Chapter 108-Brothers
One year later
Daryl's P.O.V
Driving through the gates, Daryl almost ran off his bike as he parked it outside, even from here he could hear the yelling and protesting.
Seeing the one outside, Daryl walked up "Gabriel, their all here?"
Gabriel nodded once "They are, took some effort, but better be quick it's getting rowdy in there."
Grimacing, the archer looked to the doors...it had been quiet at first, but then rumors began to spread. Since the Rippers were dealt with, there had been ideas from the citizens that the borders to the communities should be closed as multiple times, outsiders have told them where they were.
Cyndie told the New Frontier.
The people at the Lake told the Rippers.
And hearing about Regina and a few Saviors taking off with clear knowledge of them, was the straw that broke the camel's back. Michonne proposed a meeting with residents of all communities to air out complaints similar to a town meeting. But from the sounds inside, it was getting ugly
Taking a steady breath Daryl walked into the Church and to the front. The building was filled to the brim with people from all the communities. He looked at the people of Alexandria, The Kingdom, The Campgrounds, Richmond, The Sanctuary, and Hilltop, quite a few standing up shouting, echoing throughout its walls. He stopped at the front, and he looked at the others leaders, from Michonne to Carl to Ezekiel to John, as they tried to calm the people down. "Cyndie sold us out to Richmond. She could have gotten us all killed!" A woman shouts.
"Cyndie died for what she did!" Maggie yelled over from her seat.
"What if someone else finds out about us what then!?" An elderly woman shouted accusingly.
"My lady please calm yourselves, ALL of you calm yourselves!" Ezekiel's deep voice boomed over, but the agitated crowd kept yelling.
"Those people that Alden brought in led a group to our doorsteps!" A younger man yells, pointing at a grimacing Alden nearby angrily as if blaming him for the Rippers appearing. "We should close off our borders!"
"Enough!" Daryl shouts, causing everybody to stop speaking and look at him. He takes a deep breath and looks around, trying to find the right words.
"I know you're all scared, and I get that. I don't blame you for that. Cyndie, the rippers, people who left who know about us, I understand your concern, but we dealt with them. We killed Cyndie. We killed the Rippers. We removed Joan from power. These past few years have been good, and we've been through some shit, all of us. We've lost people, whether it was to the saviors, Richmond, it doesn't matter. We beat all of them because we fought together, because we brought people in, because we forgave each other."
Daryl says as his eyes stop on Negan near the back...sitting next to Arya, both listening intently. "When Jesus came to us, he told us our world was about to get a whole lot bigger, and he was right. We found each other. We're building the new world. But that new world needs every person we can get, we need every person who is willing to help, and yes, some of them will be bad, but we'll stop them: these places, Hilltop, Alexandria, The Sanctuary, The Kingdom, Richmond, and The campgrounds. They're a part of this new world, and they need people. We won't close our borders because we're the start. If you can't live with that, fine, the door is outside. We've all been through hell together, and so have the people we've brought in, we've all done the worse kind of things just to stay alive, but it's paying off. We're building families. Our world will continue to get bigger. That new world is close to being done. I feel it. I know it. So please trust me when I say that as long as we stand together, there is nothing that can stop us from finishing it." Daryl took a breath as he finished, a few of them smiling at him in approval.
For the moment the church was silent, staring at the respected leader...some were nodding, agreeing with Daryl, but some started to speak again, not satied yet, then suddenly the doors to the Church opened, causing many to turn and fell back into silence.
Stepping inside, they looked as Rick he walked through the church, the sound of his cane hitting his ground as he walked up to his brother in all but blood. Carl stares at his father with a grin on his face as he walks past him. Michonne smiled at him, and he returned it. In the back of the church, Negan sat by Arya with a grin on his face as he stared at the man who almost killed him, and Aaron and Jesus let out a sigh, and a smile formed on their face.
"What's the problem?" Rick asks as he looks at him.
"Same thing it's been for a year," Daryl says. "You wanna try?"
Rick nods as he looks at the people. "When we first came to Alexandria. I wanted to take it from Deanna because I thought she didn't have what it took to keep this place going. I didn't see it for what it was, how special it was. Glenn saw that first, then Abraham and Daryl and the rest. I didn't realize it until the walls came down and Deanna was dead, but we banded together to fix it, just as we did to fight the saviors and repair Hilltop, Alexandria, and the Campgrounds. You people say that you want us to close our borders, but half of you wouldn't be here if we did. Richmond would still be led by Joan, we wouldn't have them, and some of you would be on the road or dead. When I gave leadership to Daryl, I did it because I trusted no one more than him. I knew that he would continue to build, and he has done that. But if we stop all that now, the last five and a half years would have been for nothing!" Rick exclaims. "The people who gave their lives. The brothers, sisters, mothers, sons, daughters, fathers, husbands, and wives who gave their lives would have died for nothing. We do what we do to honor them, to keep them alive. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's us against the dead, we're life, and they're death. It's coming for all of us, and we have to stand together if we ever hope to beat that. A good friend once said that we risk our lives with everything we do. Stepping outside, breathing, taking a drink of water. We don't have a choice in that, and he was right. We risk our lives every time we get out of bed. All we can do now is choose what we're risking it for. I believe that the new world is worth risking mine, and I know Daryl and all the others leaders feel the same, and if you don't. You don't belong here," Rick says. Nobody spoke as they stared at the two leaders. "So, who stills thinks we should close our borders?" Rick growls. Nobody says anything, and some of them look at the ground. "Now go home, and I don't want to hear a word of this ever again,"
People start to leave the church, and Daryl looks at Rick and nods. "Nice work."
"Eh relax you were doing fine." Rick says with a chuckle.
Daryl smiles as he pats Rick's shoulder "Still...thanks though."
Negan's P.O.V
Negan sat on a bench as everybody started to file out of the church with Arya on his left and Althea on Arya's right. He looked at Al and couldn't help but wonder if Maggie had her sit here. "This is so fucking stupid." Arya complained, crossing her arms with a scowl.
"Arya, language." Al chastised to the girl as Negan smirks.
Arya looks at Al. "Auntie Al, this is though! Grandpa and Dad always say we need to save people."
Negan shrugs. "They're scared, Cub. It happens. You never know when you're bringing a bad stray in. Don't blame them." Negan says with a smirk as he turns to face her.
"You know...when I was a little younger than you, I used to bring home stray dogs. My Mom, she hated it. I never understood why. They always seemed so friendly and grateful, but then one day, I brought home the wrong dog." Negan tells her.
"What happened?" Arya asks curiously. "Did it bite you?"
"Not me. That dog killed all the other strays." Causing Arya's eyes to widen and Al to side eye him. "Chewed off half of my Mom's ear when she tried to stop it. The thing is, that dog seemed just as friendly and grateful as the rest of them."
Arya paused, then said "So they...think we could be bringing in 'bad' strays like..."
"Yes. Like Jocelyn." Negan said to the point, knowing what she was going to say.
"Negan." Althea turned to him with a warning look.
"Just telling her the truth Al, don't get your panties in a twist. But yeah that's exactly right, don't blame them it's just human nature."
"What about after that? You ever bring any more dogs home?" Arya then asked.
"Well, hell no. I wised my ass up," Negan tells her. Ayra nods as she stands up.
"I better go find Mom, got to go over the wedding!" Arya says as she leaves. Negan grinned, knowing she had been giddy about Enid and Carl's wedding, as he stands to leave. He stops for a moment. "Maggie, have you sit here?" Negan asks her with a smirk. Al nods, and Negan chuckles as he leaves.
Negan walks outside of the church and looks at Daryl as he leans against the side. "You look like you could use a drink, boss,"
"I could," Daryl says. "We're gonna stay here tonight." Daryl tells Negan.
"Really? Oh damn, I call dibs-"
"You're staying with Gabriel." Daryl informed him as he walked off.
Gabriel's POV
Father Gabriel walked up to Negan as he watched Kate talking with Javier and Gabe. "For a guy who had multiple wives. You are very hesitant to talk with a woman you like." He observed, making Negan jump and look at him.
"Jesus Gabe you are still creepy as shit!" Negan says. "Your avoiding the question." The Priest said flatly, knowing him well enough when he was using humor to deflect an issue.
"Not hesitant, just don't deserve it," Negan says. "I don't deserve a family, Gabe. Not after what I did to the others...to Her."
They looked over to where Maggie was, with Althea and Arya, the little girl excitedly talking about the wedding most likely or other to two amused looks.
"Maybe you're right." Gabriel observed.
"Well gee th-"
"Maybe you don't deserve it. But she does, and I think she wants it to be with you." Negan blinked, looking at him confused "Negan, I know that the man that killed Glenn and Abraham didn't deserve a family. But the one I'm looking at now should at least try, you put in the work for it."
"What?"
Gabriel explained steadily "Redemption isn't just a 'do one good thing' and your done. Redemption is an everlasting process...we all must put in the work for it. I work every day for what I did to my church just as you did...but when the time comes, we must embrace the rewards given. As well as understand that when we get up in the morning, we still have more to do."
Negan just stared at him wide eyed "...Gabe..."
"Give her what you took from Maggie. And who knows? Maybe you'll be less of an ass when you have a kid."
Negan chuckles at the happy tone and nods. "I'll consider it, but slow down on the kid talk. I think I'd be a shitty Dad...but thanks Gabe you always know what to say." Negan says.
Gabriel smiled "Of course my friend, now any consid-"
"Gabriel...we have been over this a dozen times, I am not going to Church."
"I live in hope."
Daryl's P.O.V
That night Daryl walks up to Rick's porch and sees him sitting on a bench. Rick walks up to Daryl and stands by him. "What's on your mind?"
"You said you wanted me to remain in charge when that leg heals." Daryl says as Rick looks at him, confused but nodded "Well-"
"Daryl I told you you're doing-" Rick sighed, about to speak up.
"Let me finish," Daryl says, making Rick stop. "It's never felt like it should. Making all those decisions on my own. I know I'm a good leader and that this is what I'm meant to be doing, but man, it never felt like it did today with you standing beside me. All the communities have two leaders. Why can't the alliance? Because I think that's how this is meant to be. Me and you by each other's side, like we've been, from hating each other to tolerating each other, to friends and to brothers. This alliance doesn't need just me, Rick. It needs us. It needs a pair of brothers leading it," Daryl says. Rick looks at Daryl and smiles.
"I think you're right, Daryl," Rick says as he pushes himself up to stand straight. "I'm with you, always," Rick says as he hugs Daryl.
Thanks for reading. This was a fun chapter. I loved everything with Daryl and Rick. I loved Deanna, and hearing Daryl talk about her in season 11 made me love her more. I would say there are about four more chapters until we reach the Whispers. I'm excited and also very scared. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed.
