ll.  I could be persuaded.  But not all that easily.  

Some resolution to the whole Virgil thing.  Talk about your random characters in the right place at the right/wrong time.  Him promising his wife flowers every day touched me but come the fuck on. 

More Carol and Lydia scenes and more Carol and Kelly scenes because Carol with these young ladies gives me life.  You know what?  Carol getting to interact with and have friendship with any and all of the ladies gives me life and should be a regular thing.  Like TPTB missed the opportunity of a lifetime having Carol and Michonne sharing all kinds of bonding scenes.  It would have been so poignant to watch them relate to each other over their lost children.  

Can we please get some Commonwealth scenes where the kids of Alexandria learn how to be actual kids?  I mean, not that they aren’t already, but I’d love to see them have the chance to be carefree and have fun.  You know, though, that Jude is definitely going to be a tough little nut to crack, and she’s always going to be keeping one eye open for trouble.

Speaking of Commonwealth, I’d love to see all our faves dolled up, lol.  Yes, it’s a rather shallow wish, but can you imagine Carol in a simple but beautiful dress and Daryl utterly tongue-tied to the point that the kids--Lydia, Judith, and RJ--just start giggling uncontrollably and Carol and Daryl both blush?  Because I can and it is glorious.   

Let the villains villain.  Not everyone needs to be redeemed.  Some people are just too far gone.

You know what?  It’s past time to let Carol in particular unpack some of her trauma and cast it aside so she can move on that future Daryl keeps reminding her they have.  She and Daryl are way overdue for a heart to heart where she just opens up a vein and lets it all flow.  It’s the only way she’s going to be able to heal and move on, IMHO.

Some indication that Rick and Michonne and the Grimes babies and the rest of their family (Carol, Daryl, etc.) are going to be reunited. 

The promise of at least a chance of a happy ending for everyone we’ve watched and loved these last 10+ years.  

There’s more.  There’s always more, lol.  But that’s enough for now.  As I think of things I just really, really need to see?  I’ll come back to this list.  Because hey.  Like I said.  I did one of these for Season 10 and I got way more of them than I ever could have anticipated so.        

[walkerwords]

“The Savior Sessions” Part 14 of 33 - Negan x GN!Reader

IMAGE CREDIT: AMC (ALL OFFICIAL DIALOG FROM SERIES IS PROPERTY OF AMC)

SERIES MASTERLIST

Summary: Negan goes home, Jesus is brought home, and a whisperer is taken captive. What happens when Negan starts to see how the world is emptier without the one he cares for and how does the reader react to coming face to face with the daughter of their new enemy?

Word Count: 7103

Warning: Swearing

Song I Wrote To: "Unhinged” by Nick Jonas

Note: As I mentioned before we will be getting two different POVs for the next couple of parts, but they then will interact again soon. we need a look into their heads again and thus, we enter the war. THIS ONE IS SO LONG. We flip flop a bit, but its all for story tellin purposes. 

-------------

Alexandria was a ghost town at night, but Negan moved through it easily. 

The last time he had been out on the vacant streets, you had been by his side. Now, it was just a dark street with closed doors and a feeling that something different was in the air.

As he wandered through Alexandria, his thoughts were on you. What would you think if you saw him right now? He had promised that he was going to be waiting for you, but when the opportunity presented itself, Negan felt a draw to the world beyond his concrete box.

He wondered where you were or if you even made it to Hilltop safely. There was a part of him that wanted to take a detour to where his mind was telling him to go. He figured he could just skim the perimeter of Hilltop to see if you were there. However, from his many moments of overhearing Aaron and Gabriel talk outside his cell, he knew how much security was around Maggie’s former homestead. 

The thought of you had him heading to the Grimes house. He knew that Michonne was gone and that the kids would be with Gabriel. It was lucky that nobody bothered to lock their doors anymore. The people of Alexandria were safe considering the big bad wolf was locked up...until now. And while Negan felt anger towards his jailers, violence was the last thing on his mind. So, instead of burning down walls or taking revenge, he took the time to wander through the house. 

He could see little things here and there that had once been Carl’s, trinkets that were too old to be Judith’s or RJ’s. There wasn’t anything out that was once Rick’s, but Negan figured that Michonne would keep that in her bedroom for just her. 

Negan had no intention of crossing that line. 

Instead, he found himself in the doorway of another bedroom. Hanging on a small hook by the door was a compass. Gently, he picked it up and turned it over in his hands. Etched into the metal were the initials “JG”. He smiled softly at that and then looped the compass around his neck. 

Not trusting that the community was going to stay silent for long and with the sunrise on the horizon, Negan ducked back outside, grabbing some laundry that hung on a line close by. Shoving a cap on his head to hopefully obscure his face from afar, he searched for a way out. 

The sun was just rising over the trees when Negan grabbed a shovel as he headed to a portion of the wall that was behind an empty house. Staring up at the wall, Negan took one more second to think about what he was about to do, but then he remembered your face as you watched him through those infernal bars. With a huff, Negan threw the shovel over the wall and then began to climb.

“I thought you were smarter than this,” a small voice came from below him. Negan froze and then slowly turned to see a pajama-clad Judith Grimes. In her hands was her daddy’s gun and it was aimed right at Negan. “I guess not.” 

“You’re not gonna shoot me, kid,” Negan said, looking down at her. 

“I will, I’ll do it,” Judith said but Negan could see her arms shaking from trying to hold up the colt python. 

“I'm not going back. So you just pull that trigger if that's what you're gonna do, little lady. How 'bout this? How 'bout I go my way, you go yours, and we never see each other again?”

“How about you come down and I don’t put a bullet in you?” Judith offered and it was quick, but Negan saw so much of Carl in her then.

“You know, when your mom and dad... when they locked me up, they told me I was gonna be good for something, that I would help people see that things could change,” Negan said.

“Haven’t you done that?” Judith asked.

“Sure, but all the good shit happened to everyone else. I’m just rottin’ away in that box and I don’t think I can do it anymore.”

“What about (Y/N)?” Judith asked. Negan sighed, expecting this. 

“What about them?”

“They’re gonna come back and find you gone. Don’t you think they deserve better than that?” she asked with a frown. 

“They deserve better than me,” Negan said. 

“I don’t think that’s up to you,” Judith said. 

“Judith…” Negan began, but she wasn’t done. 

“No! I heard what you said to them. You promised to be here when they got back.”

“People break promises all the time.”

“Not to people they care about,” she argued. Negan knew she was right, but he had made up his mind. 

“I can’t be locked up anymore, kid. Who knows, maybe I’ll see them again someday but it will be on my terms, not your mom’s.” Judith frowned but then dropped the gun, letting it hang by her side. “You're not letting me go. You're just not seeing me leave,” he tried to reason. 

“You know, there's nothing out there for you. For anyone,” Judith said. 

“You know me better than anyone's known me in a very long time. So... I promise... I promise you that I'm not gonna hurt anyone. Even if they try to hurt me, I promise you, I won't hurt them. But... I gotta go, kid. I have to figure some stuff out.” 

“What do I tell (Y/N)?” she asked and Negan’s heart sank. 

“Nothing,” he said. 

“That’s not fair,” Judith whispered.

“I know,” Negan said and they looked at each other for a moment before she took a few steps back and she nodded. “Thanks, kid.” Negan began to climb again when Judith finally noticed the compass. 

“Hey, were you in my room?” she asked.

“You want it back?” Negan asked her, holding out the trinket. Judith shook her head after thinking about it. 

“Keep it. It'll help you find your way,” she said and then raised her gun again. “But if I see you again, I'll shoot.” Negan grinned at her as he continued to climb. 

“Yeah, I would.”

--------

The road beneath your feet felt wrong.

Everything around you felt wrong and every little sound had you jumping. You were all still shaken about what had happened in the graveyard and you could still hear that horrific whispering. It was like someone had dragged ice up your spine and you couldn’t get warm again.

As you made the trek back to the horses, Aaron and Daryl carried Jesus’ body as you helped Michonne with Eugene. Magna and Yumiko were ahead with their weapons drawn keeping an eye out for any more of the freaks with the masks.

The thunderstorm had been hard enough and then hearing Aaron scream after Jesus had been killed was even worse. It still rolled through your head alongside the whispering.

“What are we supposed to do?” you asked Michonne.

“Keep moving, get back to the horses, and get back to Hilltop,” she assured you.

“Who the hell would do this?” you asked.

“Someone who ain’t right,” Daryl said from behind you.

“You think there’s more?” Yumiko asked, her bow held out in front of her as she surveyed the area.

“Yeah, I do,” Daryl said as he readjusted Jesus’ body.

“Just keep movin’,” Michonne reminded everyone and you plowed on ahead, helping Eugene keep off his knee. It was swelling up even more and he needed to get to Siddiq. It took a bit longer to reach the horses, but eventually, Magna and Yumiko were taking the fence down and helping you to get Eugene up on the saddle.

Aaron and Daryl laid Jesus over one of the other horses while Yumiko and Magna rode the other. You, Michonne, Daryl, and Aaron walked alongside the animals, keeping your eyes on the woods as you did. Everyone was nervous and everyone was on edge. Daryl kept a bolt loaded in his bow and you kept noticing Michonne reaching back to touch her katana. Your own weapons had been lost in the fight, but you now had a new one that rested on your hip.

It was Jesus’ sword.

After you managed to get Jesus’ body off the ground, Aaron had picked up his blade as you all began to run from the cemetery. When you were finally clear, Aaron had passed you the sword without a word.

You had been hesitant to take the blade at first. Not because of whose it was, but because you figured Aaron would be the one to keep it. However, there was a look in his eyes that said more than anything he could put into words. And so, you carefully unbuckled the scabbard from Jesus’ belt and slung it on your own, sheathing the blade.

It swung on your hip now, your hand occasionally brushing against the pommel. Thinking back to the conversation you had with Judith about wanting a blade of your own now made your stomach turn. This was not the way you wanted to gain a new weapon. It felt both alien and right to carry Paul’s sword. 

You were now determined to use it to take down as many of the murderers in masks as you possibly could. Whether they knew it or not, they had just declared war.

As Michonne spoke to Aaron behind you, Daryl caught up to you, matching your stride. He reached out and placed his hand on your shoulder. You reached up and held onto it, letting him ground you.

“It’s good we’re bringin’ him back,” Daryl said.

“I know,” you said with a nod.

“I know ya don’t like small talk,” he said.

“You’re right, I don’t,” you agreed, keeping your eyes forward.

“But, I’m worried about ya,” he admitted.

“I’m alright, Daryl,” you said. “Though, I think that may be the shock.”

“He didn’t deserve to go out like that. Not Jesus,” Daryl said and you knew he was hurting. Jesus and Daryl had an unspoken bond. Both were warriors who cared for the people they protected and they had become quite close. Dixon wasn’t one to be open with his emotions, but you could tell that he was in pain.

“I feel too exposed out here,” you admitted.

“Ya wanna go home?” Daryl asked, but you shook your head.

“No, not yet. I mean, yeah, I do want to get home, but this is more important.” Daryl was watching you and he could see something else was bothering you.

“What have I missed back in Alexandria?” he asked suddenly. “Somethin’ is different with ya. What’s goin’ on?”

“Not now, okay, D? Not now,” you pleaded.

“I don’t want us keepin’ secrets,” Daryl said and you nodded.

“It’s not a secret, I just don’t have the energy to explain.”

“Long story?” he asked.

“Somethin’ like that,” you agreed and he turned his eyes back onto the road, accepting your answer. It was only a few minutes later that Daryl spoke up again.

“I’m gonna try to convince Tara to let them stay,” Daryl said and you knew who he was talking about. You glanced up at Yumiko and Magna with gratitude. While you all had lost Jesus, without them and without Michonne, you could have lost everyone. You could have died too and all you could think about was what would happen to Negan.

It felt wrong to be thinking about him at that moment. Your best friend was gone, but all you wanted was Negan’s strong arms and the comforting sound of his voice. You needed your person and it made you feel a bit sick to think about him that way while walking beside someone who loathed him.

Negan’s hazel eyes lit up your mind like beacons of hope and you were willing to drown in them even if it meant losing the people closest to you. It was selfish and a bit insane, but nobody’s touch would offer you more comfort at that moment more than Negan’s.

When Michonne sped up to walk alongside Daryl, you fell back to walk with the horse that Jesus’ body was laid across. Aaron walked on the other side, keeping his eyes forward.

Michonne and Daryl were speaking about Rick and the sound of his name sent a jolt into your chest. You couldn’t help but wonder what he would do in your current situation. You also wondered what he would do about Negan in general. Would he have let him out of the cage more than the others? Or would he just leave him to rot like the others?

While you were all feeling the loss, Eugene was feeling a more complicated emotion.

Guilt.

“I’m sorry that we had to be in that graveyard,” Eugene said from atop his horse. “If I had just crawled out of that damn barn and went to find you—”

“Eugene, don’t,” you said, interrupting him. “This was not your fault. The only people we need to be blaming are those psychopaths in the damn masks. They killed Jesus, not you. Who knows who they are. They could have been watching us for weeks and we wouldn’t have known. Do not put this on yourself,” you said and then reached for his hand. Eugene reached down and held onto it tightly, tears pricking at his eyes.

Squeezing his hand tight, you tried to reassure him that you were there for him and that he was not alone in any of this. If anyone should feel guilty it was you. You had turned your back on Paul, had let him go and fight the Walkers alone. However, you were trying to remind yourself that the situation was one that nobody could have predicted. Still, it felt as if there was ice in your heart.

Suddenly, Dog became alert. His bark echoed around you and Daryl immediately raised his bow as Michonne pulled her sword. Your hand rested on the foreign weapon on your hip as you caught the motion that Dog had picked up.

Walkers were moving through the trees, but you weren’t so sure they were alone this time. “Is that the living kind or original recipe?” Eugene asked and if it was any other time you may have laughed. However, now, you were silent.

“Let’s find out,” Daryl said and then motioned for you and Michonne to move. You followed your leader, drawing your blade. The small herd was moving across a bridge. Yumiko and Magna secured the mounts while Daryl positioned himself at the end of the bridge, his crossbow raised.

You remained on the other side, Michonne adjacent to you as the others remained hidden too. As the Dead stumbled towards Daryl, he aimed and fired a bolt at one of their legs. When they kept walking, he reloaded and tried again. The second bolt found its target and a shout of pain lit up the bridge.

The masked man went down clutching his leg and the Walkers fell upon him, biting into his fresh, and very much alive flesh. While the Walkers converged, two more individuals in masks turned their attention to the other end of the bridge. One pulled a blade, but they didn’t get very far as an arrow cut through the air and embedded itself in the assailant's forehead.

You turned to see Yumiko standing there with her bow raised and a murderous look in her eye. When the last mask went to go for her, you and Michonne moved at the same time. You both raised your swords, crossing them into an “X” to block her escape. When the killer drew their weapon, Daryl moved in.

“Drop it!” He yelled. The other hesitated for a second before throwing the knife down and getting on their knees, raising their hands. Yumiko and Magna moved to take out the rest of the Walkers while you, Daryl, and Michonne approached the shaking figure on the ground.

Daryl didn’t hesitate to reach for the back of their head and pull the disgusting mask from their head. When their face was revealed, you took a step back.

It was just a kid, a teenage girl.

“Please, please don’t kill me,” the girl said as she looked up at Daryl with terrified eyes. She was filthy and looked as if she had been walking the Earth with the Dead for years. It was unnerving. Even more so, she couldn’t have been that much older than Carol’s son, perhaps even the same age. 

“How many?” Daryl spat.

“Please... you killed them all. It's just me now,” she said, her eyes narrowing in on Daryl’s weapon. Michonne surged forward then and placed her sword against the girl’s throat. 

“I don’t believe you!” Michonne shot, but you knocked the sword back. Michonne looked at you in shock. 

“She’s a fucking kid, Michonne,” you said.

“She’s also a killer, (Y/N),” Michonne argued, pointing her sword back at the kid. Behind you, more Walkers began to approach from the East and it would soon be too much to handle and keep the horses safe. Not to mention keeping an eye on the scared teenager at your feet. Daryl then made the call. 

“We ain’t got time for this, we’re takin’ her with us,” Daryl said as he roughly grabbed the kid’s arm and hauled her to her feet. Michonne shot you a look as she followed after. 

“Shit,” you muttered under your breath, knowing you were never going to hear the end of it. 

--------- 

Negan stood in a clearing, the grass at his feet dead from years of heat and the Dead trampling it. 

He knew where he was, he knew the second he turned off the main road. Years before he would have thought about this particular spot with a smug smile. Now, all he wanted to do was be sick.

And so he did. 

The air felt too hot and every image and sound from that bloody night had come back. He knew their names now. Glenn Rhee and Abraham Ford. Gabriel had made sure that he knew who they were when he first visited him in the cell. From faceless corpses to actual people, Glenn and Abraham haunted him and he took every abusive shriek from the other side as he soaked in his guilt.

You had been in the clearing that night. Though you had barely been conscious since Dwight had given you quite the beating when you tried to stop him from hurting Daryl. Not long ago, you admitted that you barely remembered him talking to everyone in the lineup. You remembered Glenn and Abraham dying and the screams of your family, but not much else. He didn’t know if he was grateful for that or not. 

Perhaps if you could remember everything from that night, then you wouldn’t be wasting your time with him now. It was always so odd for you to talk to him as if the first time you had truly noticed each other was when you first visited his cell. The truth was, he had noticed you that night in the very clearing he was kneeling in. 

He didn’t know what it was that made him look at you twice, but there was a resolve in your eyes even as they glassed over. He could tell that somewhere behind the disorientation and fury was someone who would be the last one standing.

He still believed that. Though, he didn’t think you would be much of a survivor with a failed Savior by your side. At least, not until he knew who he had become and the best way he knew how to figure that out was a test and the new world was the biggest one there was.

-------

Returning to Hilltop was not the celebration you had anticipated when you had set out. 

What started as a rescue mission turned into a funeral procession and as the large gates opened, silence filled the air as you walked with Daryl and the others. Tara and Enid were coming out of Barrington when Enid gasped as she finally saw what and who was on the back of the horse Aaron led. 

Stopping right before the Colonial house, Aaron approached Enid who ran to hug him, burying her face into his chest. He was shaking as he held her. Tara stepped towards Jesus’ body and placed her hand on his back, dipping her head in sorrow. 

You took a step back, not wanting to intrude on the moment. You also made sure Paul’s sword was out of sight. It felt wrong to bring it into Hilltop when it was separated from its owner.

Former owner. 

Instead, you focused on the other task at hand. Daryl hauled the girl off the horse, the blindfold he had put on still tightly in place. She stumbled on the ground as he righted her and began dragging her towards the cellar that you knew led to Hilltop’s jail cells. You followed closely by, ignoring the people’s calls for answers. Daryl yelled back a few but kept walking. 

He yanked open the cellar doors and shoved her down the steps. You followed him and Michonne, your hand now resting on your weapon. You could hear Tara speaking to Tammy above ground, but you ignored her. 

“Daryl?” a voice came and you recognized it immediately. When Henry saw you, his eyes were filled with worry. “(Y/N)? What’s going on?” 

“Jesus is dead,” you told him as Daryl tossed the girl into a cage on the other side of the cellar. 

“What?” Henry asked. You didn’t have the energy to respond to the kid as you slipped away towards Daryl and Michonne. You didn’t even want to ask why the kid was down in the cells in the first place. 

Daryl was glaring down at the kid as she stared up at him with those same terrified eyes. 

“No more bullshit,” he sneered. “Yer gonna talk or I’ll finish what she started,” he said pointing to Michonne. The girl met your eyes through the bars, but you just faded back into the shadows and watched. 

---------

Negan didn’t remember the world feeling this empty. 

Then again, anytime he was out in it, he had an army at his back. Now, he only had himself. He could practically hear your voice in his head saying something like, “Come on, now you’re just bein’ dramatic.” 

That thought comforted him as he came across a building that seemed to be Walker-free. With a quick shove, he broke in through the front door and began making his way through the shop. Immediately, he clocked it as too small and that you would hate it. You had only briefly mentioned your fear of small spaces, but it was one of the small details that he had never forgotten. 

When he spotted a leather jacket, a laugh flew from his throat, and with a smile, he slid it across his shoulders. “Damn Teach, would you look at that? Fits like a glove,” He said quietly. Shaking off the thoughts that were threatening to overwhelm him, he moved further into the shop. 

When a gnarled hand grabbed at his ankle, Negan swore in surprise but brought his boot down on the Walker’s head before it could take a bite out of his leg. Then, of course, because his luck was turning for the worse, the storage room door broke open and more Walkers flooded into the small aisles.

Negan ran for the back door and slammed his body into it. Scrambling to get back outside, he wrenched the door open and shoved it behind him just as the Walkers reached for him. “Jesus Christ,” he swore, and then finally, he got it to shut. 

Negan glared at the door as he tried to catch his breath. He hadn’t had to fight Walkers for over six years and he had almost forgotten how it felt to go up against the things. He thought back to the night when the wall had come down and he had seen you fight with your blades. You had been a powerhouse and one that he had no intention of ever going up against. He definitely understood then why you were one of Alexandria’s main protectors. 

Letting that image wash over him, he finally turned his face towards the direction he was always heading.

He was going home.

----------

The girl was still begging, but Daryl wasn’t having it. 

“How many more?” he asked for the third time. 

“They're all dead,” the girl said as tears streamed down her face. “My family's dead. Please just stop.” The begging was starting to get to you, but you couldn’t bring yourself to ask Daryl to stop. You knew that you needed answers. However, no matter how angry you were, you hated seeing a kid in a cage. Just another thing you had in common with Negan.

“Not until ya start answering our questions. Your name. Start with your name.”

“I told you, I don't have one. None of us do. None of us did. That's not how it worked,” she said, trying to make him understand. 

“How did it work? Why do you wear their skins?” you asked, finally stepping out of the shadows. “What’s the point?”

“It's what we did to live. That's... That's all we wanted to do. Live,” she said, but you still couldn’t understand why. Since the start of the Apocalpyse, there was only one constant rule and that was to stay away from the Walkers. How these...people could willingly surround themselves with them is something you couldn’t comprehend.

“You're saying you had to do this?” Michonne shot back. 

“You wouldn't understand,” the girl whimpered. 

“Then make us understand. What the hell were you doing?” Michonne tried again.

“We... We were just trying to see if they were good people, too. But then you attacked us, and now they're dead. They're all dead. And I don't have anything!”

“What did your people know about us? Do they know about this place?” Michonne asked, glaring down at the girl.

“I don't know. I don't know anything. They didn't tell me anything!” she yelled as the sobs continued. “Please stop asking me. Just leave me alone, please. Please just leave me alone,” she begged and Daryl threw his hands up in exasperation. 

As Michonne and Daryl slammed the cage door behind them, he looked at you and you knew what he was asking. You nodded and leaned back against the wall to watch over the girl as Daryl led Michonne outside to speak to her.

After a moment of hearing the soft cries of the girl across from you, you finally stepped forward. She backed away as you approached her. Resting your arms on the bars, you stared down at her calmly. You were well-versed in speaking to someone from the other side of a cell, but this was not Negan and you were not in the mood to play games. 

“I don’t care about your name,” you began. “That not what’s important right now. To be honest with you, I am struggling with not breaking this door open and strangling you.” She gulped at that. “However, I am not someone who kills kids. Though, I can’t say the same for my friends that just left. You see, kid, we are incredibly protective over our people and we don’t let monsters hurt them.” 

“I didn’t—”

“I’m not done,” you stopped her. “I know all about monsters. I know how they think, how they act, and I know how to make them talk.” She was staring up at you with wide eyes and you could feel the fear that was radiating off of her. 

“(Y/N)…” Henry interjected. 

“Shut up, Henry!” you shot back, turning your glare on him as he sunk back into his cell. 

“I never wanted to hurt anyone! You attacked us!”

“We were killing Walkers!” you shouted back. “And in case you damn well forgot, you were the ones hunting us.” 

“This is just how the world works now,” she whispered. 

“I know damn well how the world works. You’re a child, you may be a part of some kind of cult or whatever the hell you wanna call your family, but you are still. A. Child. We’ve all seen the way this world is, we’ve fought for our lives here, won wars, and lost friends. Now, I got someone waitin’ for me and I ain’t about to waste my time on you and your bullshit. I stand by my code that I don’t want to kill you, but make no mistake, if I don’t start gettin’ some damn answers, I will keep your ass down here. Even if that means you never see daylight again.”

--------

“Home, sweet home,” Negan said as he looked up at the factory that was once his kingdom. 

A pipe was resting on his shoulder as he smiled up at the building, feeling a shred of his former self trying to breakthrough. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine that there were people on the other side of those walls waiting to welcome him home. 

However, he knew the truth. The Saviors were gone, his kingdom had fallen, and all he was now was a washed-up leader with a rusty pipe. From the corner of his eye, he could see a few Walkers staggering towards him. With a wide smile, he swung the pipe and cracked the first skull. Dark blood sprayed as the creature hit the ground and then, he was fired up. 

As more and more of the Dead converged on him, he got back into the rhythm that he thought he had lost. It was exhilarating to just let go and take out all his frustration on the Dead. He had been feeling quite overwhelmed and angry the past few months, more so than usual and he had been so afraid that he would lash out at you and scare you off. 

By the time he was out of breath and thoroughly proud of himself, Negan strutted towards the front doors. However what he was met with was not a shrine to his empire, but a sunken graveyard of failure. 

The entirety of the factory floor was flooded and if he hadn’t known the building like the back of his hand, he wouldn’t have thought this was the same place he had stood above proudly seven years before. Negan leaned against the railing, hanging his head.

None of it was right. 

He could see bodies of fallen Walkers submerged in the corner, old equipment from before used to barricade doors, and even evidence that multiple fights had broken out. Negan wasn’t fully aware of what became the Sanctuary during the year after the war. Laura had told him once that Daryl was overseeing it but that he was rarely there and when he was, he always wanted to leave. 

Negan didn’t blame him. Daryl had been through hell and back at the Sanctuary. Another thing he wasn’t all that proud of. Truth was, Negan liked Daryl, he even respected him, but back then, he liked power even more. Just thinking about the kneeling and the killing now made Negan ashamed. 

Not all of it, but most of it. He never felt guilty for what he did to the Monroe boy. Even you had agreed that Spencer had deserved it and nobody missed him all that much. He probably didn’t deserve a full evisceration, but he never felt bad about killing him. Then there were the moments that he killed to protect his people, the incidents that happened before he met Rick. 

However, then there were the moments that he had learned about after the war. The killing of the child at Hilltop, the massacre at Oceanside, and of course, the slaughter of Jadis’ people at the dump. Simon had been very busy. Negan thought his Second was simply spreading fear, but he had never known just how blood-soaked his name had become. 

“I am Negan” was now sounding more like a curse than a mantra. 

As Negan walked through the ruins of his former home, he was met with a loud bang as a Walker threw itself at one of the doors. Negan recognized them immediately. "Big Richie, is that you? Look at you. Loyal to the end,” Negan said as he looked at the Dead man. 

He moved on, heading out onto the main floor where he felt the true loss of everything. Most importantly, though, he was missing you. He didn’t know if you were home yet or if Judith had told anyone what happened. 

If he was being honest with himself and he always was, he didn’t care about a cage or a warden in the form of Father Gabriel. He just wanted you. Leaving Alexandria, breaking his promise, all of it was a mistake and he now hated himself for it.

His hand found the compass around his neck and he flipped it over, rubbing his hands over the initials carved into the back. He sighed, closing his eyes as he thought about the last thing he had said to you. 

“I’ll be waiting,” he whispered to himself. That was what he said to you and you had believed him. “Fuck,” he swore as took a last look at the fallen kingdom. He had made up his mind and there was no going back this time. 

He didn’t care about Michonne or Daryl or even if Rosita wanted to skill him alive. He only cared about you and that alone had him walking from the Sanctuary and turning his back on his old life in favor of the new one he wanted to build with you. 

As he spotted a motorcycle, a realization hit him like a truck. He smiled and the rusty pipe in his hand fell from his grip, the sound echoing around the yard like the final ring of a church bell on Sunday.

“I’m comin’ home, (Y/N).”

-------

Michonne was leaving. 

You knew that she had too. It was too dangerous for people back home in Alexandria to not know what was going on. However, you had decided to stay just a bit longer. “Are you sure?” she asked you as you walked through Hilltop.

“I need to be here to get answers and I don’t know, try to get Daryl to keep his head on straight,” you said. 

“What about Negan?” Michonne asked and for the first time, her tone wasn’t that hostile when speaking his name.

“He knew I was coming out here. I’ll see him when I see him.”

“Should I tell him what’s going on?” Michonne asked. You thought about it for a moment before nodding. 

“Probably for the best. He’s gonna hear people talking about it anyway. Hell, maybe he’s heard about these freaks before. I know he traveled for a bit before settling at the Sanctuary.” Michonne nodded. 

“I’ll ask him,” she said. 

“Something isn’t adding up with this girl,” you admitted. 

“What are you thinking?” 

“This kind of pack mentality, the no-names, the vicious nature of these people,” you said, trying to wrap your mind around it all. “I don’t think she’s telling us the truth when she said we killed them all. If my instincts are right, there is a whole herd of masks out there. They may have been out there for a while too.” 

“This is not good,” Michonne said, rubbing at her brow, 

“I’m going to get the answers I need and then I’ll come home and tell you what I think,” you said. 

“Alright, I think that’s the best idea.”

“Go, Michonne, get back to your kids,” you said and she smiled softly, reaching out to give you a hug before going over to Daryl to tell him the same thing. Your eyes scanned the community around you and you were starting to get nervous. 

Tara had told you that Alden and Luke had gone out to look for you and they hadn’t returned.  There were thoughts that were nagging at you that said that they were in trouble and you couldn’t shake them. Alden was a good friend and he was special to Enid. You couldn’t handle losing him so soon after Jesus. And Luke was important to Yumiko and Magna, two people who you now trusted with your life. 

When Jesus was finally buried, you stood at the back, gripping his weapon. Aaron stood next to you, his hand wrapped around your shoulder as you watched the man you both cared for be placed in the ground. It was a silent ceremony and as the grave was filled in, Enid was nowhere to be found. But you knew where she was, she was with Glenn. 

Enid always went to his grave when someone had died and you were probably the only one who knew that besides Alden. You didn’t mention it as Aaron hugged you goodbye and followed the rest of Alexandrians from Hilltop with Michonne leading them home. 

Instead of participating in the moment of silence with the rest of Hilltop, you headed back down to the cell. Daryl found you down there a few moments later and didn’t say anything. The girl had cowered at your presence when you had entered, but now just watched you with open curiosity.

Daryl was pissed when he barged in, heading straight for her. You didn’t try to stop him. 

“Who are you?” Daryl barked. “Answer the question. You wanna die? Is that it?” he bellowed, but Henry wasn’t having it either. 

“Daryl, what's your problem?” Henry said. 

 “Quiet!” you yelled at the kid and he just slammed his hands against the bars. 

“Do you?” Daryl repeated. “People up there just buried a good man. And they are ready to string you up right now. All I got to do is drag your ass up them steps. How many in your group?” 

“I already told you…” she said but Daryl ripped open the door and grabbed her, throwing her against the bars. 

“How many?” he yelled.

“I don’t know, ten maybe? We wore skins to blend in. We didn't have names. I mean... I mean, we did, but we didn't use them!” 

“How long you been out around here?”

“I don't know. We moved around with the... with the Dead. I mean, the skins made them leave us alone. They protected us, so we protected them.”

“You got a camp? Walls?” you asked.

“Walls don't keep you safe. Places like this don't make it. They never make it. That's how it is. My mom and me, we saw it happen over and over. I... I barely remember the world before all this. But my mom, she told me how it was changing, how we had to change with it, how we needed the dead and each other to keep safe. We're never alone.”

“Why'd your people kill our people?” Daryl asked. 

“It's just what we do. Everybody still alive is a threat. It's us or them.”

“How many people in your group and don't lie to me!”

“My mom! It's just my mom,” she said. 

“You said your people were never alone,” you said, narrowing your eyes.  The girl’s eyes widened as she was caught in a lie and then Daryl was grabbing her and trying to drag her from the cell. 

“No! No, I told you the truth!”

“I told you what was gonna happen!” Daryl yelled back

“Daryl!” Henry shouted. 

“Shut up!” Daryl snapped at him.

“Please! Let go of me!” the girl begged.

“Daryl, stop!” Henry begged again and you were ready to ship his ass back to the Kingdom right then. 

“Please, Daryl, please don't kill me, please,” the girl said, and at the sound of his name falling from her lips, he pushed her back into the cell and slammed the door. As Daryl went to yell at Henry, you couldn’t hear anymore. You climbed back to the surface and tried to calm down.��

Daryl wasn’t far behind you. “I don’t believe her,” you said. “What happened with the herd and the graveyard, it was too coordinated.”

“I know,” Daryl said. “Come here.” He led you over to the window that led into the cell where the girl was and he sat down. You joined him and then, you listened. 

“Thank you,” the girl said. 

“What?” Henry responded. 

“For saving me, thank you.” 

“You’re welcome,” he said and then, “I'm Henry.” It was quiet for a moment before she finally responded.

“I'm Lydia.”

-------

Negan had seen a lot of weird shit in his life, but seeing little Judith Grimes in the middle of the road pointing a gun at him took the cake. 

“Shit!” Negan swore as Judith fired at the bike he rode. He skidded on the road, the bike going into a ditch as he flew off it, landing on his back. Judith ran after him.

“I told you I was gonna shoot you,” Judith said, aiming her weapon on him again. 

“Yeah, you did,” Negan sighed, getting to his feet as he brushed off the dirt from his pants. 

“Why’d you come back?” Judith asked. 

“Because I should have listened to you,” Negan admitted. “There wasn’t anythin’ out there for me.” Judith narrowed her eyes but then shook her head.

“That’s not the full reason,” Judith argued and Negan sighed, crossing his arms. “Tell why you really came back.”

“Judith…” Negan said. 

“Negan,” she shot back and he knew that she wasn’t going to let him move without an answer. Instead of brushing off the girl’s question, Negan knelt down to her level, keeping his eyes on hers. Whatever she saw in his eyes had her dropping the colt and moving closer to him. 

“I don’t care about being locked in a cell if it means that I’m near them,” Negan admitted. “If I can spend only an hour a day with them, it’s worth it because dammit kid, you were always right.” 

“About what?” she asked

Negan reached out and adjusted the brim on her hat as he smiled gently at her. He took a deep breath and then with an open heart said, “I’m in love with (Y/N).”

-------

As tensions rose, somewhere not too far from Hilltop, Alden and Luke were met with the barrel of a shotgun. 

TAGS:  : amaroho  @thanossexual @yes-sir-hotchner @boom-bunny @delusionalteenagewhispers @scootankle @ritajammer21​ @writteriguess @tea-atfive @jennydehavilland​ @halszka-potter​ @yespleasejayhalstead​ @fmunegan @hoemadegrace  @pulplorrd​ @writingdead0829​ @lucillethings

[caraleedixon]

There's no going back

Five years

Five years since Rick Grimes had gone MIA

Four and a half years since the Dixon Twins were born

Five Years since Carl and Cara had become head of the Tribunal of Alexandria

Five years and 9 months since Michonne had had Cara's, Carl's and Judith's baby brother Richard Grimes Junior aka RJ.

Cara sat down in the church, she had just dropped the twins off at school, and she knew she had a Town Meeting. "Sorry I'm late guys, DJ didn't want me to leave." She said chuckling, looking over at Michonne and then gasping as she saw Maggie. "Oh my god! Mags!" She yelled as she got up and ran to hug her best friend's wife. "How's Hershel? How's everything? How have you been?" She asked, Maggie chuckled and hugged her back tightly.

Maggie smiled as she pulled away from her best friend to look at her. "I'm great, I'm so sorry I wasn't here when the twins were born but of course I'd like to meet them after the meeting" She said, "As long as it doesn't run too late... Hershel is with Jesus and the kid doesn't like being away from me for too long.." She said, Cara beamed.

"Just like his Daddy" She said, smiling sadly. "Anyway.. lets get this over with so you can meet the Twins."

~~~~~~Later that night~~~~~~

SDaryl smiled softly as Cara walked into the bedroom that night after putting the twins to bed. Dog was getting loves that he only got when it was only Daryl and Cara. The K9 looked over at Cara as she shut the door. Cara bounced onto the bed next to Daryl and Dog as she kissed Daryl's chest.

"Hey Redneck" She said as she slipped under the covers and cuddled closer to her man. "How was your day beyond the walls?" She asked gently as Dog licked her face a couple times making the girl giggle.

"Our day was alright, We got some squirrels and two deer... didn't we Dog?" He said as Dog barked in confirmation. "And how was your day, my Sunshine?" He asked gently, wrapping one arm around her as he pulled her closer. Cara looked up at him before kissing his jaw.

"I got to see Maggie today, and I saw little Hershel... though he's not so little anymore" She said chuckling. "And the twins got to meet their Aunt Maggie" She said smiling. Daryl smiled happily. "And I got to hang out with Mags this afternoon." She said as Daryl smiled.

"I'm glad, Finally they got to meet Maggie I've missed her" He said gently, "Will she be staying long?" He asked, "I'd like to see her tomorrow if I can."

"Ya, She'll be staying two weeks" Cara said as she yawned, "Do you mind if I sleep in tomorrow? I'm exhausted" She asked sleepily as she shut her eyes.

"No problem at all Sunshine... Get some sleep" He said, kissing her head gently. "Dog, go get the light for mommy" He said, Dog jumped off the bed and turned off the light as the Dixon Family slept.

@stellacarlinlitchfield-blog @brinalynn

[lola-andheruniverse]

Although we still have two months to wait until season 11 premieres, I'm already seeing people posting their death predictions and I can't stand it because I just don't want anyone else to die.

I love TWD since 2011 and I'm sad it's ending, even with my brain saying it's about time. Of course I'll never cease to be excited about our Caryl spin off and our sweet idiots getting their happy ending, but, you know, I want ALL of the characters to have happy endings as well.

After so much suffering and loss, I want TWD to end with a big bomb of cliches and weddings and babies all over the place.

Give me the last scene of the comics with adult Carl Judith and adult Hershel Jr walking around Alexandria. But make them a couple, holding hands. Make Judith the youngest member of the council, and Hershel leader of the scavenging team. Give us Judith getting out of the council room after a meeting, talking to an older Gabriel and an older Aaron. It's spring and the Alexandria gardens are blooming and little kids are running around because it's late afternoon and they just got out of school and are looking for their parents.

On their way they cross paths with Rosita, middle-age goddess, and a teenager Coco asking to go to a party, while another smaller girls runs to Gabriel open arms. Rosita looks to Judith and tells her that Hershel just got back from his two week scavenging trip and she excuses herself to go meet him.

They smile and hug and kiss like the young married couple they are, and Hershel says that his mother sent her love to them all. Maggie is planning to visit next week, and they both know that means at least a few months because she's a workaholic. And they laugh because that is a recurring joke on their family.

And while they are walking hand to hand and talking, going to their home, one of the kids from World Beyond (don't remember their names), also all grown up, screams to Hershel that, hey boss, he already called the CRM and talked to Eugene letting them know their trip was a success.

They pass Dwight and Sherry with a ten year old kid by their side, and wave hello to Negan who is on the other side of the street talking to Lydia, just to ease some of the tension that still feels the air so many years later.

The camera loses them for a minute so we can see Negan is saying goodbye to Lydia and heading to the gate and his cabin, with a basket full of supplies. And with the camera we get a 360° look on the community. Look, there's Kelly and Alycia talking on a bench, Magna is shifting guards with Connie, and they are so excited that Luke's babe just got delivered! And Lydia sits on a picnic blanket where a unknown young men and a two year old babe are playing. She looks with nostalgia to Morgan and Jerry who are training the older kids with spears, and Grace is assisting them. Jerry is happy because Ezekiel finally remarried and is coming to Alexandria so they can meet his new wife on a few weeks.

The camera shows us the old and new buildings of Alexandria, people we don't know and people we love, until stops again on Judith and Hershel while they are passing Rick's statue. Hershel asks what is for dinner and Judith says she has no idea because they are going to eat at their parents house.

And them she yells 'Hi, daddy! Look who is back!" to a figure in the nearest house. And yes, it's Rick! He is sitting on the porch, looking older and a little tired but happy, a big smile on his white-bearded face. Michonne is just around the corner with a RJ as a young man, carrying her bags from the market, and she smiles when she sees her daughter and her son-in-law.

When the four of them reach the front of the Grimes house, Rick says "Welcome home, Hershel! But you are not the guest of honour tonight!". And through the door come out Daryl and Carol. Judith screams "oh my God, when did you two arrived? No one told me anything!" And Daryl "Surprise, little asskicker. We got here a few hours ago but you were on your very important council meeting." Between hugs and hellos, Carol says to Michonne that she already started her famous casserole to her friend delight, and we can see that Lydia is also coming to the house with her baby and her husband. Rick says to everyone to come in and help him arrange more sits on the table because they sent word to Aaron, Gabriel, Morgan and everyone from the "old gang" to join them for dinner. RJ suggests to put a few tables on the backyard since the "old gang" (air quotes because RJ is a dark humor savage like his mother) actually means almost every Alexandria resident. Poor Carol will need lots of helping hands to feed the entire city.

Everyone laughs and go help, camera zooms out the Grimes porch up to the sky so we can see small groups of people heading there, and the other houses, and also how big and full Alexandria became. And then THE END. ✨

[justjessame]

The Deal Chapter 63

Jocelyn, Michonne’s friend, has a group with many kids. It seems odd to me, so many children, without as many adults, but who am I to judge? I see their eyes land on my bump, Michonne’s bump, and Daryl’s protective nature. I feel the cold chill I normally get when someone I love is in danger, but they all seem so normal. Survivors, by nature, are watchful. It’s what keeps them alive. At least that’s what I tell myself over and over.

Judith and our other young ones, kids I’ve helped teach and read to, have a bonfire and sleepover with the newcomers. Innocent, or so it seems. Why then, as Daryl sleeps comfortably next to me, can’t I let the chill be overcome by his warm? Why can’t I fall off to sleep too?

I tell myself, as I creep down the hallway and out the front door, that I’m only going to make sure that Judith has fallen asleep in the company of these strangers. It’s when I’m getting closer that I feel a sharp pain in my head and then darkness takes me under.

When I come to, I’m in the infirmary. The pain is terrible. From my head down to my toes and I can’t seem to move. What the literal fuck? And then I realize that I feel no movement from my baby. Nothing. Usually when I first wake up, or when I’m coming awake, the baby is so active that I feel like I’m going to pee myself. Nothing. And I remember going to check on Judith and the world spins and I feel like I’m going to throw up.

“Hey,” I guess I moved, flinched or groaned. It’s Michonne, and she’s holding tight to my hand. “You’re awake.”

“What happened?” My voice is hoarse and dry. “Why am I in the infirmary?”

She sighs, grabbing a cup of water from the side table and helping me sit up. I realize that my bump, usually so full and active is still so horribly quiet. “Jocelyn, her people, they-” She took a deep breath and after I drank helped me lay back down. “They took the children.” I tried to sit back up. “No, Jessi, it’s fine. We got everyone back.” But I can see, in the way she won’t meet my eyes that something is wrong.

“Judith?” My voice broke, my fear so very strong.

“She’s fine, Jessi.” I saw Michonne swallow hard. “They killed one of ours, and left you-” I waited, wondering if-

“Daryl.” My voice was a breath. If it wasn’t Judith, then Daryl. He was one of ours. Did they murder him?

She shook her head and took my hand in hers. “No, honey, not Daryl.” I was confused. Then what was so terrible that she couldn’t look at me? “It’s your baby.” My baby?

I felt my heart clench and I knew. It wasn’t moving. “My baby?” I felt my eyes sting. “Mom?”

Michonne finally looked into my face and I saw it. The pain of loss, a pain she knew. Her eyes were shining with tears. “Siddiq, he realized yesterday, when we brought you in.” Yesterday? Fuck. “He’s going to have to help you-”

I was gasping for air. “Where’s Daryl?” And then I saw him, in the doorway, holding Judith. “I’m sorry.” The tears were blurring my eyes. I was sobbing. I’d done it. I’d failed so terribly at the ONE thing we both wanted. “I’m sorry.”

Daryl handed Judith to Michonne and pulled me upright into his arms. “It’s OK, Jessi, we can try again.” He was kissing my hair, promising me that this wasn’t our only shot at our family.

It was our only shot. If I’d lost my baby during the time before, there would have been a way to induce my labor. I would have been able to give birth, naturally, and no harm no foul. This wasn’t the time before. And Siddiq, while a great medic, was NOT a OB/GYN with a full arsenal of medication at his disposal.

I ended up having a flash of Lori’s fear and death. Somehow, my baby did not turn, perhaps babies are slower in turning? Perhaps I got insanely lucky. What I wasn’t lucky in was having a cesarean that didn’t end in at least partial tragedy. My tragedy wasn’t death. It was simply an end to my ability to have children.

I will not go back through the pain of having that surgery performed. I will not graphically recall the blood and the fear and the pain. I won’t allow myself to remember finding out that Siddiq hadn’t been completely successful and that I would never get to have a child by Daryl, or anyone for that matter.

I survived. My baby didn’t. A tiny girl whose brain had to be pierced just in case. A little girl that would never play in Alexandria, never be given a piggy back ride by me or her daddy, a little girl that I couldn’t even name because my pain was so overwhelming.

Once I was well enough to move, I walked carefully back through Alexandria, a fog of grief and barely noticed anyone or their expressions. I made my way back to the house I shared with Michonne, Daryl, and Judith. I walked to my room, and I tried to focus on Judith’s gift of a painting. Me, Uncle Daryl, Mom, and was that Negan?

“Judith,” I pulled her carefully onto my lap, since I was still in pain. “Who is this?” I pointed to the bearded man that was on the other side of my colorful self.

“Negan.” She said, snuggling into my chest. Which also ached, because my milk hasn't dried up yet. “He make you feel better.”

I closed my eyes and felt my chest tighten. “He does?”

She nodded, and sighed. “Was scared.” She whispered and I kissed her curls. “Mommy was bloody.” Oh God. “All over. You weren’t there.” I felt my eyes start to burn. “Uncle Daryl and Mommy not tell me what happened.”

Damn it. “I’m sorry, baby.” I tried to rock her, but pain flashed through my body. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“You were asleep on the road.” Fuck, she’d seen. “I wanted to see you, but they not let me.”

My eyes closed again. “You’re safe now, Jude. You’re safe.”

She tilted her face up to look at me. “You sad. Uncle Daryl said-” I saw her look at where my baby had once cradled inside of me. Her tiny hand touched it gently. “No more baby?”

I was crying and hugging her to me when Michonne and Daryl came to the doorway. “Judith, sweetheart, let’s let Jessi rest?” Mom offered, walking over and picking her up. “We love you, honey.” She was looking at me and I nodded, pushing Judith’s painting onto the side table.

She walked out with Judith blowing me a kiss and telling me she loved me. Daryl was leaning against the wall beside the door. “Get some rest, Jessi.” I sighed, and started to lay down. “I’m gonna go back to searching.” I closed my eyes and knew, even as he was saying it, that he didn’t want to be here with me. Not now. “Maybe I can find-”

I nodded, rolling over so he was confronted with my back. “OK, be safe.” I couldn’t offer more. Not now. Not after failing so spectacularly.

“I love you.” He said quietly and I nodded. If you loved me, I wanted to scream, then you’d stay. But I didn’t. He needed time to grieve in his own way. And being alone was Daryl’s way.

“Me too,” I offered, but I wasn’t sure he’d waited. Or if he’d heard.

I healed. Physically, and as mentally as I could. I had to. Mom was growing closer to her due date, and I had to be there to help. I wanted to be there. I’d watched Judith be born, traumatizing though it was, and I wanted to see my newest sibling come into this world.

Daryl was seen less and less. We drifted further and further apart. And between the grief I felt over the loss of our baby, the excitement I allowed to take its place in part at the impending arrival of Mom’s baby, I didn’t get to visit Negan.

My little brother, Rick Grimes Jr came into this world with a lusty scream and I swore that I could see Dad and Carl in his tiny face. I see Michonne, and my heart nearly explodes with love. He doesn’t replace my little girl, but he’s wonderful.

I’m walking home, after his birth, when I decide that it’s time to see Negan. The guard barely looks at me and I go inside, the darkness of his cell pisses me off. Light isn’t a luxury, so he should have some. I’ll have to talk to Mom about it later.

“Come to show me your little one?” His voice, sounding hoarse from disuse, is quiet. My heart pounds at the reminder of my loss, but I can’t be angry with him for not knowing. I am appreciative that no one told him.

“No.” I answer sadly, taking the single hard chair and moving it closer to his cell. “I don’t think you can see the cemetery from here.”

“Cemetery?” He takes in my appearance in the dimness. “Oh, Jessi, no.” Strange, he sounds like he cares. As though he feels the pain I feel. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He’s moved so he��s standing at the bars, his hands reaching through, but I don’t take them.

“Yeah, I-” I feel a sob building and force it down. Today is a happy day, I remind myself, think of little RJ. “She didn’t make it.” I take a deep breath. “My new baby brother did.” I smile, remembering his tiny fist. “There’s a new Rick Grimes in town.”

Negan kneels on the hard floor and looks up at me. “Sweetheart, let’s go back to the baby.” I shake my head. No, I won’t. “You need to talk about it.” Shit, why? “Tell me.”

And I do. What I’ve pieced together about the night Jocelyn’s people kidnapped Judith and the others. About the head wound they gave me, about being found JUST in time to save me, but not the baby. How my little sister and the other kids, including one of Jocelyn's group was saved. About my cesarean operation and the resulting damage. And how, even after all that, I wanted to just think about RJ and Judith.

“Where’s Daryl?” It was quiet, but loaded. “Why isn’t he here, making sure you’re talking?”

“He suffered a loss too, Negan.” It sounded lame, but it was true. “Daryl does better on his own to process.”

He nodded, sensing no doubt that I wasn’t in the mood to rehash his feelings on Daryl’s failures where I was concerned. “I can’t have kids either.” It was quiet, but just as pained as how I felt when I learned that my hopes were gone. “Lucille and I tried, and tried. Nothing. I shoot blanks.”

“Why did the wife-” It was weird, but I was curious about the pregnancy test I’d seen, which led me to Alexandria’s cache of tests.

“Sherry.” He nodded. “She, before she agreed to-” He sighed. “Her and Dwight-”

“Oh.” They’d run off together, but I’d assumed, god knew what. “Guess we’re a sad pair.” I gave a dark chuckle. “Both genetic dead ends.”

Negan shook his head. “No. We can’t make babies, Jessi, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make an impact.” I snorted. “OK, not necessarily the best fucking impacts in my case, but you, oh, Jessica Grimes, you are more than fucking remarkable.”

I felt better, slightly, by the time I’d kissed him goodbye and walked home. Judith came rushing to greet me, and I told her all about RJ and how she could meet him the next day. Smiling at the woman who’d stayed with her while I was with Michonne, trying hard to ignore the pity I could see in her eyes, I closed the front door and got us both some dinner.

[shimmershaewrites]

"This is your fault by the way."  (a Walking Dead story, Caryl).

Another one of those ten minute little fics of mine.  Unproofed and a little rough around the edges, but I hope you enjoy it all the same.  Some adult language.  Nothing else real objectionable.  I hope.

 Post Season 10, when shit is finally starting to settle and Carol and Daryl are making a home with the Grimes babies, Lydia, and Dog after the Whisperer War.

  “This is your fault by the way,” Daryl grumbles. 

  Carol merely lifts an eyebrow at him, smiles at the sour face he’s trying so very hard (and failing) to pull.  “How you figure that?  It’s not like I twisted your arm.” 

  “Sure you didn’t.” 

  “Your idea to play with them.  Said they were missing their mom and besides.  Board games are boring.  You said that.” 

  Her smile morphs into a sly smirk as she flexes her fingers on the big red dot it’s braced on and she huffs out a laugh that flutters against his lips.  “So?”    

  Quite unmistakably, Daryl shudders and his shoulder starts to tremble from the awkward position his left hand is currently in—somewhere behind him and close enough to her right hand that their pinkie fingers keep brushing.  That little spark of constant contact has his skin buzzing and this throat growing progressively drier.  “Figured you were talkin’ ‘bout Monopoly.  Not fuckin’ Twister.” 

  “Twister usually is boring.  What can I say?” 

  “Enjoying this way too damn much,” Daryl grunts, feeling his foot start to slip from where it’s at, the green dot right next to hers.  He still can’t figure out what the hell he was thinking, agreeing to this bullshit.  Board games ain’t never been his style.  Then again, neither has playing surrogate daddy, but here they are, spending their rare day off playing Twister of all fuckin’ things while rain pelts lightly against the living room window and Rick’s little shit offspring giggle at their predicament.  And what a fine predicament it is.  From his prime vantage point, all he can see is fair skin and freckles.  He doesn’t want to risk getting caught sneaking looks down the gaping collar of that shirt of hers so he fixates on her collarbones and holy fuckin’ hell.  Maybe he’s enjoying this a little bit too much too.  He tears his gaze away only to find blue eyes dancing at him and stammers, “Sorry.  You say somethin’?”          

  Carol grins down at him and shrugs and the unconscious gesture almost makes her lose her balance and the game.  Though really.  At this point, she figures she’s already won.  “I said, so what if I am?  That a crime, Mr. Crossbow?  I always did prefer being on top.” 

  Daryl groans.  “Stahp.  Ain’t gonna last much longer if you talkin’ and teasin’ like that.” 

  “No talking or teasing.  Got it.”

  “Don’t mean it like that,” he says without thinking.  Soon as the words leave his mouth that damn eyebrow arches again and those dancing blue eyes take on a twinkle so wicked the Sahara that is his throat goes impossibly drier so that all that emerges when he tries to backtrack is something that he doesn’t recognize as human.  Across the room, Dog actually whimpers in response and Judith’s and RJ’s giggles temporarily fade. 

  “So,” Carol murmurs.  “Some teasing’s okay?” 

  Goddammit.  His arms tremble a little harder and he almost comes out of his skin when he feels her knee brush against his thigh when she subtly shifts her weight.  She’s so fuckin’ competitive though—not willing to give an inch.  So his torment, as it is, continues.  Next time, if there every is a next time, he’s gonna be on top.  Even if he has to cheat.  Ain’t like Junior over there knows how to read enough to tell the difference.  Speaking of, “Whose turn?  Whose…sonuvabitch.  How long they been gone?” 

  “A minute.  Maybe two.  You used to be so ob…Daryl!  What are you…”

  His aching muscles sigh right along with him when he’s finally, blessedly flat on his back and she’s braced over him.  Her nose crinkled up with indignation is about the cutest damn thing he’s ever seen and those tiny silver curls, loose from their frayed braid and kissing the curve of her neck the prettiest.  Well, ‘xcept for her eyes, staring down at him in amused, affectionate wonder.  She curls her palm around his cheek, and he kisses the thumb that traces the curve of his mouth without conscious thought. 

  “Daryl?” 

  It’s been months since he finally said those words.  Since he spelled it out for her, told her exactly why it never was like that, why it never could have been, and still.  Something’s been holdin’ them back.  He’s been waiting for her to meet him halfway.  “Pretty romantic.”

  Her smile smooths into something sad for the briefest of seconds and her eyes glisten bright.  Tears spike her lashes as they flutter against her cheeks and her other hand joins its twin and cradles his face.  The soft smile she gifts him with grows in brilliance until it eclipses the sun starting to peek through the clouds outside.  “I thought you’d never ask.” 

  “Pfft.  Mean all I had to do was…” 

  “Daryl.” 

  “C’mere.”  Barely thirty seconds into the best kiss of his life, the front door bursts open, and he’s growling against Carol’s grinning lips. 

  “Hey guys,” Lydia exclaims.  “There’s this huge rainbow outside and…oh.  Um, are you two screwing around?  Oh, God.  Yeah.  I’m sorry.  I’m sorry.  I’ll just…forget I was even here.” 

  Just as quickly as she’d arrived, Daryl’s very own adopted offspring makes herself scarce and Carol’s laughing outright.  “Like father, like daughter.  Observant.”    

  “Stahp.” 

[seveneaglestar]

TWD s10ep1 was good

The Grimes' family scenes were great. It made me really miss the other Grimes. I kept thinking how great it would have been to see Carl, Rick, RJ Michonne and Judith in those scenes together.

I appreciated Michonne's scenes with Aaron.

They have really turn Daryl and Carol into comic Rick/Michonne. I get it but I don't like it. It feels fake and force.

I feel for Ezkiel when it comes to Carol. I hope he gets over Carol and find another love before he is kill.

Rostia and her three baby daddies are just whatever to me.

I hope they are turning Negan's attention away from Judith and to that other girl because I fear they might make Michonne leave Judith behind for the sake of her and Negan's "connection/relationship". I don't want that.

Anyway, all in all, it was a better than most TWD episodes but I still just want them to move on to Michonne/DG leaving so I can be done with this show completely.

Also, I hate how TPTB treated Maggie/Lauren Cohen but I'm so glad Maggie doesn't have to watch and visit the community where the man who brutally killed her husband/father of her child, live in peace and is becoming part of that community. I'm happy she doesn't have to witness that.

I no longer care that Negan is still on this show but I resent how they made it happen and that he is part of Rick's community.

[shimmershae]

For real, though. What’s going to happen to the Grimes babies when Michonne leaves?

I’m not even going to entertain the thought that she might die because nope. That would just be wrong. I’ve already made up a little head canon that she takes off looking for Rick.

So. Back to my original question.

What becomes of Judith and little RJ?

If she takes them with her, there’s literally no Grimes connection left on the show and that just doesn’t feel right.

TPTB did the time jumps for a lot of reasons, mostly to facilitate plots that were otherwise too unbelievable pre-Season 9 (some still too unbelievable after, too). Aging Judith falls in there somewhere because they wanted to give her a bigger role in things and I believe they want that to continue.

So to my way of thinking Judith for sure stays. And I’m torn about RJ. I have a hard time buying that Michonne leaves that little cutie pie, but I have an even harder time picturing her possibly endangering him and taking him on her quest to find his daddy.

Who becomes their guardians?

Aaron?

He seems to be a wonderful daddy, but there’s only him and he already has Gracie.

Rosita and Co.?

She’s already got her own complicated predicament to deal with so I’m counting her out.

Do they just stay with redshirt Barbara?

That would be a total cop out.

Shipping them to Hilltop would have the same effect.

Personally, I’d love Daryl and Carol to take them in and protect them but not really for ship-related reasons, although that would be an added bonus. No. I’d love them to step in because they’re the only people left on the whole show that has been there and known Asskicker from the beginning and out of those left they know Michonne best too.

But there’s Lydia and Carol coming to terms with her grief over Henry.

Just what in the hell are TPTB going to do?

Your thoughts?

And please. Keep any dislike or hate about pairings or characters out of this and discuss like even keeled adults.

Fair warning though. If Negan even comes up as an option, I just...ugh. All I see when I look at him is poor Glenn so please. Anybody but him.