#tara should be allowed to shoot her with a crossbow

[errant-light]

from the FR wiki: "When he ran afoul of the magelords' temple in the city, El was overcome by hostile guardsmen and saved by Mystra herself. The Lady of Magic transformed him into a woman named Elmara to strengthen his bond with magic and to expand his understanding of the world. For a few years, "Elmara" served a priestess of Mystra in Athalantar and beyond. After some time, Mystra appeared to El once again as Myrjala Talithyn and trained her in the ways of spellcasting. The two became dear friends, and fell in love with one another. Over time however, Elmara felt compelled to "reveal" to Myrjala his true identity as Elminster, and shared his quest to take back Athalantar from the malevolent magelords. As an avatar of Mystra, Myrjala of course was fully aware of El's shared identities.

...after a night of revelry and celebration, Elminster and Myrjala departed the kingdom. On their way out, however, Undarl revealed himself as one of the malaugrym from a different plane of existence and attacked them on the road out of the city. Myrjala's magic was ineffective against the otherworldly creature and she appeared to die from its spells. To prevent Elminster from foreswearing the use of magic, Mystra revealed herself to Elminster and proposed that he become one of her Chosen. Elminster readily agreed."

wow, fuck Mystra

every single choice made wrt Gale, her relationship with him, and Gale's walking bomb situation just got even more fucked up

[flumphmatingritualsexpert]

I can't stop thinking about Gale's decision to be the god of Ambition. Early on in Act 1 after meeting Raphael for the first time, he mentions how ambition is something all denizens of the hells and many humans embody. In act 3, if you dissuade him from the crown, he will explicitly say that great ambition should not come at the expense of what you already hold dear. In the epilogue, (assuming he ascends to godhood) he chooses to be the god of Ambition. But he holds on to a lot of things from his mortal days despite having lost nearly all of his humanity. Tim Downie does an amazing job with his acting, and you can really feel the distance through his body language and vocal patterns. Even his spells are quite sad- I will list below.

For his spells, there are 3: Gale has a spell to transform an already living creature into the form of Tara, his tressym. Tara is disgusted by Gale in this form and says he is not the same person. She even hisses at him. So it really is quite tragic that he creates a fake version of her to have some semblance of something he once held dear.

Gale's second spell is a reference to a story he will tell you early on in the grove (only if you stand in front of the crossbow) where he mentions diffusing a potential crossbow shooting by ordering Shadowdark Ale at The Yawning Portal.

And Gale's third spell is an exhibit of who and what he has become. Powerful, with his own type of weave - Galerian. These spells feel like a reflection of who god!Gale is personified. He is a shell of what he was before, but at the expense of great ambition and power.

I just felt this was quite a tragic story for Gale. I think it's lovely and written very well, but does show what could come to pass for future playthroughs- I also love that if your tav is romanced, Gale's lost humanity does not change the love he has for you. His love transcends and really says so much about how valuable you are to him. If you choose to ascend to godhood with Gale, he will not make you a "chosen" and repeat the cycle of abuse; He will ascend you to godhood and help you through it. I won't allow Gale to ascend in my runs because aside from him looking like a battery, it is clearly his "bad" ending and I love his warmth but I do respect how much it says about who he is and what outcomes would be in what situations. It makes understanding Gale easier. I love the writers at Larian and I love Tim Downie's performance. I love Gale. This was just a tidbit I found interesting.

[takeiteasypeasybaby]

Save Me: Chapter 36 - Redemption

~Hey guys! Chapter 36 is out today :) I hope everyone is doing well and excited for this one! Love y’all~

This was a time of healing and growth for everyone, including Negan. Molly had always known him to be a good man inside, but would he be able to show the others?

Two months later...

'You were right...' Rick said softly as he held my hand.

'I should have listened to you, I guess I just couldn't until now' he continued.

I just nodded and smiled, 'are you sure about this?' I asked nervously.

He let go of my hand as he placed both on my shoulders.

'Yes and you will lead them' he said proudly.

He started to walk away, back across the streets of Alexandria when I shouted after him, 'me?'

'The Sanctuary needs a strong leader Molly, if we're gonna do this right' he replied as he smiled softly and went towards the gates.

I just stood stock still and watched him as he walked away.

Was I ready for this?

I felt honoured that he trusted me in that way, especially considering that the majority of those moving to the Sanctuary would be ex-Saviours.

Yet, I was unsure, I hadn't been back there in years and I had no idea how it would feel.

I had suppressed old memories, the bad ones, for so long but when I go to the Sanctuary, I know I will be forced to face them.

But, I had to do this, for Rick, for Carl and his dream, for myself and even for Negan.

I thought about how he would feel about all this.

I knew he would heartbroken, to see another leader in his former home but I hoped that he would find some solace in the fact that he trusted me and knows how much I valued that place.

I told Rick that I would consider it, which upset him slightly knowing that I might not give him the answer that he wanted and needed for enacting Carl's vision.

But I had to be honest with him and myself about who I was.

I had always thought myself brave and confident but after everything these past years, I'm not sure that I'm the same person anymore and as much as I wanted to lead that place.

I knew in my heart that I just wasn't ready.

It wasn't about Negan or the Saviours that made me decline Rick's offer, it was about me and what happened to me there.

Still to this day, only Negan, Aaron and Tara knew and I wanted to tell Rick but I knew in my heart that if he found out, he would go straight for Negan and blame him.

So, I couldn't tell him but I knew he would want an explanation so I told him I would lead eventually, but right now we needed to focus on what we already have, not what will eventually come in a few years time.

Now, looking back, I wish I had told Rick everything...

The day of reckoning came.

There was a hoard of walkers, larger and more vast than we'd ever seen before.

They were heading straight for Alexandria and their sheer force and numbers alone would wipe out us all, so we had to create a diversion.

We all split up and tried different tactics, blasted music from our trucks, set off explosions, set up reflective objects.

None of them worked well enough.

We killed many of them and were heading back towards the bridge to recuperate when we saw him.

Rick was stumbling across the bridge, his hand on his gun and his other on a deep wound to his stomach that seemed to stain his entire shirt red.

Daryl spotted him first, he was only a few paces in front of the hoard now.

Once Daryl had alerted the rest of us, we sprinted towards him to help, Michonne screamed out for him.

Daryl and I shot arrows at the closest walkers to Rick to buy some time, Rick just looked at us pleadingly, asking us not to waste our time.

He knew he was going to die.

We all grouped up, shooting walkers that came too close.

The bridge wouldn't hold, we all knew that now.

Once all of the walkers were on the bridge, Rick pointed his gun at an explosives box on the bridge and blew it up.

A loud bang and a large cloud of fire and ash surrounded the place where Rick once stood.

Michonne tried to run towards it but Maggie and I held her back.

'Rick!' she screamed in pain.

Tears rolled down my cheeks as the bridge was completely destroyed and rows upon rows of walkers lit by flames dropped into the river and floated down stream.

I whispered with deflation a soft 'no' as the smoke started to clear and Rick was gone.

Michonne couldn't bear to look and we just escorted her home while Daryl and I searched for Rick.

There was some comfort in not being able to find his body.

I don't know whether this was false hope but right now we needed any form of hope.

We searched for weeks on end, from dawn to dusk.

The only thing we found was Rick's gun, slightly buried in mud by the river.

We cleaned it off and brought it to Michonne to keep.

Some days were better than others but when the rest of us had to carry on, Daryl just couldn't.

'Daryl, we've looked, there's nothing out there' I said softly as I grabbed his arm.

'You don't know that' he growled as he walked towards the gates.

'No, I don't. But, what I do know is that Michonne needs both of us here right now' I replied sternly.

'Tell her I've gone out' he replied as he pulled open the gates and stormed out, crossbow slung over his shoulder.

I sighed and rubbed my forehead.

I chased after him, grabbing my bow from where it hung on the tree next to the gate and slung it over my shoulder.

'Daryl!' I shouted as he continued to storm out ahead.

I sighed as he didn't take any notice, 'Daryl!' I yelled again as I finally caught up to him and spun him around to face me.

We were now surrounded by trees, in the thick of the forest.

'What?' he retorted.

'I'm sorry, you were right. We can't give up, so I'm coming with you' I said softly, he just grunted.

I rolled my eyes.

'Don't do that okay? Talk to me, we've know each other for so long' I stated, he just stared at me.

'He ain't dead' he said hoarsely as he turned back around and marched through the grass.

'Daryl...' I said sadly.

'He ain't dead!' he yelled tearfully as he turned back around to face me.

His face now bunched up into a scowl as he marched back towards me, pointing and yelling, talking at me sideways like he used to.

'Why you even here, huh? You gave up! Just like the rest...not me! I mean, maybe I could've done somethin' he started yelling at me which turned into a soft cry.

There he stood in front of me, his tears flowed down his face as I just silently pulled my arms around him as he did the same.

Both of us, now holding each other just sobbed.

I didn't get it back then, but Daryl needed to keep looking for Rick for himself, he had to stay busy otherwise he would break down.

I stroked his hair away from his eyes, 'listen to me, we will find him...' I said softly as he wiped away my tears with his thumb.

I smiled weakly at his gesture and just held him once more.

I didn't know whether we would ever see Rick again, but I felt content in knowing that this was what he would've wanted, all of us together as a family, holding each other.

Six years later...

Alexandria was complete, or so it was in my eyes.

We had all come together to create Carl's dream and now it was also Rick's.

There were white washed houses with porches to match, a large armoury, fields of crops, hydroelectricity, watch towers for surveillance.

It was everything we desired, it was a self-sufficient dream land.

Michonne was doing well, she now led us at Alexandria, whether she knew that then or not.

She became pregnant after Rick's death and had her beautiful baby RJ (Rick Jr.) nine months later.

She was now a mother of two, Judith and RJ and I was their Auntie.

Daryl still went out searching for Rick, but a lot less frequently and I joined him on occasion.

Carol was still at the Kingdom where she also now had a family with Ezekiel and their adopted son Henry.

Gabriel, Aaron, Siddiq, Laura and Diane were all members of the council led by Michonne.

We were rebuilding civilisation and this would be a period of equality and fairness where our previous alignments didn't matter.

The Sanctuary remained a ruin. When Rick died, none of us felt like we could continue with that project, least of all me.

Tara was at Oceanside with Cindy where they now lived together, I was so proud of her.

In the past six years, Negan and I continued our talks in his cell as Michonne now allowed me to visit him whenever I liked.

I wasn't sure about it before but he had changed and for the better.

Every time I saw him, he seemed lighter than before like he was almost content with his situation.

I can't say that he was upset by Rick's death but he was saddened for our community and Michonne who he'd spoke to over the years.

Yet, even after these visits, Michonne still didn't believe he had changed and still pursued her opinion that I should keep my distance but also acknowledged that she couldn't stop me.

I wish I could say that we accidentally brushed hands on the bars of his cell or that he flirted with me endlessly but he didn't.

Every time we talked, it was deep and meaningful but nothing that screamed 'I love you'.

I know we had been getting to know each other again, so that we could start our relationship again but fuck it was hard just being in the same room as him and not doing anything.

I just wondered whether he still felt the same.

One night, once it was dark out and I was sufficiently drunk on homemade wine, I snuck across the street to the cell.

I tiptoed down the stairs and met Seth.

'Molly?' he asked tiredly.

'Hey Seth, I'm gonna need your keys' I said confidently and slightly stumbling on my words.

'I don't think I-' he started to say.

'Seth, Michonne granted me access at all times' I replied as I beckoned him to hand them over.

'A-Are you drunk?' he asked hesitantly.

'No' I said shaking my head for longer than necessary as I grabbed his keys and dismissed him.

I opened the door and locked it shut behind me, slightly stumbling over a brick that was concealed by the dark.

'Ooh' I shouted as I tripped which was followed by a alcohol infused giggle.

I heard Negan shift in his bed as he sat up suddenly and said, 'Molly?' as he stroked his beard.

God he looked so sexy when he did that.

I ignored his words and proceeded to his cell and fumbled through the keys to unlock the door.

He stood up and stretched.

'Molly?' he said hoarsely as he squinted in confusion.

It was only when he saw what I was doing that he said 'Wha?' which was all he managed before I swung open the door and pressed my lips to his.

I felt his hands drift to my waist as I pulled off my jacket and wrapped my hands around his neck.

At first he was taken aback by the kiss but within a split second I felt his lips move against mine hungrily like we'd been starved of each other for years.

His hands on my waist travelled up to cup my face in his hands as he deepened the kiss in between growls and moans.

He slipped his tongue between my lips to playfully graze my own as I pushed my body closer to his and ran my fingers through his hair.

He now pulled me in even closer till we were perfectly intertwined and wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, keeping me there.

I pushed us forward till his ankles hit the side of the bed, forcing him to sit on its edge.

I pulled myself down onto him till I was straddling his thighs.

I heard him audibly moan and felt his eyebrows furrow as I started to grind on top of him.

His kiss abruptly ended when he pulled his face away from mine and gazed at me with his hands still cupping my face.

I just stared back at him questioningly, while his eyes darted between my own.

'Are you drunk?' he asked half amused.

'A little' I answered as my hands still roamed through his hair.

He rubbed my cheek, drawing circles with his thumb.

'You're inebriated. I'm not gonna take advantage of you Molly' he whispered softly.

'Why not?' I whined as I started to press light kisses against his neck.

He exhaled and chuckled, 'Molly, when you're sober I will gladly sleep with you' he said smirking as his hands drifted to my ass.

I seemed to sober up at his words and found myself coming to my senses.

I jumped up before he could touch me and stood before him, admiring my effect on him as I saw his straining bulge.

'Well, you'll be waiting a long time because you won't get this chance again' I said tauntingly as I placed a hand on my hip.

He looked up and chuckled, saying 'you wanna bet?'.

I turned on my heels, locked his door behind me as he called after me, 'you'll be practically begging me darlin'.

I smirked at his calling me 'darlin' again as I walked out of the cell and handed the keys back to Seth.

The following morning, I awoke feeling like shit. I had drunk so much wine which left me with a banging headache.

I took some aspirin with water when I ate my breakfast as I recalled the night before.

Fuck.

I had kissed him.

No, it was worse than that, I was practically grinding on him and begging him to sleep with me.

I slapped my forehead.

'I'm such an idiot' I said out loud as I sat in just a t-shirt.

When I went upstairs to have a shower and get dressed for the day, I spotted Judith sitting outside Negan's cell, she was reading and laughing.

I squinted in confusion as I realised she was talking to Negan.

Michonne would have killed me if she was here but she had gone to visit Maggie at Hilltop for the day.

I flung on new clothes and marched downstairs and over to where she was sat.

'Hi Auntie Molly' she greeted smiling widely at me, I waved and smiled at her as I plunked myself down onto the step she was sitting on.

'Whatcha up to?' I asked as she passed me the book she was reading, it read: Advanced Mathematics.

'Wow, you are one smart cookie, huh?', I said admiring some of the equations which I used to know so well.

'Could you help me with my homework, Negan didn't know some of these' she said softly as she pointed to the questions on the page.

I looked to the side to see Negan's window which was wide open.

I looked up from the book and shut it, placing it to one side as I shifted to focus on her.

She took off her sheriff's hat that had once been Rick's and then Carl's and swept her long brown hair out of her face.

'Judith, are you sure that your mom would be okay with you talking to Negan?' I asked softly.

She just looked at me questioningly and said 'uh huh'.

'You go down there all the time, why can't I?' she replied.

I hesitated and exhaled, saying 'well, because...'.

She stood up and grabbed her book and hat, 'he's not the monster you all think he is!' she shouted.

'Just ask your mom next time okay?' I pleaded.

Judith sighed and said 'this is bullshit' as she walked back to their house.

I just sat there watching her walk away in complete surprise.

Shit, I really had to watch what I said around her.

Michonne would have killed me if she heard that.

I sat on the steps, feeling the wind whip through my hair as I heard a faint chuckle coming from inside the cell.

I sighed and shot up, glided past Seth who automatically opened the door for me now and I stood in front of the bars where Negan was.

'What?' I barked as I folded my arms.

He smirked when he saw me, obviously still thinking about last night.

He rose his eyebrows and shook his head.

'Nothing, it's just that sometimes I think she takes after you more than ol' Ricky or Michonne' he taunted.

I rolled my eyes as he continued, 'she swears like a damn sailor! I love it'.

'Yeah well, guess I'm not cut out for this whole parenting thing' I said chuckling weakly.

'I don't know, I think you'd be a great mom' he answered as he came closer to the bars and brushed his hands over mine.

I was mesmerised for a second, thinking about having children with him when I snapped myself back to reality.

I scoffed and pulled away, saying teasingly 'i'm not gonna sleep with you, Negan'.

He chuckled, saying 'if memory serves, I think you've said that one before'.

I shot him a stern look when I realised that he was right and I walked back out of the cell, hearing his knowing chuckle echo all around me.

Little did I know that soon my Negan problem would take care of itself.

Maggie had met with a woman named Georgie who wanted to invest in Hilltop and said that she believed in the future and wanted Maggie to come to their community to help them rebuild theirs.

It was called the Commonwealth.

Maggie was sceptical at first, as was everyone but they had been so kind in granting us supplies and equipment that she felt she had to go.

She planned to take Herschel with her and be gone for about six months while Jesus ran Hilltop.

Little did I know that she had a question to ask me.

I went to Hilltop for a week to see Maggie and Jesus but when I got there Maggie asked me to stay permanently.

She told me that she had planned to ask me years ago but knew that I wasn't ready back then.

She wanted Jesus and I to lead Hilltop together as we worked really well together.

Jesus was like a brother to me and so it was a complete honour.

I knew in my heart that I had to accept and this wasn't like when Rick had asked me to lead the Sanctuary all those years ago because now I had a clear vision.

Being at Hilltop would mean that I could be closer to Tara at Oceanside, I could continue the agricultural development I had started years ago and I could still go back to Alexandria now and then when I was needed there or when I needed someone else.

Sometimes it felt like I made this choice because I knew that if I stayed in Alexandria any longer, I would have given in to Negan's allure and succumbed to his charms and as much as I wanted him, I couldn't let myself.

[daryls-dixon-antoni]

Chapter 40.) Something They Need

“So what's your story?" Jesus asks me, as I brush down a horse for the people here.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I mean, I used to read your husband's books. He came to the dojo I used to attend once, I remember you being there. How did you get where you are now?"

I frown, it's been a while since I'd been recognized without having to inform someone who I was. "Tyler died... most of our kids died, and Daryl was here for me. Is here for me."

"I wasn't judging. I just was curious as to how you'd end up with someone so different to who you were with." I look up into his sincere eyes and sigh.

"Daryl and I grew up very similarly. Neither of us had the best childhoods... I was almost put into a group home... my older siblings and I tried to hide how bad home was, but my younger brother messed up one day, and we knew there was no way that we'd be placed together... there were 15 of us, and the adult siblings were in no place to legally be allowed to have us... I was fifteen at the time, so... I ran away from the group home that first night, and never looked back. After a while, Tyler's mom found me. Ty and I fell in love. But he never understood me... And when the world fell, I took care of him and the kids." I look away from Jesus.

"Daryl understands you, and you don't have to take care of him. That's why?"

I nod, "That and my son told me not to push him away."

Jesus smiles at me, "I grew up in a group home after my parents died. Made it hard to connect with people; friends, boyfriends..."

I smile back, "So you get it?" He nods.

"You on the rag yet?" Daryl asks me suddenly as we're laying under the stars. Tomorrow we go help set up the explosives with Jesus and our group from Alexandria.

I glance at him; my brow furrowed in annoyance, "No, why would you even ask that?"

"Should be due." He says, casually.

"Yeah, and why's that?" I snap, sure I would know whether my period should be due long before he'd ever know.

"You had the one after Hope, Hope's three months, you ain't had a period since."

I frown, he's right. "Stress can effect them," I respond, casually. I haven't dreamt of any babies, so there's no way I'm pregnant again. So the only logical explanation truly is stress.

He braces himself up with his left arm so he can look at me easier, "You ain't pregnant and not tellin' me again, are ya?"

I laugh softly, "No, Daryl. As far as I'm aware this ovens closed for business."

He grunts out a soft, "Good."

"You don't want anymore little Daryl's running around?" I tease.

"Nah, we got Mason and Hope. That's enough." I sit up and look at him, shocked. He'd never considered Mason as his own before. He sits up quickly as well, immediately reaching for his crossbow and looking around for any signs of danger as he asks me, "What? What is it?"

I shake my head, looking at him, "Nothing, Daryl. Nothings wrong. I'm just... you just basically counted Mason as your son..."

"We been together more than a year, I've known the kid since he was small." He shrugs, "Try helpin' you raise him when I can. S'pose he's kinda my kid by this point."

"Can I kiss you?" I ask, wanting nothing more than to throw my arms around him, but I respect his new aversion towards touch.

He leans forward and kisses me before pulling away much too soon. He starts digging in his pocket for a second before pulling out what appears to be a clumsily carved and sanded ring of wood . I watch him closely as he coughs awkwardly and then holds out the wooden ring, gruffly saying, "Jesus helped me make it. It's for you if you'd take it. Well take me more like. Don't wanna spend a damned day without ya, Woman."

I take the ring gingerly and place it on my ring finger before clarifying, "Did you just propose?"

He doesn't meet my eyes as he nods, "Made one for me, too. Figure there ain't no wedding shit here, but we could says we're married. Care 'bout y' enough to be. That's if you wanna be."

I smile brightly, "Of course I want to be your wife. I'd be crazy if I didn't."

He nods once before laying back down, his body almost relaxing even. I lay down next to him, and feel him pull me closer towards him so that I'm using his arm as a pillow. I debate for awhile whether to lay an arm around his waist, not wanting to push his comfort zone, and finally decide to continue letting him pick the pace of any physical affection.

"So he gave you the ring?" Jesus asks, as we leave the gates of Hilltop. I see Daryl roll his eyes out of the corner of my eye and I grin. "Yeah, he gave it to me last night."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you."

While we lay out the explosives Jesus says, "I should've tried harder to stop Rosita and Sasha. If they'd have just waited one more day-"

Daryl cuts him off, "Well, Sasha's a good shot, and Rosita knows how to take care of herself. Probably back at Hilltop right now. Least I hope so. We're gonna need 'em. There's a whole lot of people still got to die.

I shake my head, look him dead in the eye and respond, "Jesus, there isn't any point in dwelling on the maybes, they made their choice. They know the stakes. Whatever happens, it won't be on you."

"Thanks." I nod, giving Jesus a brief smile before going back to placing the explosives down. Jesus continues on but Daryl holds me back.

"Should I worry about Jesus?"

I look at him, "What?"

"You two seem close."

I can't help the laugh that escapes, he gives me an angry look so I hold up a hand, getting my giggles under control as I say, "I never thought I'd see the day where Daryl Dixon would be jealous."

"'m not jealous," he grunts.

"Of course not." I bite my lip to hold off the new round of giggles before I continue, "Jesus isn't into girls, Daryl. But you know what? Now that I think about it, you two have grown quite close; should I be worried?"

"Shut up," he grunts, giving me an exasperated look and I start laughing.

"Anne, we're trying to remain under the radar." Rick calls from his spot.

I nod, stifling my laughter and give him my most apologetic look.

"Dammit woman..." Daryl shakes his head, and then we both go back to work.

"Think we can try to give Tara more time?" Jesus asks, softly.

I shake my head, "Nope, it's go time." I nod to Rick and Daryl and I move towards where Tara said the arsenal is, I can hear the feet of Jesus and the others following closely behind. When we get there we see two women, one with short hair the other long. Michonne shoots at the ground near their feet from her spot in the trees.

When they stop, Daryl orders, "On the ground. Now."

"Hands up!" I shout, as the long haired woman quickly follows Daryl's request, and then my own.

When the short haired woman doesn't listen, I aim my gun at her head and repeat, "We said on the ground!"

"Please," Jesus adds, kindly.

I shoot a glare his way but the woman listens then, glaring at him enough for the both of us.

I step forward to tie up short hair, but Jesus takes my arm and shakes his head. I roll my eyes but move to the other woman, effectively tying her hands as Jesus takes care of short hair.

Daryl lowers his crossbow and gives Michonne the signal.

We move the women once their bound to join the rest, getting there only to hear, "We want this to go as simply and as peacefully as possible. All of you can make it that way."

Daryl moves ponytail towards the rest of her community, "Get down over there. Keep quiet."

Rick walks up behind us, "Now, we made a lot of noise. We want to wrap this up quick; so you can send people to redirect anything coming this way. Tara said your forests are relatively clear, so we won't take any chances. No one needs to get hurt. This is just about what you have, what we need."

"Nobody's taking anything!" We all hear the woman yell, and when I turn my heart drops, she has a gun pointed on Tara and looks like she'd shoot without regret. "You need to let everyone go and leave right now. Just walk away or this one dies."

"Yeah, we'll leave you alone." Rick agrees, "But we're taking your weapons with us. That's not gonna change. It's Natania, right? Put the gun down, and let's talk about what we can change."

"No. Leave right now."

I take Daryl's bandanna subtly, and then wave it to signal Michonne, only Tara and Daryl seem to notice.

He merely glance at me, but Tara yells, "Michonne, don't!"

"We just wanna be left alone." Natania says.

"Yeah, we'll leave you alone. Just let go of her. Now. Or we'll kill you. None of us want that."

"They want us to fight The Saviors." The girl who was with Natania and Tara yells to her community.

"We tried that. We lost. Too much." Natania seethes. "We're not gonna lose anymore; not our guns, not our safety. Not after everything we've done to get here."

"We're gonna win," Tara argues. "With your guns, with or without your help."

"Natania, put the gun down." Rick agrees.

"You kill me, and you die. And my people take the guns and nothing changes."

"Maybe we should try," short hair speaks up. Some of the women mutter amongst themselves, seeming in favor of our cause.

"Grandma, stop." The girl next to Natania says. "It's over. Just talk to them, okay?"

"It's not over! They've forgotten. You've all forgotten. Some of you actually want to fight them? After everything? We can lose our guns, but us leaving this place to fight? After everything? I have to remind you! Yes. I am gonna do this, and then I'm gonna die. But it's that important. This is your life, all of you. Remember what it looks like. Remember what they did to us! You need to see this. Open your eyes!"

"Rick!" Michonne calls from her place. "Walkers!"

I hear someone punch someone just as I've turned to look for the dead, however I quickly turn back to see Natania has been punched.

The dead are also coming, a lot of them.

"Everybody up! Get the children behind us! They're coming." Rick yells.

The community jump into action immediately.

"First shift, join them on the line." Short hair orders. "Knives out. Dead only. Dead only!"

I hear Rick instruct short hair, "Don't go anywhere." He then turns to the rest of our group, "Everyone, shots within 10 feet of the line. That's it."

I aim and wait, then he yells, "Now!"

The sound of gunfire fills the forest and I continuously shoot, aiming for the heads, I'm also shown how badass this community truly is, and I can't help but be impressed.

When it's finished, Natania says, "No. We're not fighting them with you. So take your damn guns and go." She walks away.

I'm helping Jesus and Tara load up the weapons, Carl and Enid are helping as well, but, most of our people are standing around, keeping watch.

"We're gonna bring them back when it's all over." Tara informs the curly haired woman who is Natania's granddaughter.

"I-I want to go with you," she responds. "Some of us do, but not all of us, and it has to be all of us. My grandmother thinks you'll all be dead."

"Yeah, well, your grandmother's wrong about a lot of things. Where is she?"

"She didn't want to see this. She's lying down. I hit her pretty hard."

"Thanks for saving my life before. And the other time. Oh, and then the other time." I look at Tara curiously as I pass by, but don't say anything. "Maybe today. Thanks."

"Hey. Thank you. For what you're doing."

A little girl follows behind Tara asking, "You're not leaving us any?"

"Nope." Tara puts her middle finger up, "See ya later, Rachel."

"Tara," I say, appalled. "That's a child!"

"She tried killing me!" Tara retorts.

"Well okay then..." I whisper.

As we keep walking Rick asks Tara, "You okay?"

"Yeah. You're right. I don't have to feel bad."

We make it to Hill Top and see Rosita running towards us, "Hey, are you okay?"

"Where's Sasha?" Jesus asks.

"There's someone here."

We follow her to the jail and when I see who's in it, I yell, "I'ma fucking kill you!" And almost in sync both Daryl and I go to attack Dwight.

Tara and Jesus hold me back as Rick and Michonne hold Daryl back.

"Let go!" I yell, "Jesus let me fucking go!"

"Get her out of here," Rick orders, and when I glance at them, I see Daryl has stopped.

Jesus picks me up and removes me from the jail as I yell, "I will find you! And I will fucking kill you, you son of a bitch!"

"Hey!" Jesus says, once we're outside and he puts me down and I immediately try to side step him, only for him to stop me once again.

"He tortured Daryl, Jesus. He deserves to die!"

[coffee-obsessed-writer]

A New World - Part 13

A/N: So, this is essentially the end of the story, though there will be ONE additional shorter part to wrap out some loose ends. Hope you enjoy!

Daryl Dixon x Reader, Grimes Family, Maggie Rhee x reader, Daryl Dixon x Paul Rovia

Warnings: Angst, Language, Canon-divergence, Smut 

Words: 6012

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12

“Daryl!” Paul yelled across the streets as the broad-shouldered silhouette of the archer glided across the far lawn. “Daryl, wait!”

Daryl stopped in his tracks, but didn’t turn to face him.

“What?” Daryl huffed, refusing to look at Paul.

“Just, wait a second. What happened with Y/N? Are you ok?”

“Fine, why?”

“C’mon Daryl. Clearly, you two had a fight. Do you wa—”

“Nah, I ain’t discussing shit with you,��� he huffed and started walking again.

“Man, wait,” Paul continued to follow the archer until they reached Rick’s porch.

Daryl sat down on the porch, finally facing Paul and seeing all the supplies he had in his hand.

“What’s all that for?” he grumbled, trying to get a cigarette from his pack using his broken hand.

“Suture kit and bandages from Tara. Denise thinks your hand is broken. She wants you to come by to get it set tonight.”

“Yeah, ok.” Daryl finally got the Morley lit and blew smoke from the corner of his mouth.

“Tara wanted to come stitch up your other hand, but I said I would take care of it.” Paul sat down next to Daryl and started laying out the kit on the step below him.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why you? Why not Tara?” Daryl asked, looking at him suspiciously.

“Because, Tara really wanted to stay and help Denise. Besides, Y/N asked me to look out for you. She’s been a good friend to me—”

“I bet,” Daryl grumbled and blew smoke through his nostrils in frustration.

“Daryl, please… I am just trying to help. Y/N is worried about you—”

“Pfft, yeah, right,” he snorted a laugh and took a deep pull from his cigarette.

“She is. Whatever you were fighting about doesn’t matter. She loves you, and is worried about you. Soare Tara and Denise. You want to be able to use that crossbow again, right?” Paul raised an eye brow at him and motioned for Daryl to give him his hand

Daryl caught Paul’s chastising gaze and sighed. Grumbling to himself, he turned his body, so Paul could access his unbroken hand to begin closing the bigger wounds.

“I don’t know what happened,” Paul started and paused assuming Daryl would cut him off again. When he didn’t Paul turned his attention back to sewing up Daryl’s hand and continued, “but whatever it was, its just a fight. A loud one, but still just a fight. Everyone is on edge with this situation.”

“It ain’t that man. She lied. She lied about what happened,” Daryl bit on his lower lip and shook his head. “I hate what happened to her. I hate that she was there with him,” the last word hissed from his lips, “but she didn’t have to lie about it. What the hell’s that say ‘bout her ‘n me?”

Paul sat quietly and continued to work on the stitches. He wanted to ask more questions, but he knew that whatever she had said, or didn’t say, was none of his business unless Daryl or Y/N wanted him to know.

“Are they lies that change your feelings for her?” he prodded gently, keeping his gaze firmly fixed on the archer’s hand.

“I dunno,” Daryl grumbled, wincing at the feeling of the needle piercing his already tender skin.

“Fair enough,” Paul said softly as he finished stitching one of the cuts.

He chanced a look at Daryl as he went about starting the next large wound that had been opened by some part of Negan’s face.

“He’s still unconscious, you know,” Paul said when Daryl’s eyes finally met his. “Chances are, he’s going to die. Let’s say he did, would that change anything?”

“He should die,” Daryl huffed and took the last drag of his smoke. “Son’ofa bitch shoulda died years ago.”

“Maybe. But he didn’t. You nearly killed him tonight, so did Y/N…”

“Why’d you stop her?” Daryl asked curiously, the image of his wife nearly shooting Negan burning into his mind causing a flare of anger to burn again.

“I didn’t want her to carry that,” Paul answered with a tinge of annoyance, “and I’m surprised you would have let her to be honest.”

“She can take care of herself.”

“Not what I meant.”

“Then what the hell’dya mean?” Daryl stood up quickly in defense, his hand ripping away from Paul’s causing a fresh stream of blood to flow from the wound.

“Daryl, stop. I just meant that as someone who loves her, why would you let her carry the murder of anyone around with her? That’s a heavy thing—”

“Ain’t like she didn’t do it before, man. Trust me when I tell ya, she’d be fine with it.”

“I think you overestimate her ability to be strong enough to do that right now Daryl,” Paul sighed and stood up. “I don’t want to fight with you, I just want to make sure you are both ok.”

“That’s what I don’t get, why do you care what the fuck happens ta me ‘n her?” Daryl’s hands were on his hips, his brow furrowed in frustration.

“Because, there aren’t many remarkable things left in this world Daryl. Did you ever stop to think that what the two of you built here, the life you’ve created for yourselves and your children, is one of the last most beautiful, pure things? Protecting that, that’s what’s important. Forging ahead for the sake and future of Shelby and Abraham, that’s what matters. Everything else, is trivial.”awe

Daryl sighed and began to chew on his lip as he always did when in deep thought. Paul’s words echoed in his ear like clanging church bells, and made him regret everything instantly. He hung his head, his hair obscuring the pained expressed that crept onto his face.

Paul could sense it was his time to go and gently laid the rest of the suture kit back on the porch.

“I can send Tara by to finish up. Be sure to see Denise soon to get that hand set, okay?” When Daryl didn’t say anything, Paul smirked and shook his head once. “Find her and talk to her. Don’t let this one thing take away everything else.”

Daryl watched Paul leave through the corner of his eye. When he rounded the corner, Daryl sat back down and picked up the needle to finish sewing his hand. With each pass through his skin, he winced and thought about Y/N.

Flashing back to the first time he’d seen her at the prison, a small smile crept on his face. She was talking to Maggie in the courtyard, right before the canopy had been constructed for the kitchen. Her hair was tied up, allowing him to see the long lines of her neck that flowed down into her shoulders.

He remembered what she was wearing, down to the delicate silver chain she had around her neck. Daryl had thought back then she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. But it was when she threw her head back and laughed at something Maggie had said, that he was gone for her. The sound of her laughter made his stomach bottom out and his throat go dry.

Not too long after that, she had invited him out hunting and his life was never the same. Five years and two kids later, she was still everything to him. Her smile and her laugh were what helped him to get up every day. Having the chance to be a father to Shelby and Abe gave his life purpose.

Daryl finished patching his knuckles and used his broken hand to help push up from the stairs. The pain ripped through his fingers, up through wrist and up his arm.

“Fuck,” he growled and grunted as he got to his feet. Taking in a deep breath and knowing what he now had to do, he headed towards the infirmary to find Denise.

  “Dad?” Carl asked quietly as he entered the kitchen were Rick stood with his back facing him.

“Hmm?” Rick mumbled absently as he stared out the small window over the sink. Finally turning, he saw Carl standing by the counter. “What is it?”

“Why didn’t you let Daryl kill him?”

“Carl, it’s late I—”

“You said you would talk to me, listen… I want to talk,” Carl sat on one of the stools and Rick moved to the opposite side of the counter and rolled his neck to try and center his mind.

“Well, honestly, I don’t know. It’s what I’ve been standin’ here thinkin’ bout.”

“Did you come to any sort of conclusion?”

“No, son, I haven’t.”

“He should die. For all he’s done to us, to others…”

“Yeah, he should.”

“But, we can’t. Or we’d be no better, right?”

“That’s what some people think.”

“Is that what you think dad?”

Rick sighed and looked closely at the young man across from him, that wasn’t so young anymore. Carl had grown into being a man without Rick even realizing it. Hanging is head, the Sheriff did his best to hold back the emotion that wanted to spill down his cheeks.

“Car—” Rick paused as his voice cracked trying to say his son’s name.

As he was about to start again, Michonne quietly entered the room and leaned against the wall behind Carl.

“What do you think, Carl?” she asked, both men turning their heads to look at her.

“I think he should die. It’s what I went to The Hilltop to do. I understand why people don’t agree. I was rooting on Y/N when she had the gun on him. I wanted Daryl to beat him to death. But…” he sighed and looked up at his parents with sad, conflicted eyes, “…I was relieved when they were both stopped.”

Michonne placed a hand on her son’s shoulder and squeezed. “I felt the same way.”

Smiling Carl covered her hand with his before turning to hug her. “I’m sorry I scared you guys. I never meant for that to happen. And, I’m sorry for visiting him. I won’t do it again. I promise.”

“I don’t think that will be an issue anymore, Carl,” Rick ticked his head quickly rubbed his face.

“How come? He’s alive, isn’t he?” Carl asked, passing a curious glance with Michonne.

“For now, yeah,” Rick replied. “Who knows for how long though.”

All three stood around the kitchen for another moment, letting the weight of Rick’s words pass through them.

“I’m tired,” Carl said rubbing hand across the back of his neck. “Not much sleep last night, so I’m going up. See you for breakfast?”

“Only if you go get the eggs from the coop,” Michonne teased, “I did it twice this week and I am not going in there again.”

“Fine, I can do that mom. I’ll even cook.” Carl smiled sweetly and kissed her cheek before heading up stairs.

“He’s a good boy, despite his tendency to get into trouble,” Michonne joked, but when she looked back at Rick, his expression caused her face to fall. “What?”

“I don’t know, I just got a feelin’,” Rick said pulling his wife into an embrace.

“A feeling about what?”

“That this shit isn’t over yet.” Rick kissed the top of her head, and slowly started walking her towards the stairs leading up to their bedroom.

  You could see the sky starting to come alive with color as you wiped the last tear drop from your cheek. They’d been falling steady since you walked away from Daryl the night before. Feeling as if your heart had been ripped out, you eventually found your way home and climbed the steps until you reached your bedroom door.

Thinking about the last time you were in there, caused you to stop and the tears to start again. You couldn’t walk into the room you shared with the archer, without him. He should be there with you, curled up in your bed and finding comfort in each other. Instead, you were alone, the kids were far away at The Kingdom, and Daryl had left on his bike a few hours before, he roar of the engine unmistakable as you hear it take off through the gates.

Shambling down towards Shelby’s room, you opened the door to the little girl’s space and fell into her bed. It was far too small for you, but you curled up into the fetal position and fell asleep almost instantly.

Hours had passed when you woke to noises coming from downstairs. The sun had gone almost completely around and was beginning to show the deep hues of dusk off in the west. Rubbing your eyes, you shuffled down to the growing chaos.

Just as your foot hit the bottom step, Abe and Shelby came racing around the corner and crashed into your legs. It was their favorite way to pass along a greeting.

“Mama!!” Shelby squealed, and this time Abe didn’t cover his ears. His little arms were firmly strapped to your left leg, while Shelby invaded your right.

“Munchkins!” You cried and bent down, picking them both up and showering kisses on their faces. “How did you get here?!”

“I grabbed them,” Glenn said coming around the corner with Hershel set firmly on his hip. “Left last night, got back a few hours ago. Saw you were sleeping and wanted to let you rest before, well, this.”

He nodded at the kids in your arms and chuckled. “I figured you missed them and could use them around right now.”

“And me too, I hope,” Maggie said as she emerged from the hallway.

Your felt your chest rise and fall heavily and relief wash over you as you saw Maggie’s smiling face. Kissing each of the kids again, you placed them down gently and ran into her open arms. The second she pulled you in for a hug, you felt as though everything was okay.

“Maggie,” you started crying and buried your face into her shoulder.

“Awe, hun,” she tutted, embracing you tighter.

The teapot began screaming from the kitchen. Glenn placed Hershel on the floor and went into the room to turn off the burner. A minute later he returned with a steaming mug of tea.

“Here, thought maybe you could use this,” he said, a large grin across his face as his wife gave him an appreciative wink for taking care of you. You took the mug gratefully and thanked him.

“Hey,” he said suddenly clapping his hands together, “I have a great idea guys. Why don’t we head over to Aunt Carol’s and see if she has any cookies left!” Glenn said excitedly, trying to usher the kids towards the door. “If that’s okay with the moms.”

“I think that’s a great idea!” Maggie smiled and knelt by Abe and Shelby. “You mind if I talk to your momma for a bit? Get some cookies and then I promise y’all get her all to yourselves, ‘lright?”

“Ok Auntie,” Shelby said and turned to hug your leg again. Abe mimicked her and took Glenn’s free hand as they walked towards the door.

“Love you babies, see you soon,” you called after them as Glenn walked them to Carol’s house across the street.

Turning, you crashed your head into Maggie’s shoulder again, causing her to chuckle.

“Alright, spill. What the hell is going on?!” She asked and brushed a stray hair from your cheek.

“I’m an idiot, that’s what’s wrong,” you whined, as she led you into the living room.

Sitting down in unison, her arm still around your shoulders, your head on yours, you recounted your entire experience with Negan and everything that led up to fighting with Daryl. When you were finished, she fell back against the couch with a huff.

“Jesus Christ,” she breathed and shook her head. “I just don’t get Rosita in all this, even with what you said, I don’t get it. That man killed Abraham, right in front of us. Then she goes and not only frees him, but sleeps with him?”

“Mags, I know. Trust me. The whole time I was there, I just couldn’t wrap my head around the idea that Rosita was one of those conspiring against Rick, and literally sleeping with the enemy. Still can’t, to be honest. And now, she’s pregnant…”

Shaking her head, Maggie stood from the couch and walked to the large bureau where you kept the bottles of alcohol. “You can drink the tea if you want, but I think this calls for somethin’ stronger.”

Snorting a laugh, you sat up off the couch and left the tea on the table. As Maggie grabbed the bottle of bourbon, you took two small glasses from the cabinet and set them on the kitchen counter. Joining you, Maggie poured you each a shot. Raising them in salute, you threw back the liquor and winced at the burn in your throat.

Nodding when she offered a second, that one went down a bit smoother, and you could feel its silky residue coating your insides as it made its way through you.

“So, what now?” Maggie asked, placing her glass down on the counter.

“Now, I have no idea. Daryl left sometime last night to God knows where. But, at least you and the kids are home,” you smiled and reached across the counter to take her hand.

The front door was pushed open with a knock as Michonne came in, her eyes wide and a small smile of satisfaction on her face.

“Everything okay?” you asked.

“Negan… he’s dead.” Her voice was steady, but her face gave away her elation of delivering the news.

You and Maggie glanced at each other, sharing a common glance of quiet satisfaction. “When?” she asked, looking back at Michonne.

“I don’t know, sometime in the night. Denise found him dead.”

“Did he turn?” Maggie asked curiously.

“No, she said that he had passed but didn’t turn yet. She caught him in time,” Michonne replied, her voice heavy with relief.

“Well, I guess that’s over with,” you said and poured another shot for yourself.

Offering the bottle to Maggie, she waved it off, as did Michonne. Throwing back the third shot, you could really feel the effects of the alcohol taking over your senses.

“Maybe you should eat, hun…” Maggie put her hand over yours as you grabbed the bottle for another. “…before the kids get back.”

Sighing, you knew she was right. Slumping down in the stool, you felt Michonne come sit next to you.

“You alright? Yesterday was a rough day,” she asked sympathetically.

“I’m fine,” you mumbled into your arms as you laid your head on them down on the counter, “Just fuckin’ peachy.”

  Daryl maneuvered his bike back through the gate, killing the engine as soon as he cleared it. The hour was late and he knew most of the community would be sleeping. He’d been gone two days, and as much as it killed him to be away from Y/N and the kids, he knew he needed the time to clear his head.

On his trip he stopped by The Kingdom to retrieve a few things left behind, and to see the doctor for his hand. Luckily it wasn’t broken, just badly sprained and bruised. The rest of his time out was spent thinking and shouldering the guilt of all that had happened.

Walking through the community, he started to head for home, but broke off to the right and headed towards the prison. Sasha was on guard, and opened the door for him without hesitation. Once inside, he walked into the interior cell and towards the closed barred door.

Rosita sat on the bench before him, her legs crossed, head back against the wall. Upon hearing his boot steps, she leveled her head to see Daryl standing at the door, his hands wrapped around the bars loosely.

“So, he knocked you up, huh?” Daryl asked, his tone thick with disgust. “What the fuck were you thinkin’?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said coldly, keeping his gaze but her face staying blank. “He’s dead now, you know.”

“And?” Daryl snorted, “I’m supposta care?”

“No, of course not. Especially since you’re the one that killed him.”

“Me? Nah, I didn’t get that honor sweetheart. Besides, I didn’t come here about that.”

“The what the fuck do you want, Dixon?”

“I wanna know what happened in his room that night Y/N was there,” Daryl’s gaze narrowed on her, and Rosita could feel the anger from her old friend burning into her. “I wanna hear it from you.”

“Nothing happened.”

“Alright,” he scoffed, “keep lyin’.”

“Fine, we had sex in front of her while she was tied to a chair,” Rosita said with a huff. “He wanted to fuck her. He tried, she stabbed him and ran.”

“That’s it?”

“Yeah, Daryl. That’s it. He threatened you and Rick specifically. He said that if she didn’t somewhat comply, you and he would suffer. She played along enough to get the jump on him and then…” Rosita trailed off, her hands raised as if she didn’t know what to say.

“So, if you’re knocked up, you’ve been in this a while?”

“At least a year,” she said quietly, a hint of regret betraying her expression.

Daryl shook his head. “You know you’re in here now, right? For turning your back on your family and helpin’ to let him loose.”

“Family? This isn’t a family, Daryl. Rick is about Rick, Michonne, Judith and Carl. That’s it. You, Y/N, Glenn, Maggie, Carol… everyone else?! We’re all expendable. He made that clear when he let Negan live after killing Abraham.”

“So fuckin’ him is your solution? Helpin’ him get out so he can almost kill my wife again?” His voice was rising, and he could hear Sasha from outside asking if he was alright.

“It’s fine!” he called back over his shoulder, then back to Rosita.

“I don’t need to explain myself to you.” Rosita turned her head and closed her eyes, signaling her part of the conversation was over.

���That’s fine, Rosita. I got what I needed,” he turned to leave, but heard her mumble something under her breath and turned back to face her. “With him dead, ain’t no one comin’ to save you, you know. You’ll stay in her till that baby comes, then…” Daryl paused long enough for Rosita to look at him again.

“Then, what?” she asked, starring at him blankly.

Daryl’s lips twitched into a smile just enough for her to see it and he shrugged. Turning on the heel of his boot, he gave her a small little wave goodbye as he sauntered out through the main gate.

Several minutes later he approached the porch to his house and paused. All the lights were out, save for one dimly light illumination in the kitchen. He was sure everyone was asleep, but dared to go in anyway, hoping he could find her awake.

  Laying on the couch in the dark living room, the sound of boot steps on the porch startled you to sitting. As the front door opened, you stood up and wait nervously to see who just walked in.

Daryl rounded the corner, and you felt your breath hitch in your throat. Swallowing hard, the sight of him suddenly made you nervous, and self-conscious at how you must look. Brushing your hair back away from your face and smoothing out your shirt, you tried to think of something to say, but nothing came out.

“Hey,” he said quietly, leaning against the door frame.

“Hey,” you managed to say without your voice cracking, noticing the stitches on his hand, you motioned towards it, “Your hand ok?”

“Mhmm. Stopped by the Kingdom, Fabian checked it out. It’s fine.”

Daryl took a step into the room and you could feel the nervous energy radiating off him in waves.

“You alright?” he asked, moving off the doorframe and taking a few tentative steps towards you.

You nodded and let him close the distance. When he was within arm’s reach, you instinctively reached out for him, laying your hand upon his chest. The familiar feeling of him caused your chest to ache, longing for him against you.

“Daryl… I’m—”

“Stop.”

He closed the distance and had you against him in a second. He nuzzled his face into the hair on the top of your head and drew in a deep breath of you. Feeling his hands wrap up around your back – one to your neck and the other snaking across the small of your back – you relished in the warmth of him.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “It’s over, alright? It’s over.”

At the sound of his words, you could feel your body cave into him. His strong, muscular arms enveloping you in.

“I love you,” you said simply, your head buried in his chest causing your words to be muffled. Lifting your face to his, you were met by his blue eyes gazing down at yours.

Hesitantly, Daryl leaned down and lifted your chin with his fingers. Gently stroking your cheek with his thumb, he hesitated for a moment before returning the sentiment, “I love you too.”

Daryl bent down towards your lips, allowing his own to brush a light kiss against them. It was soft and tentative, as though he wasn’t sure if he was allowed to. He pulled back slightly and brushed your hair from your face.

“Kids alright? Lana said Glenn went and brought everybody back couple days ago.”

“They’re good. Sleeping finally.”

“I’m gonna check on ‘em,” he said with a little smirk, one you’d seen many times upon his return after being gone for more than a night.

“I was about to go to bed before you came in,” you took his hand in yours and laced your fingers through it. “You gonna join me after?”

“Mhm, I’ll be right there,” Daryl said, quieter than usual.

He cupped your check one last time, and pulled you in for another hesitant kiss before turning and going up to check on the kids.

  Daryl checked on Abe who was sleeping soundly, his little snores filling Daryl with a swell of love that nearly choked him. Ruffling the boy’s hair, he bent and gave him a little kiss on his forehead before pulling the covers tighter around him.

As he moved to Shelby’s room, he saw the little girl stirring and quickly closed the door, so the hallway light wouldn’t disturb her. He knelt at the side of her bed, and brushed the hair from her face as he just had done to Y/N minutes before.

My girl he thought as he watched the Shelby’s rosy lips open and close as she breathed. Closing his eyes, Daryl thought back to how closely he came to losing them all just like the dream he’d had the week before.

“I ain’t never gonna let that happen munchkin,” he whispered to his sleeping daughter. “No one is ever gonna hurt ya, I promise.”

Standing from the floor, he turned and left, making sure the door was quietly shut behind him.

  Daryl entered the bedroom just as you were slipping the oversized nightshirt on, catching a brief glimpse of your otherwise name body, before the cotton cascaded down your form. Smiling at him, you began to sweep your hair up off your neck as he strode across the room and placed his hand on yours.

“Don’t,” he said, gently bringing your hand down away from your head. “I like it down.”

Those four words caused an instant heat to grow in your gut and quickly spread down between your thighs. Daryl grabbed you by the back of the neck and roughly pulled you into him.

“I got pissed like I did, ‘cause I thought maybe you didn’t want to be mine anymore,” his voice was quiet, but the grip on your neck was strong and intense. “I thought maybe…”

“Daryl, don’t say that. I never want to be without you,” your (y/e/c) eyes pleaded with his to believe you.

“I know. Just needed a minute or two to remember that,” he said as his released your neck and lightly trailed down your shoulders and to your arms. “You are mine, right?”

 “Always.”

 Lightly pressing his forehead to yours, his voice was soft but still demanding. “I need you to show me.”

 It came out as a whisper, but there was so much power behind his words. His rough hands pawed their way up your chest, briefly stopping to brush a thumb over your nipple. Daryl’s right hand curled up gently around your throat as he used the weight of his body to push you back into the wall.

 “You mine?” he growled in your ear, before his mouth clamped down on your neck, causing a slight gasp to escape your lips.

 “Yes,” you replied breathlessly as he continued to bite and suck the space between your ear and collarbone.

 Suddenly, his left hand was tangled in your hair and pulling your head to one side. “Say it again,” he purred, running his tongue ever so lightly around your ear. “I wanna hear you say it.”

“I’m yours, I’m always fucking yours,” you panted as the wetness between your thighs began to spread. “Yours… Daryl, always.”

Without another word, Daryl tore the large shirt off your body and tossed it aside. Still pushing you back against the wall, he trailed hot, wet kisses down your chest and across your abdomen until he reached your sex. On his knees now, he threw one of your legs over his shoulder and buried his face in your pussy.

Daryl’s tongue didn’t tease or play, he thrust it as deeply inside you as he could, his hand clawing down your skin until his thumb hit your clit, the other still pushing your chest back against the wall.

“Fuck,” fell from your lips as you wrapped your hands into his hair, pushing his face further into you.

Daryl’s thumb followed the ridges of your folds down through the silky hot residue of your need for him and slipped his fingers up inside you, while his tongue flicked upwards at your clit. His teeth grazing it as he fucked you with his hand.

“Shit… baby… wait…” you tried to plead with him to slow his relentless assault on you, but your words fell flat as he licked and swirled around you, sucking every last bit he could. The faster his hand moved in you, the shorter your breaths became. Your head fell forward with a sharp moan as you felt your walls start to flutter around his fingers. Even once your release washed over his mouth and hands, he didn’t stop.

He slowly continued to drink you in, causing a swell of sensitivity that made you try to pull his head back from between your legs. Finally, he relented, taking his time stand, kissing you randomly up your stomach to your breasts.

When he was fully upright again, Daryl placed his hands against the wall on both sides of your head and leaned in to kiss you as your fingers fumbled with the buttons on his shirt before making their way down to unbuckling his belt.

Once you freed from his clothing, he slowly pulled his mouth from yours. His eyes dark with lust and something more, something you’d never really seen in him before. The way his hands moved and pawed at your body, you felt as though he was marking you as his. The way he kissed you was rougher, the way he devoured you was coarser than he ever had before.

Grabbing your hips, he lifted you up, the tip of his erection easily sliding up between your lips and against your overly sensitive clit. The whimper that passed through your lips elicited a guttural reaction from him as Daryl whipped you around and had you down on the bed in seconds.

Pinning your arms above your head with one hand, Daryl used his knee to push your thighs apart and center himself over you. He was looking down, and you could read him well enough to know that he needed you to tell him again, and keep telling him until that deep dark part of him could hear it. It wasn’t just the sex he needed, it was the complete and utter knowledge that you belonged solely to him, and no one else.

Struggling against his hands, your eyes playfully pleaded with him to let you go. You could feel his dick throbbing against you, aching to be inside you already. But he hesitated, continuing to drink you in with his lust blown eyes.

“Fuck me,” you pleaded in a whisper, “please baby.”

You bucked your hips up towards him, forcing him to enter you but knowing full well that he wouldn’t because this was part of the game he wanted to play.

“Please,” you whined into him as his mouth came down on the other side of your neck, leaving the same marks he did before. The sensation of his tongue riding the lines of your neck made you squirm beneath. “Daryl, I want you… I need to feel you.”

Ignoring your request, he finally pulled back from assaulting your neck and released your hands from his grip. He moved from between your legs and flipped you over, so you were flat on your stomach. Daryl’s hands gripped into the flesh of your hips, yanking you roughly up and slamming you back into him.

The full length of his erection slid into you, triggering a groan of pain mixed with bliss. The rhythmic slapping of flesh against flesh filled the room immediately as it melded with both your and Daryl’s panting breaths.

“Fuck…” Daryl grunted as he twisted his hand into your hair, yanking you back against him. His breath was hot on your ear, but it sent a ripple of chills down your arms. “This what you want?”

“Yesss” escaped your lips with a moan as he released your hair and ran his hand down your pussy, finding your clit with his fingers again. “FUCK!” you screamed as he continued to thrust into you as deeply as he could.

You could feel him start to get lost in his own climax when he buried his head into the back of your neck, his teeth biting down on your shoulder. Squealing at the pain and euphoric sensation of if you fell forward again, his hands racing to your hips to slam you faster back against him.

It took barely another moment of his relentless assault for you to cum again, the sensation of your release triggering his own.

“Unffuck!” Daryl growled as he exploded inside you, pulling you back up to him so he could kiss your neck. Despite his climax, Daryl stayed buried in you, his lips trailing wanting kisses up and down your neck as he tried to catch his own breath.

You turned your head to meet his mouth and he brought his lips to yours. Releasing you completely, you were finally able to turn and face him, his chest and torso sweaty and heaving.

Daryl cupped your face with his hands and pulled you closer towards him. He kissed you, softer this time before pulling back the covers and allowing you to climb beneath them. Once he was settled, you nestled into the crook of his arm and smiled when you felt his lips leave a kiss on your forehead.

“Daryl, you know I meant that, right? I am yours. Always.”

“Mhm, I know,” he said, his voice rough with exhaustion. “I’m sorry I ever thought different, sweetheart.”

Drifting off to sleep, you could feel the trauma and stress of the last several days begin to slowly dissipate. Knowing that the kids were safely sleeping down the hall and that Daryl was beside you, you realized that whatever else comes along in the future, you’d be able to get through it, together.

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[h-o-l-l-i]

There’s a New Sheriff in Town

Word Count: 1,200

Warnings: None

Author’s Note: Requests are open!

Part 12

Part 1| Part 2| Part 3| Part 4| Part 5| Part 6| Part 7| Part 8| Part 9| Part 10| Part 11|

You sat there with Negan until the sun came up, spreading its warm rays across the sanctuary. ��He got up reluctantly leaving you alone to go take care of some business. You didn’t mind, in fact this was all going to the plan you had made. He put Dwight in charge of helping you with anything that you may have needed while he was gone.

“I’m good Dwight, you don’t need to babysit me.” you told him, standing up from the couch and limping slightly.

“Well, I’m not supposed to leave you, Negan said.” he started.

“Yeah, well I don’t care what Neagn said.” you snapped at him “I’m telling you that you should listen to me. Remember what happened to the last person that didn’t listen to me” you said strongly, raising an eyebrow waiting for Dwight to challenge you.

He paused, thinking about it, “Okay. But, I don’t like it.” 

“You don’t have to.” you blurted out not having enough patience for dealing with him today. After he left the room you got dressed, you feel better today but still a little sore. You needed to take action today or else the plan would be in drastic jeopardy. You put on your big girl pants and soldiered on.

You walked to the medic building and easily found Mary, the sanctuary’s new doctor. She was terrified, looking at you with wide eyes. You smiled calmly and it seemed to settle her down a little. “Hey, Mary, how are you?” you asked her.

She hesitated, realizing that you were alone, she didn’t expect Negan to leave you without supervision for a while. “Good, how are you felling? How’s your pain?”

“I’m okay, I know the best nurse, she’s a doctor now actually. She’ll fix me up real good.” you smiled hoping to cheer her up a little. “I’m actually hoping to get a couple of those pain killers.I’ve got some things that I would like to do and those may come in handy.” you said pointing to the medicine locker.

“Yeah, but first let me have a look at your head and shoulder.” she said voice shaky.

“Mary.” she keeps glancing at the door waiting for Negan to enter, “It’s just me. No one else. You can relax.” she walked back over to you with clean bandages in her gloved hands. “Look, I know what Negan did last night. I don’t exactly agree with it, but, it happened.” you paused, sighing, “Things happen. You just have to deal with it.” you finished.

 After you were done with Mary, you were feeling a lot better. She gave you some extra pain killers in a pill bottle for later. Now, it has to be now. Back in the sanctuary, you were able to distract the guards saying that there was an emergency meeting Neagn called, said that you would take watch until they got back. When they left you entered and started looking around. You needed something that was fast, easy and a quiet kill. Your eyes landed on a familiar weapon. Daryl’s crossbow. Perfect.

You took it outside and hide it in some bushes. You had just returned to the doors when you see the men walking back to their post that you ‘watched’ for them. 

“Hey, Y/N, there wasn’t anyone in there. Asked around and they said Negan was already gone.” the man said.

“Oh,” you furrowed your brows, “I thought I heard Dwight say something. Um, sorry guys.” you said walking away shaking your head, acting like you were confused.

Once out of their sight, you grabbed the hidden weapon, slinging it over your shoulder that wasn’t injured. You walked around confidently, making others think that you were allowed to have it within the walls. Nothing else going through your mind other than you plan.

“Hey guys, you know where Dwight is? S’posed to help me with somethin’.” you said acting more fragile than you actually are, hoping they would buy what you’re selling.

“Yeah, Y/N. He’s out by the fence, smoke break.” they said pointing in the direction where they keep the cars and bikes.

“Thanks guys.” you said innocently, smiling at them and limping over in his direction.

You closed the door behind you silently, and you looked around for Dwight. No sign of him. You readied the crossbow, ready for anything. You caught sight of a cloud of smoke, Dwight. You walked toward it, being completely silent, the way you were taught back when this whole thing started ages ago. You pressed your back up against the wall, taking a deep breath, this had to go right or the plan to take down the sanctuary and Negan would get you and everyone else at Alexandria killed.

You swing around the corner of the wall and shoot. The arrow pierced the tire of one of the motorcycles next to him. He was shocked, his head snapping to the arrow. You ran up to him with the crossbow ready. “Don’t move.” you said through your teeth. He just looked at you, shocked. He never took you as the person who would be capable of doing this, fooling everyone to think that you were weak and couldn’t take care of yourself. Carol taught you well. 

“Put them on the ground. All of ‘em.” you commanded him. He stood up slowly and complied.

“What do you need Y/N? No one has to get hurt. Just put that thing down before you hurt yourself.” he said in a clam voice with his hands raised. He still thought that you were something fragile and weak.

“You’re takin’ me home.” you said staring daggers at him with he crossbow aimed between his eyes. He raised his eyebrows and nodded. “Don’t try anything or I’ll kill you.” you said to him in a stern, confident voice.

“Okay. Okay-” he started but you interrupted him.

“What made you think that you have a choice?” you said harshly, not wavering from your dominate position. “Get up. You look pathetic.” you said pushing him toward another bike and taking his things.

He started the motorcycle, you attached the bow to your back and had a knife in your hand that was hidden behind Dwight’s back, ready.

“Where are you guys going?” the guards questioned the two of you.

“Out.” you said plainly. “Open the gates or I’ll kill you and open them myself.”

They quickly complied, wanting to live. Dwight drove through without a problem. You grabbed Dwight’s gun that you had in your belt and turned around slightly and pulled the trigger twice, tying up loose ends.

The whole way to Alexandria you had your knife pressed to his back, preventing him if he tried anything. You wouldn’t hesitate. As you approached Alexandria you waived an arm at Tara and Eugene and they opened the gates allowing you and Dwight inside with ease.

You swung your leg off of the bike and pulled out your gun again and pressed it in between Dwight eyes. Rick searched him for any hidden weapons, coming up with nothing. Daryl ripped his vest off and placed it on his body where it belonged. You simply completed him when you handed him his crossbow. You pushed the gun closer into his forehead making him walk backwards out of Alexandria. “Enjoy the walk home.” you said in a gruff voice.

“Why’d you kill the others and not me?” he questioned.

“I’ll do that later.” you said with no emotion, “I need you to give Negan a message from us.” you said raising your arms slightly motioning to the others standing around you, “It’s. War.”

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