This takes place just after Morgan goes to the Junkyard and Negan is locked up. Second thing do you think Nick Clark's death had a purpose?

Chapter 1-One decision can change everything

Daryl's POV

Daryl paces around his house inside Alexandria and looks outside at the people walking around. He couldn't believe that Rick let that bastard live after what he did to Glenn, Abraham, and Sasha. Glenn saved Rick's life so many times, and Rick let him go. Daryl paces his room and lets out a grunt as he walks to the door of his house and walks outside. He walks to Rick's outside and knocks on the door. Michonne opens the door and looks at him. "Hey, Daryl. I thought you were heading to Hilltop?" Michonne asks.

"I am. Where's Rick?" Daryl asks her.

"Carl's grave," Michonne says. Daryl nods as he walks away and over to the grave that Carl was buried at. He stops behind Rick, who turns and looks at him.

"Daryl," Rick says. "What's up?"

"You can't let him live," Daryl says to Rick, who sighs.

"We can't kill him, Daryl," Rick says to him.

"Why the hell not? He doesn't deserve to live," Daryl says.

"You let Dwight live. Even after what he did to Denise," Rick says.

"Dwight was a piece of shit, but he tried to make amends. Negan, didn't he killed Glenn and Abraham!" Daryl says to Rick in anger. "He took Maggie's kid father away. Glenn saved you. You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for him!"

"I know that," Rick says.

"Do you? Maggie begged you to end this. She did, and you ignored her. Negan doesn't need to be around for this new world," Daryl says.

"We can't kill him, Daryl. He will show people what happens when you do something wrong when you kill people. This is how we move forward," Rick says.

"Nah, it's how you move forwards," Daryl says to him. "I can't stay here," Daryl says as he turns around.

"Then go to Hilltop," Rick says. Daryl turns around and looks at him.

"Nah, maybe Morgan had the right idea," Daryl says before he walks away. Rick watches him and lets out a sigh. Daryl walks to his house and opens the door. He walks to his room and opens the door. He grabs his bag out and starts to put clothes and supplies into it after he gets done packing. He walks to the door and grabs his crossbow, and walks down the stairs. He puts his crossbow around his back and puts his bag on his bike before he climbs on. He sees Rick looking at him. Daryl starts his bike and drives towards the gate of Alexandria. Rosita pulls the gate open and lets him out.

Hilltop

Daryl pulls his bike into Hilltop and turns it off. Maggie walks outside and looks at him with a smile. "Are you staying here?" Maggie asks. Daryl shakes his head.

"Nah, I came here to tell you where to find me if you needed anything," Daryl says to her.

"What's going on?" Maggie asks.

"I need some time by myself or with one person in my case. I'm going to the Junkyard. I'll stay with Morgan for a little while. Seeing you or him. It's a constant reminder of what I did," Daryl says.

"I don't blame you for that," Maggie says.

"I know. I need time, Maggie," Daryl says. Maggie nods.

"Take your time, Daryl. You'll always have a home at Hilltop," Maggie says. Daryl nods as he turns his bike back on and leaves.

The Junkyard

Daryl turns off his bike and walks inside the crate. The door opens, and Morgan stands there with his staff raised. "Daryl, how can I help you?" Morgan asks.

"I know you don't want anybody bothering you, but I need some time. I was hoping I could spend it here. I'll stay out of your way," Daryl says. Morgan looks around him.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to have somebody else here," Morgan says. Daryl nods as he walks inside and away from Morgan. That night Daryl sat at the back of the Junkyard on a mattress he had found. He was spinning his knife in his hand when he heard footsteps. He looked up at Morgan. "Would you like some food?" Daryl looks at him for a moment and nods. He follows Morgan to the front, where there was a fire and some food. Daryl sits down, and Morgan hands him a plate. "If you don't mind me asking. Why did you come here? Why did you need to get away?" You know why I did,"

"Have you ever heard the full story behind Glenn's death?" Daryl asks Morgan.

"I know Negan beat him to death in front of all of you," Morgan says.

"Negan killed Abraham first. He was done. He was only meant to kill Abe. He walked over to Rosita, and he shoved the bat in her face. The bat with Abraham's blood in her face, and I lost it. I stood up, and I punched him in the face. They took me down, and I thought that was it. Negan ordered them to put me back in line, and he walked over to Glenn and said that this shit could happen before he said, "So back to it," He killed Glenn because of what I did. Glenn died because of me, and his kid won't have a father because of me. Maggie said that she forgave me and it wasn't my fault. I thought seeing him dead would make it better, but now he isn't dead, and I can't stop thinking about it. It's my fault, and I couldn't say in Alexandria, and I couldn't stay at Hilltop with Maggie," Daryl says.

"What about the Kingdom?" Morgan asks.

"Not my favorite place. I needed time alone, and so do you. I figured you wouldn't mind an extra person," Daryl says.

"I don't mind," Morgan says as he takes a bite of his food.

"Good," Daryl says as he takes a bite. Daryl and Morgan eat in silence. Neither of them needed to talk. Daryl finishes his food and sets the plate down. "Thanks for dinner," Daryl stands up and starts to walk away.

"Good night, Daryl," Morgan says.

"Good night, Morgan," Daryl says as he walks to the back of the Junkyard and lays down. He stares up at the sky and closes his eyes as he goes to sleep.

A week later

Daryl and Morgan had barely said anything to each other since that night. They would eat dinner together and kill walkers together when needed. Daryl was eating as Morgan hung wet clothes. They hear a pounding at the door. Daryl grabs his crossbow as Morgan grabs his stick. "If you're gonna hit me with your stick, don't open the door," Jesus says. Daryl walks to the door. "Well, you know if you're gonna try," Daryl opens the door and turns around, and goes back to sitting down. Morgan joins him as Jesus sits down with a sigh.

"Looks like you've both settled in out here. I thought maybe we could continue our acquaintance. Here and there are just labels. It's all one place. You both could do all this somewhere else or well in the same place somewhere else," Jesus says. Morgan lets out a small chuckle. "Come on, the reason we fought is 'cause you wanted to protect people. You both care about people. You should be with them," Daryl and Morgan stare at him, and Jesus nods. "Okay, Maggie would like to see you anytime, Daryl," Jesus says before he stands up and leaves.

Both Morgan and Daryl do the same thing for the next few days. Morgan was making coffee as Daryl made arrows when there was another knock on the door. "It's me," Carol says.

"For the love of God," Daryl says as he stands up and walks over to the door. He opens the door, and Carol looks at him.

"Rick and Maggie said you were here," Carol says. Daryl nods with a grunt as he sits back down. Carol sits down. "Come back to the Kingdom. You helped me. Both of you did. Let me help you. I don't want to tell you what to do. But you know who I am, and I know who you are. You belong with people who care about you," Carol stands up.

"I'll walk you out," Daryl says. Carol nods as he follows her.

"Try to talk to him," Carol says.

"Nah, I'm okay with this," Daryl tells Carol, who nods and opens the door. Daryl walks back to Morgan. Another few days passed by. Daryl was cooking as Morgan trained. A pounding at the door made them both lookup.

"Come on, guys," Rick says.

"I got the last two," Daryl says. Morgan smirks as he goes to the door.

"You can hide, but you can't run," Rick says. Once again, Daryl and Morgan found themselves sitting across from a friend. "Look, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for both of you at different times. I wouldn't," Rick looks at Morgan. "I was hurt you brought me in. You didn't have to. Neither of you have a gunshot in your side, but you are hurt. Come back with me. Don't wait this time. Don't waste one more second. You're alive. You're part of the world. Look, I'm here now. A lot of people are here now, people of you two," Rick says.

"That's not me anymore, Rick," Morgan says.

"It is. You'll end up with people one way or another. You're connected. I'll be a scout from outside that door me asking for help, Maggie. You two are part of the world already. You both will find your way back to it 'cause it will find its way back to you, so just come back," Rick says. Daryl and Morgan say nothing as they look at him. Rick chuckles. "Well, like I said, you can hide, but you can't run," Rick says before he gets up and leaves. The next day Daryl walks up to Morgan as he packs his bag.

"The Junkyard is yours," Morgan says.

"Nah, it's whoever wants it," Daryl says. Morgan looks at Daryl, who had his bag. "I'm coming with you,"

"Daryl, these people are your family," Morgan says.

"They are, and one day I'll come back, but I need this, and the only way you are stopping me is by killing me. You're stuck with me, Morgan. I need this just as much as you do," Daryl says. Morgan looks at him for a moment before he nods.

"Okay," Morgan says. "They might come looking,"

"We'll be gone," Daryl says. Morgan nods as he grabs his bag and goes to the door with his stick in hand. He looks at Daryl's bike. "Leave it," Morgan nods as he walks away. Daryl pulls a note out of his pocket and puts it on the bike under the seat a little. Daryl follows Morgan away from the Junkyard and his family. A little bit later, they sat together on the side of the road. They sat in silence over the night, and as day broke, Daryl looked at Morgan. "You sure about this?" Morgan nods and stands up.

"Let's go," Morgan says as he starts to walk. Later that day, Morgan and Daryl sat in a car as Morgan hotwired it. The car started, and they left.

Maggie's POV.

The Junkyard

Maggie pounds on the door to the Junkyard. "Daryl! Morgan!" Maggie yells. She growls as she walks back out and stops by Daryl's bike. She looks at the bike and sees the note. She lifts the seat a little and looks at the note. She stares at it for a moment and the letters in the front before she runs to her car and climbs in.

Alexandria

The gate opens as Maggie drives in and stops the car. Rosita looks at her. "I didn't think you would come back," Rosita says.

"Is Daryl here by any chance?" Maggie asks.

"No, he's been with Morgan," Rosita says. Maggie turns and walks towards Rick's house. She sees him walking down the sidewalk.

"Maggie? What's wrong?" Rick asks. Maggie pulls the note out and holds it out to Rick. Rosita followed Maggie.

"What does it say?" Rosita asks.

"I'm sorry, and goodbye," Rick says as he opens it. "This wasn't my intention when I came here. I promise you that, but after Rick left and Morgan brought it up. I thought it was a good idea and I needed it. I know Maggie forgave me, but I can't forgive myself, and I thought seeing Negan dead or behind bars was going to make it all better. It didn't, but being here these last few weeks has been nice. It was quiet, and it gave me time to think. Morgan and I will look out for each other and make sure you all do the same. I will come back someday, and I will meet Glenn's kid. I bet he will be great. You people are my family and always will be, but this is a journey I need to take. Don't try following us. I love you guys. Daryl Dixon," Rick reads. He drops the note to the ground.

"Come on," Rick says as he walks towards the gate.

"Rick. There's no point. They might have left right after you, and we don't even know which way," Maggie says. Rick looks at her and wipes a tear out of his eyes but nods. Rick walks past Maggie and back into his house as Maggie goes back to the car and leaves.

Thanks for reading. This idea has been in my head for a little bit now, so here it is. I don't care if you think it is unrealistic; I like it, and I'm going to roll with it. I already have some fun story ideas and twists coming up. I asked this at the top and I'm gonna ask again. Do you think Nick's death had a purpose storywise? Also this story will most likely get one update a week. It will get two sometimes. If you are staying, get ready for a hell of a ride. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.