9:45 PM
The electric glow of the back porch light illuminated the circular glass table where Carol sat talking with Michonne. Michonne had been planning to return to Fun Kingdom tomorrow – hitching a ride with an army team that was going scavenging in that direction. "But now you can go with us," Carol said.
Michonne sighed. "Caleb insists on staying to care for any potential injured, even though Bob's a medic and Rosita has some medical training. He says they need to fight, and if there's anything major...he was surgeon, you know."
"Is that serious?" Carol asked. "You and Dr. S?"
"It's not serious, no, but I am worried about him." She smiled. "He's a lover not a fighter."
Carol chuckled.
"Dr. Stevens will go back to Fun Kingdom with us, though," Michonne told her. "She's a general practioner and Judith and Eve's pediatrician now. And we have to protect at least one of our doctors. They're one of the most priceless assets these days."
The sliding glass door rolled open and Daryl came out. He walked to the edge of the porch and lit up a cigarette.
"Stay downwind," Michonne told him.
He rolled his eyes at her, took a puff, and then let the cigarette dangle by his side as he turned to face them. "How's Rick been?"
"Weren't you just in there talking to him?" Michonne asked.
"Yeah. 'S why I asked. He okay to fight? Or is he going to space out?"
"It'll give him something to think about other than what happened to Lori. He's been caring for Judith. He's been managing. Although Carl and I have helped a lot. I wouldn't leave him completely alone with the baby just yet."
"But you'll leave 'em completely alone with an AR-10?" Daryl asked.
"When push comes to shove...I think the old cop instincts will kick in. And I don't think there's any point arguing with him when he's made his mind up to do something. Do you think the Saviors will even make it here?" Michonne asked. "It's a long way."
"Dunno," Daryl said. "Voice on the radio seemed to think so. Guess they got a shitton of firepower."
"I hope Woodbury's got enough," Carol said uneasily.
"They've got plenty after all the scavenging," Michonne assured her. "And the extra ammo you brought today."
Daryl inhaled again, and the tip of his cigarette glowed orange-red in the night. He looked up at the stars. "Hey, Miss Murphy," he said. "C'mere."
Carol came and stood beside him. He draped an arm around her shoulders and pointed with his cigarette at the night sky. "Can see Orion's belt. Orion's a warrior. 'S a good omen. Woodbury's gonna kick ask when the time comes."
Carol smiled at his reassurance and hoped he was right.
9:50 PM
Frankie settled her head on Gavin's shoulder on a porch swing on the school's cement balcony as the oil lamp flickered lightly on an end table next to the radio, which crackled a static tune. "This is an old school," she said. "All those outbuildings? Root cellars, outhouses, smoke house…Was it built in colonial times, or something?"
"In the early 1800s, as a small university. But they converted it into a high school in the 20th century." He looked her over and smiled.
"You've never seen me in regular clothes, have you?" she asked. "Not so sexy as the little black dress?"
"You look great. Like a…person. And I have seen you in regular clothes. When you first came to the Sanctuary."
"Oh, you noticed me back then?" she asked skeptically.
"You were a scared little thing, grateful for a roof over your head and guns to keep the monsters at bay. Ready to do anything to stay behind those Sanctuary's walls."
"And now?" she asked.
"Not so scared. Still ready to do anything to keep the walls…just…different things maybe. Like fight, if you need to. You will? If it comes to that?"
"I will," she agreed. "And maybe different walls? Where do we go when this is over? Where do we settle?"
"I don't know," Gavin admitted. "I suppose that depends on what still stands."
Jed's voice broke through the static on the radio: "Gary, come in. Over."
"Gary here. Over."
"Fat Joey didn't let them out, and he doesn't know shit. And uh…I think I accidentally killed him while interrogating him. Over."
"Jesus Christ, Jed. You think? Over."
"Yeah…okay. I know. I did. Sorry about that. What were those three gunshots I heard a few minutes ago? Over."
"The natives are restless," Gary replied. "Regina and I had to make an example, make it clear that the lieutenants are in charge now. That we are Negan. Except Simon. We're not telling him shit. You know he'll just turn around and try to seize the reins. Probably take us out first as rivals to leadership. So as far as he knows, Negan is alive, his mission is unchanged, and there's just too much interference to get through to him on the long range. Over."
"What about Gavin?" Jed asked. "Over."
"Since Gavin was conveniently out of the Sanctuary when this all went down, and Tanya was his sister, and rumor is he has a thing for Frankie…I think we can safely assume that he's behind all this. He won't be back to the Sanctuary. And he's still got that radio. We can't make any plans over the airwaves anymore. In person only. He may be listening in. And if you are listening, Gavin, fuck you! We're coming for you, you goddamn traitor, wherever the fuck you are. And when we have you? I'm going to rape and kill Frankie right before your eyes. And then you're going to be chained to the fence in the yard. Alive. Over and out."
Frankie reached over, seized the radio, and turned it off. "Guess we can go to bed now," she said. "There won't be anything else to listen for tonight."
Gavin unclipped his holster and handed her one of his handguns. "Carry this. At all times. Sleep with it under your pillow tonight." He leaned over and kissed her and then stood and picked up the rifle he'd leaned against the brick wall of the school and slung it over his shoulder.
"But you're sleeping with me tonight. I'm not sleeping alone with some gun."
"Richard, Jerry, DJ, and I are setting out in fifteen minutes. For the Hilltop. We'll be less likely to be spotted at night."
"No." Frankie shook her head. "Gavin, you don't have to be the one who – "
He leaned down and kissed her. "I love you, Frankie. Sorry I lied and said I didn't. Sleep tight." And then he was gone.
11:55 PM
The crying began with a murmur and then a coo and then a wail. It was the wail that woke Carol in the sleeping bag nest on the nursery floor. Groggily, she sat up and rubbed her eyes and found Daryl already standing with the baby in his arms in the the glow of the nightlight. "Shhh…" he murmured at the tiny creature. "Gonna get your daddy to feed ya."
"I'll feed him," Carol said. "I told Rick I would tonight so he could get some sleep. That's why she's not in the bassinet in his room. Just keep her quiet while I get the bottle ready."
When Carol returned, Daryl was in the rocking chair with Judith sucking on his pinky finger. To her surprise, he just reached out for the bottle. "I gotta squirt it on my arm or something?" he asked. "'S what they do in the movies."
She chuckled. "I tested the temperature. It's fine."
"Hey, sweetheart, you hungry?" Daryl smiled when Judith took the bottle between her little lips and began to suckle. "Yeah, you are…You like that? Huh? You like that? Ain't from your mama's titties. From some other woman's titties, but I guess it'll do."
"Daryl."
"What?"
Carol laughed. "Nothing." She stood beside the rocking chair looking down at her husband feeding the little girl. "You're a natural at this, you know?"
Daryl glanced at her warily.
"Don't worry. I've told my biological clock to pause for the time being. I'm aware we're in the midst of a war. Like I said. We'll revisit in December. If Woodbury still stands. If thing have settled."
"Think things'll ever be settled?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "Maybe they never really are in any world."
Judith looked up at Daryl with wide, light brown eyes. "Got Shane's eyes. Think Rick notices?"
"Lori had brown eyes, too," Carol replied. "And the color hasn't settled yet. Of course, it goes from blue to brown, not the other way around…they'll probably get darker. Like Shane's."
Judith pulled away from the bottle and cried. "Shit. What's that mean?"
"Gas. You need to burp her. Put her up on her shoulder. Keep the neck supported and just rub her back up and - "
Daryl had been following her instructions all along and now Judith spat up all over the shoulder of his white muscle shirt.
"Damnit!" he muttered. "Ain't a natural after all, huh?"
"Just remember to use a burp cloth next time." She bent down and kissed the top of his head. "I'll get a towel to clean you up."
March 23
7:10 AM
A spring robin cooed on the windowsill as Carol rolled into her husband's arms in their nest on the nursery floor. In the crib, Judith was cooing happily.
"Mornin'" he drew.
"Good morning. I smell coffee."
"Time's comin' when the world ain't gonna have coffee no more. Grounds are gonna spoil. And that shit don't grow well here."
She kissed his cheek. "Then hurry up and get me a cup."
7:25 AM
The sound of gently mooing cattle filled the air, along with the smack of a blacksmith's hammer. Gavin was exhausted. The team had hiked for miles through the night and slain at least a dozen walkers in the woods, but they were here, finally, at the back of the Hilltop, lying on their stomachs at the crest of the hill just behind it, at the edge of the woods. He surveyed the scene through binoculars. There was a guard on a platform at the back fence, two at the front, and one on the roof of the mansion. And those were just the guards he could make out. Shane Walsh wasn't taking any chances when it came to security.
He handed the binoculars to Richard. "Not a Savior in sight," Richard said.
"They're keeping their distance up the road, hoping Shane will venture out and they can nab him without a fight."
"So, given that the Hilltop opened fire on the Saviors from the fence," Richard replied, "how exactly do we announce ourselves without getting shot? Won't they assume we're Saviors? Hell, you are a Savior."
"I've never been here. They've never seen me. But, yes, they might open fire if we try to walk up there armed."
"I'm a friendly guy," Jerry said. "I can just leave my weapons behind, go in smiling, with my hands up, making the peace sign. They'll probably talk to me."
"You're a moron," Richard told him.
"You got a better idea?" Gavin asked.
8:15 AM
The most vulnerable people in Woodbury funneled into the school bus, which was parked beyond the moat. The bus was packed with several gallons of drinking water, extra gas, canned food, and MREs. The vehicle was crowded, despite the civilians who stayed behind to fight for their gardens, their animals, their houses, their school, their home.
The Woodbury Army, with its new volunteers, numbered thirty-two defenders. It would be an almost even match in numbers – especially if the Saviors' squadron had lost some men along the way – and they would have the defensive advantage. Of course, it was also possible the Saviors' squadron had recruited some men along the way, rough bandits or nomads happy to pillage an entire town of goodies.
Carol stood in the stairwell of the bus, holding the metal rod, as the door hissed shut and the driver began to pull out, with Daryl on his motorcycle in the lead and Dixon at the rear, ready to deal with walkers or bandits on the way.
Judith cooed in Carl's arms as he tickled her lips with the nipple of a bottle. Duane, who sat next to Carl, smiled at the baby, while Patrick, who sat across the aisle from them, said, "I can't wait to see that D&D section of the gift shop Sophia talked about. And to see Sophia."
"Our town's about to be attacked," Carl told him, "and all you can think about is girls and D&D?"
Patrick shrugged. "It's better than thinking about death and destruction."
"He's got a point, Mr. Gloom and Doom," Duane told Carl. "Dude's got a point."