I'll Never Love Again - Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper


Later that day, after forcing herself to leave the gruesome pike border, Maggie entered the Kingdom horse stables, making her way to the last stall where Tara's horse was being kept. The brownish/black mare was busily munching on some hay. Maggie reached out to pet the horse that Tara had affectionately named Camaro after her favorite type of sports car.

"Don't worry, girl. I'm gonna take care of you now," Maggie softly told the horse. Camaro nuzzled her face against Maggie's in a comforting manner as if sensing that her owner wouldn't be coming back anymore.

Maggie didn't even try to stop the tears that started to fall as she thought about Tara and the awful pikes. Camaro nuzzled her some more as Maggie pulled the horse closer, crying into the mare's soft fur. She couldn't stop her mind from thinking about Tara's last moments on earth.

On the way back to the Kingdom from the valley, Daryl and Maggie had stumbled onto the barn where the massacre had taken place. The old building was run down and ominous looking. Daryl wasn't going to pay any attention to it but something told him to investigate the barn.

As soon as the doors were opened, it was obvious that it had been the scene of the brutal slaughter. Maggie gasped when she saw all the dried blood on the floor and walls. There was caked on blood all over the stall doors and the hay scattered about was a dark red color. The air had a coppery smell to it that was overwhelming and sickening. Maggie immediately felt sick to her stomach and tried to push away the wave of nausea that washed over her.

Daryl carefully walked into the barn, glancing around. He stopped when he saw a necklace on the ground. Scooping it up, Daryl immediately recognized the wooden "H" emblem on the necklace that stood for Hilltop. It had some blood on it but it was Henry's and he was sure that either Carol or Lydia would want the jewelry.

Maggie stumbled further into the barn, not sure exactly what she was looking for. She glanced into the corner and immediately recognized Enid's bracelet. She carefully picked up the bracelet, studying it before sticking it into her pocket. She planned on giving the bracelet to Alden so he could have a memory of his girlfriend.

Just as Maggie was about to leave, she spotted something half hidden in the hay. She immediately felt tears when she discovered Tara's watch, the face stained with blood. Little Hershel had given Tara the watch for her 30th birthday almost a year ago. The little boy had specifically asked Jesus to find a cool watch for Tara while out on a supply run. Tara wore the watch all the time much to Hershel's delight.

Maggie barely had the watch in her hand for a second before she felt another wave of nausea hit her full force. Daryl became a bit alarmed as Maggie ran out of the barn. He quickly took off after her until he found her near a couple of bushes, throwing up.

"Are you alright?" Daryl asked as Maggie finished up.

Maggie wiped her mouth and closed her eyes, willing the nausea to go away. She couldn't stop herself from blurting out. "I'm fine. It's just mornin' sickness."

"Mornin' sickness?! You're pregnant?" Daryl was shocked by the news. He definitely wasn't expecting Maggie to be knocked up.

Maggie simply nodded her head, fresh tears falling down her cheeks when she remembered that Tara would never know about their child. "That's why I came back so soon. I was gonna tell Tara that I was pregnant with our baby...but...she's...gone."

She covered her face with her hands as sobs overtook her body. Daryl sighed sadly as he pulled Maggie into his arms, hugging her close. Maggie wrapped her arms around Daryl, sobbing into his shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I know Tara was all about Hershel and she'd be the same with this baby. Shit..." Daryl blinked away some tears since Tara had been a good friend to him over the years. The group had had their differences but he and Tara had always remained on good terms.

"She would have been so happy. How am I gonna do this by myself, Daryl? At least with Hershel, I had Tara by my side," Maggie broke out into more tears, gripping her friend close.

"We're all here for you, Maggie. Maybe you should get back to Alexandria with Michonne and Rosita. Hilltop probably won't be same with everyone gone..." Daryl suggested as Maggie shrugged her shoulders.

"I'll think about it. I don't know what I'm gonna do yet," Maggie wiped her tears away, taking a deep breath.

Daryl noticed the bloody watch that Maggie was holding. He knew that it was Tara's watch since she always wore it. He motioned for Maggie to hand it to him. She reluctantly handed it over and watched as Daryl poured some water on his shirt. He carefully took the watch, cleaning the blood off the face and band.

"There. Ya don't need to be lookin' at Tara's blood all over it," Daryl gave Maggie the clean watch.

"Thank you," Maggie whispered as she put the watch on her wrist. They both glanced at the barn one last time before resuming their way back to the Kingdom.

Now, Maggie was hiding out in the Kingdom stables, hugging Tara's horse, trying to find the strength to be strong for her son's sake. Hershel didn't say much that morning when he woke up. His poor eyes were red from all the crying he had done the night before. Maggie had asked Michonne to watch Hershel while she went to the valley with Daryl. The little boy hadn't asked any questions when Michonne came by the room to collect him. He just gripped his teddy bear tight and held Michonne's hand, following her outside. Maggie had never seen her son looking so lost and afraid, it really broke her heart.

Sighing dejectedly, Maggie petted the horse one more time before facing the new reality that she was now living. Just then Magna strolled into the stables, giving Maggie a sad smile.

"The wagon is packed and ready for the trip back to Hilltop. Daryl said he's gonna go with us and stay for a few days. I'm just gonna get Tara's horse hitched to the wagon," Magna made her way to Camaro's stall, opening the door.

"I'll go get Hershel ready to go," Maggie said as she left the stables, looking for her son and Michonne. She found them in the courtyard with Judith. The kids were busily drawing pictures but the mood was somber.

"Hey sweetie, you ready to go home?" Maggie asked as Hershel just shrugged his shoulders. He shyly held out a picture to his mother that he had drawn of their family. She had to force away her tears when she saw that he had drawn her, Tara and himself together.

"It's beautiful," Maggie commented as Michonne nodded in agreement. Michonne gently pulled Maggie a few feet away so they could talk without the kids hearing.

"Daryl told me the news...that you're pregnant," Michonne hugged Maggie close. Even though the moment was a sad one, she was happy for her friend.

"Yeah. I was gonna tell Tara..." Maggie trailed off, not quite sure what to say.

Michonne glanced over at where the kids were still drawing. She could tell that Hershel was hurting immensely and sometimes denied that Tara was gone, asking for her a few times that morning.

"You and Hershel always have a place in Alexandria, just in case Hilltop becomes too much," Michonne reached over, giving Maggie another comforting hug. She knew the pain of what it felt like to lose a partner while also being pregnant with their child. Rick never knew about little RJ and the boy was growing up without his father around. Michonne felt awful that Tara never even got the chance to find out about her child.

"Thank you..." Maggie smiled sadly.

Just then, Daryl announced that the horses and wagons were ready for the trip back to Hilltop. Maggie hugged and said goodbye to Michonne, Rosita, Carol, Eugene and King Ezekiel. Daryl picked up little Hershel and carried him to the wagon where Yumiko, Magna, Connie, Kelly and Luke were waiting. Daryl sat in the front with Yumiko, grabbing the reins to the horses.

Maggie took a seat next to Connie while Hershel shyly looked around at all the new people. He decided to sit on his mother's lap where he felt the safest and he wasn't sure about the new people just yet but they seemed nice enough. Daryl told the horses to trot as the gates to the Kingdom opened up. Maggie waved goodbye to her friends as the wagon moved down the road.

Most of the ride was made in silence since no one really knew what to say. Connie wrote a note to Maggie expressing her sympathy about Tara and how Tara had been a good friend. Luke offered to help Hershel learn how to play a violin which the boy shyly agreed to.

After a couple of hours, Maggie closed her eyes as she thought about Tara, letting herself surrender to her memories...


About a year ago...

Tara and Jesus finally arrived back at the Hilltop gates after being away for nearly a week. The two had been at the Kingdom, helping King Ezekiel and Carol fix the piping network throughout the community. The pipes were all in working order now and King Ezekiel sent back some medicine as thanks. The two barely made it into the gates before they were stopped by Alden.

"Hey, Tara, just a heads up, Hershel's been pretty sick these last few days. I'll take your horse to the stable and feed and water her so you can go check on your boy," Alden offered as Tara immediately jumped off Camaro at the mention of Hershel's health.

"Thanks Alden! Goodnight, guys. I'll see y'all tomorrow," Tara hurriedly gave Jesus and Alden a fist bump before she took off to the house.

After a few minutes, Tara made it to the front door of her house, quickly unlocking and stepping in. She made sure to be as quiet as possible since it was already night out and Hershel might be asleep. Tara closed the door behind her and quietly walked into the living room where she found Hershel snuggled up in a blanket on the couch. He was fast asleep, holding his teddy bear tight. Maggie was sitting next to him, reading a book.

"Tara! You're finally back. I missed you so much," Maggie quietly whispered as she got up to give her girlfriend a hug and a kiss.

"I missed you too, babe. Come on, let's go to the dining room so we can talk," Tara held Maggie close, reveling in her feel and the scent of her perfume. She had really missed Maggie while being away.

Tara leaned down to give Hershel a kiss on the forehead and tucked the blanket around him. She could feel how hot his skin was to the touch, hoping it wasn't anything serious. Maggie watched as Tara doted on their son, her love for her girlfriend growing tenfold at how attentive she was towards him.

The couple sat down at the dining room table. Tara told Maggie about how the Kingdom was doing better now that all the pipes were fixed. She also told her about how Carol was thinking about sending Henry to Hilltop because the boy really wanted to learn the blacksmithing trade.

"Well, if Carol wants to send him, we'll be more than happy to make sure he doesn't get into any trouble," Maggie said.

"What's wrong with my kiddo?" Tara asked.

Maggie sighed. "Enid said it's nothin' too serious but he's got a bad earache, sore throat and a fever that comes and goes. We gave him some medicine but it doesn't seem to help much. These last couple of days, he's just been cryin' cuz his ear hurts so much."

"Poor little guy," Tara hated it whenever Hershel was sick.

Meanwhile, Hershel was in the other room, slowly starting to wake from his slumber. The pain in his ear suddenly hit as he covered it with his little hand. He sat up when he heard voices talking in the dining room and immediately recognized Tara's voice. He was so happy that she was home now. The past few days, all Hershel wanted was to be comforted by his mother but now that Tara was home, all he wanted was her.

Hershel got up, grabbing his teddy bear, he slowly walked to the dining room. He peeked into the doorway and there was his Poppy sitting there with Mommy, talking about something. Even though, his earache was painful, he couldn't help but smile. He had missed his Poppy so much while she had been gone.

"Poppy..." Hershel whispered. He wasn't sure if his parents were talking about something serious or not. He knew when they had their serious talks, he wasn't supposed to interrupt unless it was an emergency.

Tara immediately turned around and saw Hershel standing at the doorway. She felt horrible because the boy was holding his ear, close to tears.

"Hey little man. You don't feel good, huh?" Tara wasted no time as she picked up little Hershel.

"No. My ear hurts a lot," Hershel wrapped his arms around Tara, placing his head on her shoulder as he started to cry from the pain.

"Don't worry, buddy. I'm here now," Tara comforted as she gently patted his back. She could feel his skin burning up from the fever.

"I love you..." Hershel sniffled as Tara just smiled.

"I love you, too, buddy," Tara held him closer.

Maggie watched Tara hold Hershel and try her best to comfort him. She knew the two had a strong bond and she was willing to bet that Hershel was drawn more to Tara than to her. Maggie definitely didn't mind though, the parent/child relationship that Tara and Hershel shared was amazing and she couldn't wait to see it grow over the years.

"You ready for bed?" Maggie asked. Tara had finally managed to get Hershel to stop crying for a few minutes.

Tara simply nodded as she gently grabbed Maggie's hand, helping her off the dining room chair and then leading her up the stairs to their bedroom. Tara gently placed Hershel on the bed, which he protested at first before he realized that Tara was going to lay down with him. She barely had time to get situated on her side before the little boy was back to cuddling on top of her. He nestled his head on her chest, listening to the comforting beat of her heart. Hershel spent the next hour, crying from the pain as Tara held him tight. Finally, the little boy fell asleep, nestled safely in Tara's arms. Maggie was on the other side of the bed, watching as Tara ran her fingers through their son's black hair.

"What?" Tara asked when she noticed that Maggie was staring at her.

"Nothin'. I just realized how much I love you," Maggie leaned over to give Tara a kiss.

"I love you, too. I love you and Hershel more than anything. You two are my everything," Tara reached over to hold Maggie's hand.

Maggie cuddled next to Tara, sighing with content when she felt Tara wrap an arm around her, pulling her close. That night Maggie and little Hershel cuddled with Tara, both feeling safe and protected from the ugly outside world.


"Hey...Maggie are you okay?" Magna asked, waking Maggie up from her nap.

Maggie glanced around at the faces surrounding her, realizing that everyone was looking at her with sad glances. Hershel was holding was close, trying to comfort her. It was then that Maggie realized that she had been crying in her sleep. Embarrassed, she wiped her tears away.

"I'm alright. I was just dreamin' about...Tara," Maggie admitted as Magna leaned over to give her a hug.

If you need anything, please let us know, Connie wrote as Maggie gave her a small smile of thanks.

Finally, after a few hours, the gates and walls of Hilltop were in view. The gates slowly opened as Maggie took in the familiar faces that looked back at her with sadness. The devastating news had already reached Hilltop since another wagon had left the Kingdom earlier that morning with the remains of the victims. The townspeople had already buried what remained of their friends, family and leader in the Hilltop cemetery.

When Hershel realized that he was back home, he was filled with newfound hope. Maybe this had all been a mistake and his Poppy was somewhere in the house, waiting for him. The wagon barely stopped before he jumped out, running toward his house as fast as his legs could carry him.

"Hershel! Wait!" Maggie jumped out of the wagon, chasing after her son. Daryl and Yumiko also followed just in case Maggie needed any help.

Hershel ran to the main house where he lived with his parents. He swung open the door and stepped inside, instantly noticing how quiet and dark the living room and kitchen were. He switched on lights as he ran into the office area, throwing open the closet door.

"Poppy! You can come out now! We're done playin' hide and seek!" Hershel yelled as he discovered that the closet was empty and Tara wasn't there. He wasn't ready to give up just yet.

He ran to the hallway closet where Tara sometimes hid under jackets and blankets. Throwing open the door, he dug through the pile of blankets that they had used to build pillow forts with in the past. "Hey! Poppy! You can come out now! I'm back home! Mommy is too!"

Maggie and Daryl ran into the house just in time to see Hershel digging through the closet. Maggie felt her heart break as he called for Tara over and over again. Yumiko gave her a look of sympathy as Hershel decided that the hallway closet was a lost cause. The little boy skipped up the stairs with the adults following close behind. He searched the guest bedrooms, his own room until finally he barged into his parents' room. It was there that Hershel started to come to terms that Tara was really gone and that she wouldn't be coming home anymore.

Hershel realized how much of Tara's presence was still lingering in his parents' bedroom. He glanced at the bed which was unmade and he saw that a couple of her shirts were on the floor. He couldn't stop the tears that ran down his face when he realized that his Poppy would never wear those shirts again or look at the pictures that he had drawn for her. He fell to the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees, rocking back and forth.

Maggie immediately hugged her son close as Daryl and Yumiko stood in the doorway, both with sad looks on their faces. Hershel sobbed as his new reality started to hit - his Poppy was really gone. She would never play games with him again. She would never stroll through the front door, ready for a hug when she got home from supply runs. She would never tuck him into bed or comfort him when he was sick. He and his mom were really all alone in this house now.

Maggie glanced around her bedroom, overwhelmed with all the memories of Tara. She couldn't believe that Tara had woken up that fateful morning, completely unaware that she would never be returning. Maggie saw the unkempt bed and wondered briefly if Tara had ever brought another woman home while she was gone. She quickly pushed the thought away. She noticed the clothes on the floor and the Stephen King book on the nightstand that Tara had been reading. Maggie half expected Tara to waltz into the room at any second but knew that would never happen. She felt Hershel grip her closer as his sobs got louder.

"Hey it's late. And we've been travelin' all day. Y'all should try to get some rest. I'll be in one of these guest rooms in case y'all need anythin'," Daryl bent down to give Maggie a hug and ran his fingers through Hershel's soft dark hair. The boy glanced up at his mom's friend. He knew about Daryl since he visited Tara a few times a year and he was always nice to Hershel.

Daryl raised his fist out for a fist bump which Hershel shyly accepted. "Hey kiddo. You need anythin', you let me know, alright son?"

Hershel wiped his tears away. "Okay..."

"We'll all be in the living room in case you need anything," Yumiko bid Maggie and little Hershel goodnight before shutting the door behind her.

Maggie gently picked up Hershel, setting him on Tara's side of the bed. "It's time for us to get some sleep, sweetie."

"I guess..." Hershel yawned as he cuddled into the covers, his head on Tara's pillow. He could smell her scent and it brought him some solace.

Maggie laid down beside her son, gently running her fingers through his hair as he closed his eyes. He glanced up at his mother.

"I really miss Poppy a lot..." Hershel sniffled as the tears started again.

"I know, baby. I miss her so much also," Maggie held the little boy close as he cried himself to sleep for the second night in a row. It hurt her heart to hear Hershel cry out for Tara but she kept her tears away as she comforted her son.

After a couple of hours, Hershel finally fell into a restless sleep. Maggie glanced at the clock which showed that it was almost one o'clock in the morning but she knew that there would be little to no sleep for her tonight. She slowly got out of bed so she wouldn't disturb her son, who was still cuddled on Tara's side.

Maggie went to the desk that was in the room. Earlier she had noticed pieces of paper all over that had Tara's handwriting. She quietly pulled out the chair and sat down, turning on the small lamp, setting a soft glow in the room. She glanced at the bed where Hershel was still sound asleep, clutching his teddy bear. She glanced at the papers which were mostly plans that Tara had for Hilltop. She sighed as she traced Tara's writing, trying to stop her tears but failing miserably. Underneath all the papers, Maggie noticed a page with her name on the top - it was a letter that Tara had written to her.

Maggie felt her heart beat faster as she started to read the letter:

Maggie,

Well, it's been almost two months since you left and it doesn't seem to get any easier. I tried to write you everyday but I always threw the letters away because I was still mad at you for leaving. I get why you left but it doesn't mean that it hurts any less. We spent six years of our lives together and all of a sudden I have to try to function without you. This house is just so empty without you and Hershel, sometimes I can't take it.

But I'm also writing to let you know that Jesus is gone. He was killed by the Whisperers, this new group that threatened Hilltop. I'm trying to be strong for everyone but you know how close I was to Jesus so it's hard to move on. I know I need to though. I'm dealing with the threat accordingly so we will see what happens, but I'm hoping by the time you get back, the threat will be eliminated.

Losing Jesus made me realize a few things though. One is that life is too short and we aren't guaranteed tomorrow. Two is that I don't want to be without you anymore so when you get back, I want to make things official...I want to marry you.

I have the ring in my nightstand and I'm ready, Maggie. I'm ready to make you my wife and I just wish I had done it sooner. I love you so much and I can't wait until you get back home. Unless, you found someone else during your time away. If that's the case then forget my marriage proposal and just be happy. Just be sure that whoever you pick loves Hershel like their own. And I hope that you'll still let me be in Hershel's life because despite what you said, that boy is my son.

Just understand that I love you so much Maggie. I love you so much that I'm willing to let you go if you find happiness elsewhere. But if you want to come home, marry me and raise our family together then I'll be right here waiting. Please give Hershel a hug for me and let him know that I miss him more than anything. I love you, Maggie...you're my everything.

Love,

Tara Chambler

Maggie's tears fell onto the paper, slightly smearing Tara's writing. She quickly stood up and made her way to the nightstand, taking a deep breath, she opened the drawer. Sitting there in the corner was a small black ring box. Maggie attempted to keep her cries quiet as she opened the box. There sitting in the box was a beautiful engagement ring that had a few small diamonds. Maggie felt her shoulders shake as silent tears fell down her face. She slipped the ring onto her finger, marveling at its beauty. Tara had picked the most perfect ring for her.

"I would have said yes to a lifetime with you, Tara," Maggie said to the quiet room where Tara's presence lingered around. She laid down on the bed, quietly crying herself to sleep, trying not to think about what might have been.


One month later...

Maggie was back at Hilltop but it definitely didn't feel like home anymore. Hershel was grieving in his own way, his free little spirit broken when he remembered that Tara, Enid and Jesus weren't around. Sometimes he was in denial when he heard the gate open, rushing to see if Tara was on the other side, his heart crushed every time she wasn't there.

Things at Hilltop had changed after Tara's sudden death. The people decided that a council should run the community instead of just one leader. They voted to keep the Constitution that had been drawn up between Hilltop, Alexandria, the Kingdom and Oceanside valid since Tara had signed it. Alden had approached Maggie, asking if she wanted to be on the council. She declined since her focus was on the well-being of her son. Plus, she was pretty sure that the Hilltop residents didn't trust her anymore since she had left once before. She was seriously considering Michonne's offer to go back to Alexandria but she wasn't quite sure yet. Magna had reassured Maggie that her group would go with her to Alexandria if that is what she wanted.

Both mother and son were trying to cope with their sudden loss. They had moved out of the common house, instead opting to stay in one of the small houses. There were too many memories associated with the common house, too many reminders of Tara. Hershel welcomed the change but he still had nightmares every night. He didn't tell his mom, but he didn't want to be at Hilltop anymore.

Daryl would visit Maggie every few days. He spent most of his time traveling between the Kingdom and Hilltop to make sure that his friends were coping with their losses. Every visit, Maggie hoped that Daryl would have news about Alpha's whereabouts but so far the Whisperers had not been sighted since that deadly day.

Magna's group helped Maggie however they could. She was grateful that Tara's friends were around and she could tell that Hershel felt the same way. Connie and Kelly were teaching the boy some sign language which he was learning quickly. Magna and Yumiko would take Hershel out for walks around the community, trying their best to keep his mind off Tara. Luke had found a flute and he taught the little boy a few musical notes.

Maggie spent most of her time making sure that Hershel was coping. She also made sure to keep in contact with Georgie and her new community. The Commonwealth leader was sympathetic about what had happened to Tara but Georgie had yet to make a final decision about helping the communities with the whole Alpha situation.

Maggie was frustrated about the other communities and their reluctance to do anything about the Whisperers. A few days ago, there had been a meeting at the Kingdom to vote on what should be done about Alpha. She tried to not think about what was said at that meeting but her mind kept replaying it in her mind...


A few days ago...

Maggie convinced Alden to let her tag along with him and a few other Hilltop council members to the meeting about Alpha and her Whisperers. Michonne and Gabriel were there to represent Alexandria while Rachel was there for Oceanside. King Ezekiel was in charge of the meeting, the tension in the room was apparent between all the leaders. Also Daryl was there, standing quietly in the corner, listening in. Since she was in no leadership position, Maggie stood next to Daryl so she could observe what was going on.

"So what do the communities want to do about the Whisperers?" the King asked the room full of leaders and council members.

"They killed one of our leaders. We just can't let them get away with that. They killed Hilltop's leader and doctor, we can't just let that slide. Plus...it was Tara and Enid, our good friends," Michonne spoke up as some people nodded in agreement.

"It's easy to say that we want revenge but do we realistically have the manpower for it? Daryl said that Alpha had an army of thousands of walkers. We are only a handful of communities. Do we want to risk war to avenge a few? And I don't say this lightly since my son was part of the victim list," King Ezekiel countered as Carol just shook her head. She wanted Alpha to pay for what had happened to her Henry.

"With winter already here it might not be the best idea," Father Gabriel added as he avoided Michonne's disapproving stare. Snow had already started to fall in the area, nothing too impressive yet but they all knew how hard winters could become in Virginia.

"The whole thing is sad and we miss our friends a lot but I don't think we can put our families at risk. Maybe we just respect the border and live peacefully again," Gary, one of the Hilltop council leaders, said as the other council members except Alden and Dianne agreed.

Maggie glared at Gary, shaking her head. She never liked the guy and knew that he and Tara had butted heads a few times over the years. Gary was the type of guy who thought he was so tough but never left the Hilltop walls. When he had found out that Glenn had been killed, Gary had the audacity to hit on Maggie just hours after she arrived at Hilltop. When Tara found out, she didn't hold back, immediately getting into a fight with Gary when she witnessed one such occasion. After that, he left Maggie alone for the most part.

Gary had even been thrown into the prison cell for a few days after he slapped his wife in an argument. Tara had threatened Gary, telling him that if she ever found out that he had put his hands on his wife again, then she was going to beat the crap out of him. After that, Gary didn't cause anymore trouble and kept mostly to himself.

"We can't just let Alpha get away with what happened! She didn't show Tara any mercy so she deserves none!" Maggie injected, making her presence known to the leaders. Daryl tried to grab her arm to pull her back but Maggie shook him off.

"You of all people should know, Gary! Tara did a lot for your family like going on that two week supply run to get your son medicine because you were too scared to. She saved his life and you're just gonna let her death slide. You can't be a coward!" Maggie was close to tears as Gary angrily marched up to her.

"Listen, sweetheart," Gary started, glaring at Maggie. "You left Hilltop. Whisperers came. They killed Jesus. They killed Tara. And where were you? Off doing God knows what when Hilltop needed you. You have no say in anything anymore. Maybe if you hadn't left, Tara would still be alive. Live with that!"

Daryl was immediately between Maggie and Gary, getting into the council leader's face. "You better back off, now."

"Woah, order! Order!" King Ezekiel shouted when he realized that the standoff between Daryl and Gary was going to result in a fight. Carol, on the other hand, was secretly hoping that Daryl would knock the guy's lights out for what he said.

"You say somethin' like that to Maggie again, I'll punch your face in," Daryl growled as the other man just scoffed at the warning. Gary was pissed that Maggie had called him out and he just wanted to hurt her even more.

"Listen, buddy, if you wanna fuck her then just get in line and don't be a goddamn hero. I'm sure that sweet thing will move on fast from Tara like she did when her first husband died. Hell, I might even try-" Gary was suddenly interrupted by a hard punch to his face. He stumbled a few steps back, in shock when he realized that Maggie had punched him.

"Why you little..." Gary rose to his full height, stepping up to Maggie, angry beyond belief now. Before he could get close, Daryl pulled him away, punching him so hard that Gary's nose cracked.

"That's enough! Obviously we can't pull together to defeat the Whisperers! At least not at this time. For now, I propose we wait. We wait until winter passes, and maybe we'll feel different as time goes on. Maybe revenge won't be our main goal anymore but if it is, maybe we can come up with a plan," King Ezekiel's strong voice stopped everyone in their tracks. Daryl let Gary fall to the ground as the injured man held his nose, his hand filling up with blood.

"We agree. No retaliation," Gary spit out without talking to his other council members. No one challenged his decision though.

"Alexandria will vote to not take action right now," Father Gabriel added. He avoided the glare that Michonne sent his way but he had Rosita and her unborn child to think about.

Rachel glanced sadly at Maggie. "I'm really sorry but Cyndie told me to vote with the majority rule. So Oceanside will agree to no retaliation at this time."

Maggie couldn't believe that nothing would be happening to Alpha or the Whisperers at that time. Tara's brutal death would go unavenged for who knew how long. She didn't say anything as she left the meeting in tears, feeling like for the second time the justice owed to her was cruelly denied.


Present time...

Maggie heard a knock on her door, wondering who it could be since it was already nine o'clock at night and she wasn't expecting any visitors. Magna and Yumiko were in the small living room, playing a board game called Candyland with Hershel.

"I'll get it," Maggie glanced at Tara's watch that she faithfully wore everyday along with the engagement ring.

"I'm winnin' Mommy!" Hershel said in delight, on his little wrist was the Oceanside bracelet that had belonged to Tara.

By now, Magna's group and most of the other Hilltop residents knew about Maggie's pregnancy. Maggie could feel the sad stares as she walked around the community and sometimes she wished that she could just disappear from their lingering glances. Most people felt sorry that Maggie would have to raise her child on her own without Tara around.

Maggie smiled at her son as she went to the front door, answering it. There standing in the doorway was the person Maggie was least happy to see - Gary. His nose was still messed up from the punch Daryl had landed a few days earlier. That gave her some satisfaction but she still hated the man.

"What do you want?" Maggie didn't hide her disdain for the man.

"I'm just letting you know that I'm gonna take over ownership of Tara's horse cuz well she obviously doesn't need it anymore. It's the strongest, fastest horse here," Gary said with a sly smile on his face.

"You have no right. That's my horse. Tara and I raised her and trained her together," Maggie argued. She definitely wasn't going to let this man have Tara's treasured horse.

Gary gave her a crude smile. "Well, I'm the leader of the council so I'm pretty sure I can do what I want. Maybe we could work something out."

"Like what?" Maggie didn't like the way Gary was looking her up and down.

"Maybe I can spend the night. Find someone to take care of your boy and we can have some fun. I mean it's not like you can get pregnant again. I know you were with Tara for like six years but come on...time to be with a real man," Gary grinned, sending her a wink. Maggie didn't even think as she slapped Gary across the cheek, hard. The repulsive man stumbled back a couple of steps.

"Go to hell! I doubt you measure up anyways. I'm gonna talk to Alden and Dianne about the horse and tell them about tonight," Maggie glared at Gary as he just rubbed his cheek, smiling.

"Fuck! Fine. Keep your damn horse. I'll get Alden and Dianne kicked off the council soon enough and then they can't save you anymore. This isn't over, Maggie. I'll have you one way or another. Tara ain't here to stop me," Gary threatened before he marched away. Maggie watched as he left, wondering how valid his threat really was.

"Is everything alright?" Magna appeared as Maggie just nodded.

"Yeah. It was nothin'," Maggie quickly closed and locked the front door. Magna was about to ask if she was really alright when they heard Hershel shout out in victory.

"I won!" The little boy then started laughing as Yumiko started to tickle him relentlessly. Maggie and Magna stood in the doorway as they watched the scene in front of them. Maggie was glad that Hershel had Magna's group around to keep him company. She could tell that Hershel missed Tara immensely but with the other adults around the pain stung just a little less.

"Alright...time for bed," Maggie told her son as he hugged Yumiko and Magna before giving them each a fist bump, bidding them both goodnight before he ran to the bedroom.

"We'll stay here in the living room tonight, just in case y'all need anything," Magna could sense that Maggie could use some extra support, especially since she was pregnant.

"Thanks," Maggie hugged her friends before retreating to the bedroom. Hershel was already in bed, his teddy bear in one hand and in the other, one of Tara's plaid shirts.

The most difficult time for both mother and son was at night. Tara's absence always seemed to hit the hardest when they were in bed, trying to go to sleep. Almost every night, Hershel cried himself into a slumber when he remembered how much he missed Tara and how he just wanted to hug her one last time. Maggie usually spent a couple of hours comforting her son until he would finally fall asleep.

That night was no different as Hershel cuddled his mother close as he cried for Tara. He thought having the new friends like Yumiko and Magna was fun but he still missed his Poppy everyday. Sometimes Hershel had dreams where Tara was alive and they would play games or she would hug him close. The dreams felt so real that he was always confused when he woke up and realized that Tara wasn't around to hug him anymore. Hershel usually woke up his mother, crying whenever it happened.

Hershel had heard the adults talking around the Hilltop community so he knew that his mommy was going to have another baby. He just felt sad that his brother or sister would never know how awesome and loving their Poppy was. Little Hershel also heard the adults talking about Tara's death. He didn't understand the brutal details but he knew that her head had been cut off. He had regular nightmares that left him traumatized and wondering why someone would hurt Tara like that.

Maggie held her son close as he cried himself to sleep that night. Every night, she felt her heart break when she heard Hershel's tears for Tara. She felt some relief when the little sobs stopped and soon Hershel's breathing evened out. She glanced over at him, wiping his tears away. He just sighed, burrowing deeper into Tara's shirt that he had covered himself with.

Maggie pulled out the Polaroid picture of Tara from underneath her pillow. Every night, she would stare at the photo, lightly tracing Tara's face. She wondered if things would ever get easier for them. She had Magna's group now but Hilltop still didn't feel like home, especially with Gary around. Maggie again seriously considered Michonne's offer of moving back to Alexandria. Beside her, Hershel made a little sigh as he mumbled something about Tara. Maggie was so grateful that Hershel and Tara had had such an amazing parent/child bond. She was just sad that they only had five years together before Tara was ripped away.

Maggie thought about how all in Tara was from the beginning, helping her throughout the pregnancy and filling the void that Glenn had left. Tara never complained when Maggie had crazy mood swings or wanted a massage in the middle of the night. She closed her eyes as she remembered one of the happiest days of their lives - the birth of their son...


About five and a half years ago...

"Come on, Maggie! Just a few more pushes!" Enid said as Maggie yelled out in pain. She gripped Tara's hand as hard as she could as a painful contraction wracked her tired body.

"It just hurts so much..." Maggie cried. She couldn't stop her tears as another contraction hit her.

"You can do it, Maggie!" Jesus tried to give Maggie some encouragement as she just glared at him.

Tara wiped the sweat off Maggie's forehead, leaning in to give her a short kiss. "You can do this, baby. I know it hurts but you're so strong. You can do this, babe."

Just a few hours earlier, Maggie had been somewhat comfortable, sleeping in bed when she felt her water break and some pain. She knew immediately that the baby was on his way. Maggie glanced over to the other side of the bed where Tara was sleeping soundly. She couldn't help but smile at her partner.

Tara and Maggie had been together for about four months at that point. Tara had been afraid that they were moving too fast after Glenn's sudden death but Maggie convinced her that Glenn would want them to be happy. Tara was so in love with Maggie and had been since they had met a couple of years ago that she didn't need much convincing. Plus, Tara felt like she was keeping her promise to Glenn to take care of Maggie and the baby. The couple were very happy together and Tara helped fill the void that had been left by Glenn. Maggie wasn't sure if Tara would stick around after the baby was born and all the responsibility hit but she was very hopeful. She didn't think she could handle it if Tara decided to walk away. Maggie loved Tara so much, something she thought would never happen to her again after Glenn.

When Maggie woke Tara up that night, Tara quickly got dressed, freaking out a few times and tripping over herself. Maggie couldn't help but laugh at how adorable an anxious Tara was. After all that, Tara practically carried Maggie to the Hilltop infirmary while yelling for Jesus and Enid on the way. Now, Maggie was in the most pain of her life as Tara held her hand and lovingly encouraged her to keep on pushing. She glanced over at Tara, seeing nothing but love in her eyes.

"The baby's crowning! Just a few more pushes!" Enid motivated as Maggie took a deep breath before pushing again. Jesus moved to the other side of Maggie's bed, holding her hand and letting her squeeze as hard as she wanted. He was going to complain that she was hurting him but thought better of it.

"The baby's almost here! I gotta take a look!" Tara excitedly said as she went to the end of the bed where Enid was.

Tara definitely wasn't expecting all the blood and the scene of the baby crowning. She wasn't sure what she was expecting but she started to feel a little queasy. Suddenly, Tara felt lightheaded and passed out from witnessing the birth. Jesus started to laugh as Maggie got upset.

"What the hell happened!?" Maggie demanded as she glanced at Tara on the floor.

"I guess she couldn't handle it," Jesus cracked up, shutting up when Maggie glared at him.

Tara woke up a few seconds later, scrambling to stand up and get back to Maggie's side. "You know what? I'm just gonna stay up here."

Maggie roughly grabbed Tara's hand. "You better stay up here. You don't need to be lookin' down there anyways, otherwise you'll never want to have sex with me again."

"I don't think that will ever happen," Tara smirked but quickly grimaced when Maggie squeezed her hand super hard.

"Ow! Maggie you're kinda hurting me..." Tara trailed off when she noticed the death glare that Maggie was giving her. Both Jesus and Enid just laughed as Tara gulped in fear. "You know what? I don't need my hand anyways...squeeze away, darling."

"Yeah good job with the whole fainting thing," Jesus laughed as Tara flipped him off. They both shut up when Maggie narrowed her eyes at them.

"We got shoulders! Just a few more pushes, Maggie! You're almost there!" Enid excitedly cried as Maggie gathered up all her strength and gave a couple of more final pushes. Finally, a small baby cry sounded in the air as Maggie cried tears of joy.

"It's a boy! It's a boy!" Enid happily exclaimed.

"Holy shit...we have a boy!" Tara quickly kissed Maggie a few times, wiping the tears from her face.

"Go cut the umbilical cord!" Jesus gently pushed Tara to where one of the Hilltop nurses was waiting with some surgical scissors.

"Congratulations!" the young nurse said as she handed Tara a pair of scissors.

"Thanks!" Tara was so happy as she carefully cut the umbilical cord. Enid quickly cleaned the baby, gave him a quick check up and then wrapped him in a blanket after putting a diaper on him.

"Here's your boy. He's happy and healthy," Enid announced as she handed the tiny bundle to Tara.

"Glenn, we've got a boy," Tara whispered to her best friend as she wiped a couple of tears away, glancing down at the little baby in her arms. She was already in love, vowing to do whatever was needed to protect the little bundle.

"Maggie, babe, we've got a beautiful boy," Tara carefully handed the baby over to Maggie.

Maggie couldn't contain her emotions as she held her baby for the first time. She silently thanked Glenn for giving her such an amazing gift and prayed that Tara wouldn't leave her when things got rough.

"I love you and I'm so proud of you," Tara whispered to Maggie before giving her a small kiss.

"I love you, too," Maggie pulled Tara in for another kiss.

"Alright, you two, my turn to hold the little rascal," Jesus motioned for Maggie to hand the little boy over which she happily did.

Enid and the nurse helped Maggie cleanup, change and put her into a new bed. By now it was evening time and Maggie was beyond exhausted as she fell asleep with Tara never leaving her side. Jesus and Enid bid Tara and the baby goodnight as they left the room.

"I'll come check on Maggie in a few hours. Just let her sleep," Enid said as she closed the door behind her.

Tara held the little bundle of joy in her arms, watching as the baby slept peacefully. She couldn't believe that she was a stepparent now but she was more than ready. Tara was ready to help raise the boy and be there for everything.

"I promise, Glenn, I'll take care of your son. I'll do whatever I can to protect him," Tara whispered to the quiet room. The baby opened his little eyes, glancing up at Tara.

"Hey little guy. Don't worry, buddy...I'll always be there for you and your mom, I promise. I love y'all so much," Tara smiled at the little boy in her arms.

Tara rocked the baby in her arms. At times, she walked around the room, rocking him to sleep whenever he started crying. She wanted Maggie to get as much rest as possible after the eventful day. After a couple of hours, Maggie slowly woke up, still sore everywhere from the labor.

"Hey you..." Maggie smiled at Tara who was sitting in a chair beside the bed, holding the baby.

"Hey, baby, you feeling okay?" Tara asked as she leaned over to give Maggie a quick kiss.

"Just really tired and sore..." Maggie quietly said. She loved watching Tara hold the baby, rocking him gently.

"So you decided on Hershel, right? After your father?" Tara asked.

"Yes..."

"Hershel Rhee. He's gonna be a real ass kicker once I teach him everything I know," Tara chuckled. Hershel opened his little eyes, looking up at her with a tiny smile.

"Hershel Rhee Chambler," Maggie corrected as Tara looked at her, surprised.

"What? Maggie, you don't have to give him my last name or anything..." Tara was at a loss for words.

"You're gonna help me raise him, right? You're not gonna leave us when it gets tough, right?" Maggie asked, she could feel tears in her eyes as she waited for Tara's answer. She wasn't sure she could do this without her.

"Maggie...I swear I'm here for you through everything. I love you and Hershel so much. You both are my everything and I swear I'll do whatever I can to make you happy. I'm never gonna leave you guys, I promise," Tara leaned over, giving Maggie a few kisses.

"So his name is Hershel Rhee Chambler. You're gonna be there for him, he deserves your name too," Maggie smiled.

"God...I love you so much, Maggie. Thank you so much..." Tara wiped a few stray tears away as little Hershel gurgled softly.

"And I love you too, shortstop," Tara placed a small kiss on Hershel's forehead causing him to smile.

"Just wait 'til we have another one," Maggie teased as Tara looked at her in shock.

"You want more kids?"

"I know I want at least one baby with you. We've gotta have at least one mini Tara running around," Maggie answered as Tara smiled.

"Maybe in about four or five years," Tara replied as the baby cooed in response.


Maggie didn't bother to wipe the tears that fell as she thought about the happy memory. God, she missed Tara so much. Instead of the pain getting easier to handle, it just seemed to get harder as the days passed by without Tara around. She placed her hand on her lower abdomen, knowing that her and Tara's unborn baby was nestled safely in her body.

"I'm so sorry I didn't get the chance to tell you about our baby," Maggie whispered to the quiet room, hoping that Tara could somehow hear her. She quietly cried to herself as she rubbed her stomach a few times.

The last few months of their relationship, Tara and Maggie had been trying for a baby. They figured Hershel was old enough to help out with a sibling and they weren't getting any younger since Tara had just turned thirty and Maggie was twenty-nine. They had been unsuccessful but Tara definitely didn't mind all the trying.

When the couple had broken up, Maggie thought it was for the best that all their attempts had been unsuccessful. She was going to be gone for a few months, maybe even a year and who knew if Tara would still want to be with her when she got back to Hilltop. Maggie wasn't planning on being with anyone else but Tara might change her mind the longer Maggie was away.

About six weeks after arriving to Georgie's new community, Maggie began to feel sick all the time. She couldn't concentrate on her work because she felt exhausted and drained all day. Finally, she stopped putting off the inevitable, taking a home pregnancy test. She waited anxiously for the results, not sure how she felt about the whole situation. Finally, a few minutes passed as Maggie gathered up the courage to see the results. She let out a breath as she saw the positive result. Maggie quickly took another test just to make sure that the first one wasn't a fluke and got the same result.

That night, Maggie couldn't sleep as she thought about how after all those months of trying, she finally got pregnant just before she and Tara had broken up. She wondered about what she should do. She wondered how Tara would react to the news. Would they get back together or stay apart and co-parent? Would Tara even want to be apart of their child's life? Maggie knew that she had hurt Tara immensely when she had left Hilltop and she wasn't sure the damage could be repaired.

The next morning, Maggie had gone to the community infirmary to see how far along she was. During the ultrasound, the doctor told her that she was about eight weeks pregnant. Maggie was happy that she was pregnant with Tara's baby but also scared. Later that day, she told Georgie the news. The leader encouraged her to go back to Hilltop to tell Tara about the baby. Maggie had decided to wait a week so she could finish a couple of projects before she made the trip back home. Now, she regretted that choice everyday. If she had come home earlier, maybe Tara would have known about their child. Maybe different decisions about Alpha and the Whisperers could have been made. Maybe Tara would have never gone to that fair.

Maggie thought about the last time they had seen each other. If she had known that would have been the last time she would ever see Tara alive, she would have hugged her and never let go. She would have let Tara know how much she loved and cared for her, but it was too late. Now, Maggie was all alone in this world, left with nothing but regrets. She already knew that she didn't want to be with anyone else even at such a young age. The earth kept on turning and going on, but her world was so empty without Tara.

"I miss you so much..." Maggie whispered as she glanced at Tara's watch. It was almost four in the morning. She could hear the snow falling steadily outside as she pulled the blanket tighter around her and Hershel.

Maggie closed her eyes, finally falling into a restless sleep, somehow surviving another night without Tara.


:( poor Maggie. I made myself sad listening to that song on repeat but it's an amazing song. :)