Based on season 6, with a new female character, using her POV. Warning for explicit language and violence, mentions of sexual abuse and suicide.
Lux gave birth to a healthy girl some months later. Daryl and her had a good relation again, trying not to talk much about the past. When her daughter was born, he was twelve hours late to see her; he was away on a mission, and when he arrived back, Heath told him, but Daryl preferred to have a fag first. He smoked half a packet before heading to the infirmary. But then they put little Andrea in his arms, he saw she was fine, and Lux too, and he vanished a good half of his bad memories. He was utterly happy.
Lux and Maggie did well as new mums, and everyone helped the way they could. She recovered slowly from her depression, though she had a breakdown after giving birth, but after seeing the baby was well, and she soon got back to duty, she relaxed and felt better.
Michonne left Rick right after going back to the community, and moved in with Sasha. Nobody ever talked about it.
The relation among Alexandria, Hilltop and the forces up in the mountains was good. They traded food, ammo, and help against the gangs around, which were more each day. They had many meetings with people from the three communities to talk issues, and they hung on well.
The children were doing good too, despite some aggressive fits now and then. Carl was growing up faster than expected, and started fighting a lot with Rick, because he didn't want to do as he said. He started spending some days at Hilltop to work at the farm, calm down and make new friends.
The most important of the lose ends was Carol. She was happy living there, and helping with the newborns, but still she had problems admitting they were in danger. She spent a long time with Lux and Daryl, together or apart, to talk and understand that sooner or later she should hold a gun again. But in the mean time she was glad to hold little babies.
On the day Andrea turned two months old, Lux went out again for a little task a Hilltop. She had left her daughter with Maggie and Carol, and most of the people were at the community, still she was anxious. Daryl calmed her down before heading to the ammo workshop, they would meet there at night. She was supposed to go with Heath, but eventually Rick decided to drive the car instead of going later. The trip was boring. It was getting hot again but the windows of the Corolla didn't open anymore.
"Can we stop for a minute? "Lux asked. "I need some fresh air."
"We are late, there is a lot to do... and I need to talk to you when we are there."
"What? What do you want?" Lux was looking at him, puzzled and bothered.
"Not now."
"Man, you're sweating your guts out. Just stop."
He pulled over and they got out to stretch.
"Tell me you brought water." Lux said.
"No, I'm sorry."
"Good." she replied, bothered.
Rick finally dared to look at her, after months avoiding it. She was getting fit again, healthy, happy, and beautiful as ever. Just how he wanted her to be when he found her.
"What did you want to tell me?" she asked, leaning on the car.
He sighed. "I'm leaving Alexandria. For good."
"What?"
"I'm going to live up in the mountains, with the troop."
She shook her head in denial. "No, you can't do that. Are you mad? You are the chief!"
"Ha ha, no, I'm not. It doesn't work like that. You always took me as the chief, but I'm not. Maggie is in charge most of the time, and Daryl will do a good job."
"But why? Why would you do that?"
He stared at her, concerned. "I want you to come with me."
Lux got nervous and crossed her arms. "What is this about?"
"I love you. And I can't go on like this, it doesn't work. I'm basically leaving everything up to Daryl and Gordon because I can't confront your husband."
She didn't reply.
"But you already knew. You always knew. You so proud and confident, acting like no big deal."
"Shut up." she mumbled.
"I want to take you with me, and you don't have to worry, we'll come back very often, more than now."
"You know it's not true." her voice trembled. "You know the roads are not safe and we could get blocked and isolated."
"I understand it if you don't want it, but you have to tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"That you don't love me. I am prepared for that."
She began to cry in silence. "You can't be doing this to me. You are the closest to a friend I've ever had, and if..."
"If what?"
"If Daryl wasn't in the picture, I wouldn't hesitate."
"But do you love me? It's just a yes or a no."
"Yes. I love you. But not like that. You're not him. And you don't know me. You are a good person, I'm a bad bitch. You don't know what I'm capable of. You're civilized."
"I know what you're like when you're angry, you used to live in my house, remember?"
"I don't mean that. I would hurt you. Daryl is different, he is messed up like me."
"Well, then it's a no."
"I can't run away with you." She walked some steps away and lit up a cigarette. "I don't want to. But I don't want you to go either, I can't imagine what it would be like."
"You'll see me, I told you I'll go there. I won't leave forever."
"But it's a farewell, and that's why you're telling me all this, and that's why it hurts so bad. Can't you really calm the fuck down and deal with him?"
"Well, we've tried. I promise. He hasn't told you about it, but it's been hard. And we're scared of messing up, fighting again, making you all pick a side and putting the communities at risk."
"Wait... So he knows you're leaving?"
"Yes, he knows that part. He doesn't know I'm declaring and asking you to come."
"How long has it been?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Curious. It's weird."
"Well, I didn't realize it until it was late." Rick looked away, trying to put himself together and reveal his secret. "More or less when Sasha fell down from the tower and you came running from bed, all scruffy, wearing just that damn dress. You got me, completely. You're not just beautiful, you're fierce. And the next day I had to tell you that you had to leave, and I felt so bad. But I couldn't manage to tell you how I felt for you. And then you were pregnant, and I knew you felt fragile, and it would have been unfair to put you in a situation like this."
She burst in laughter. "Damn, you're a creep." She turned serious again. "Is that why you left Michonne? Or did she leave you?"
"I'll never know. But she knew how I felt about you. That's the main reason she dumped you both."
"Fuck."
They both remained quiet for a while.
"Listen, I'm flattered, and I can't say I don't feel anything for you, but... please think it over. You have children."
"Carl is having a bad adolescence... and Judith..."
"I know, Daryl told me. But you have brought her up until now, and she needs you. We all do."
"Do you need me?"
She nodded, her eyes going blurry again. "I do. But I can't run away with you, I love him. I love him truly, he knows me better than anyone, and even then he puts up with me."
"He doesn't treat you right."
"He has flaws, like everyone, he just tries to make me endure before saving me every time."
Still, she approached him, shyly.
"I could do better." Rick tried his luck for the last time.
"But it wouldn't work." She took his hand. "You're a good man, but you're no a loser. You can't bring up yet another child from another man. We wouldn't be happy, I would miss him and it would be a disaster. I will miss you like hell if you go, but I think it's better like that."
"Does he make you happy?"
"Yes. We had bad times, but he realized that he's mine. My sweet jerk."
"Well, I give up, just like the first time I saw you." He winked at her, sad. "Let's go."
"Is there anything I can do so you don't leave us?"
"Actually not. I might change my mind at some point, but I'm glad to make this decision." He looked at her little fingers, tenderly. "Just, please, if he ever beats you or causes you any harm... please tell me."
"Yes." she muttered. "I will. I promise. Can I kiss you without being a lame bitch?" she said, pulling a naughty smile.
"Of course."
And so the did, softly, his hands on her waist, feeling the warm sunlight on them, enjoying their last chance together. And they were happy for one long minute.