Ava
Two weeks later.
"I want to go with you." I whisper to Daryl as we stand on the front porch of our Alexandrian home. The sun has yet to rise above the wall and the rest of the group are getting their last minutes of sleep in before they head to the quarry that's barely holding back a massive herd of roamers.
Daryl closes the space between us and bows his head; letting his hair fall over his eyes as a smile escapes me and he nuzzles his face against my neck. "I need you here - safe. Plus Carol's gonna need back up if the Alexandrian's turn against us."
"Okay." I finally say but don't attempt to move away from him - our foreheads touching as a pout escapes me. Daryl wraps his arms around me - bringing me into his chest as he inhales deeply; memorizing the smell of apple shampoo we found last week on our supply run. "I'll be back soon." He whispers as I nod; kissing him before he moves off the porch to go start up his bike and load the supplies they need for today.
I stand on the porch with my arms around myself like I'm sending him off to war; watching him disappear towards Aaron's house. I know Daryl is plenty capable of taking care of himself but the tightness in my chest doesn't waver and a sigh escapes me. I'm falling in love with him but that's a story for another day. I know deep in my twisted heart that if I confessed that secret I'd probably never see him again.
"Please keep him safe," I whisper to any God that will listen and turn back to go into the house.
X
The day started out like many others - massive amounts of laundry and filthy bathrooms to scrub. Living with several barbaric men and a teenage boy kept the domestics duties plentiful and somehow I do more laundry then supply runs.
Carrying a basket of laundry down the stairs I spot Carol turning the dial on a cooking timer as she smiles at me. Look at us just a pair of home makers. "Good morning! Casseroles in the oven."
I smile and nod; sitting the basket down on a chair. "I never thanked you for getting my weapons back." I say as conversation. "So, thank you."
Carol's smile widens. "What you did for Judith that day won't easily be forgotten, Ava. You're one of us now."
We bask in comfortable silence for a few minutes as Carol turns to look out the window. One of the other housewives - the one that drones on and on about a pasta maker - is standing in her yard puffing on a cigarette; she lifts her hand in a wave as Carol greets her.
We both watch in horror as a man dressed in black appears out of nowhere and stabs her in the chest and her screams fill the town. In next minute goes by in a blur - Carl flying down the stairs as Carol comes alive - yelling at him to protect Judith as she turns to me.
"You need to warn the others! Move quickly and stay alert. They'll keep to the main streets."
I nod; suddenly terrified and take off out the door towards the other houses. "Where are you going?" I ask Carol right before she splits away from me towards the wall. "To stop this."
X
The first house I come to is The Johnson's; the elderly couple I helped home the night Pete's brains were sprayed all over Main Street. I slip in the back door thankful yet shocked that it's unlocked and run slam into Mrs. Johnson who's cleaning a dish at the sink.
"Oh, Ava. What's wrong honey?"
I go to her quickly and press my finger to my lips. "People are attacking the community and I need you guys to hide."
"What? Attacking?"
I guide her down the hall to where Joe is standing; already aware of the Wolves and ask them if they have a safe place to go to. He nods and takes me into a back bedroom; moving the rug to show me a door that leads to what I assume is a part of their basement.
"Does it lock from inside?"
Joe nods.
"Great. Lock yourselves inside and I'll replace the rug. I'll come back when it's safe."
Mrs. Johnson reaches for me with wide eyes. "Ava dear there's room for you. Come with us."
I consider it for a second but then think of Carol. I don't want to let her down and I'm tired of running. "I've got to help the others." I assure her with a smile before closing the door and replacing the rug.
A second later I'm outside watching another intruder bludgeon someone to death with a large stick. I disappear just in time and slip into an open window of the next occupied house to warn them of the impending doom.
X
It feels like years have passed when I finally sit down on the top step of the borrowed porch. I glance over at the empty spot to my right and the weight of the past few days catch up with me. Daryl left with the other but most of the others have returned without him and things have been so chaotic in Alexandria I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone. Between the wolves and that damn truck with its blaring horn and all the roamers surrounding us… how could it get any worse?
I look up slowly as the sound of splintering wood echos through the town. A second later the church tower smashes down on three panels of wall and the roamers pile into Alexandria by the hundreds.
"Fuck…"
Leaping to my feet I head south to the look out tower where I first met Spencer and climb like my life depends on it. Thankfully the roamers don't have the fine motor skills to follow me up and I make it to the too quickly - surprised to see Maggie laying a few inches away. She places a finger to her lips as I sit down beside her gently and nod. With all the commotion going on in the town the roamers should move on easily as long as we don't make much noise.
"Are you ok?" I finally whispers - glancing over to Maggie who's obviously been crying. She nods and sits up as the herd moves on.
"Glenn's not back yet."
I frown at the thought. "Yeah, Daryl either." I answer and sit with my back against the railing - pulling my legs into my chest. Maggie looks at me for a long minute before looking down at her hands. "I'm sorry. I try to be strong but sometimes… I don't think I'm doing this right."
"I feel like that too. You are strong though - you've survived a lot."
Maggie looks up at me slowly; forcing a weak smile. "I hope I can survive this." I let her sad gaze fall and look down at the walker herd below us. Only a few have stayed back to growl and hiss at the look out. "I think we'll be alright." I assure and look at her again.
"I'm pregnant."
My eyes grow wide and I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out. What do I say? I'm sorry? Or congratulations?
"Does Glenn know?" What's worse? Dying knowing you have a child on the way or dying without knowing you're going to be a dad. Maggie nods; wiping away a tear that slides down her cheek. "He does. We've been trying since we got to Alexandria. We wanted to bring something good into this world."
I'm at a loss for words again. Bringing a child into a dying world sounds selfish to me but who am I to judge. I allow myself thirty seconds to picture Daryl with several dark haired children at his feet but I still can't bring myself to congratulate her so I simply say "Glenn is smart. He'll be home soon."
Maggie just gives another forced smile as I stand to my feet. "Where are you going?"
"You need to stay here. I need to go fight."
I need to keep my mind off the doom that's filling my chest every second. Daryl's been gone to long and now it's painfully obvious he didn't turn the herd away from Alexandria.
"Ava!" She calls as I descend down the ladder. I look at her over the top rung. "Daryl is on his way back to you. Be careful." I smile and demand her and her baby stay put then disappear into the herd of walkers.
The first one I kill is my camouflage and I gut it quickly; covering myself from head to toe in its rotten blood. The plan is to make it to Rick and the others while silently taking out as many roamers as I can. Once my scent is masked I begin the slow shuffle towards the herd - blending in as I go to work; sliding the sharp blade of my knife into the back of each roamer's skull I come across. The ones closest to me start to catch on that I'm not a true walker but are quickly distracted by screaming and fresh blood a few feet ahead.
It's hard to see through the herd but it sounds like a kid screaming for his mother and then the eerie silence of the aftermath. I shuffle along with the dead; flinching slightly as a gun shot rings out. More blood shed must be before us because my company never bothers looking my way again as we move towards the carnage.
My body is tired; limbs aching from overexertion from the past few days and I silently pray I can keep going long enough to get through this and that Daryl is waiting for me on the other side. Once I make it to Rick he is fueled by rage and murdering walkers by the dozen - blindly slicing through them without thought. I slow my pace to stay out of his assault looking to the sky as it suddenly lights up in a blaze of fire. The herd begins to turn and I fall behind - allowing the distracted walkers to go on towards their doom.
Once most of the walkers have plunged into the pond behind Deanna's house I lift my tired eyes and see Daryl standing on top of a large truck with… is that a bazooka on his shoulder? He looks like a complete bad ass standing on that truck with the fire raging behind him and relief washes over me. I'm literally dead on my feet now but seeing Daryl alive gives me a boost of adrenaline and my feet begin to pound the pavement towards the fuel truck.
X
Daryl
Once Maggie's inside the fuel truck I turn to her - eyes pleading. "Is she alright?" She knows who I'm asking about but she can only shake her head. "I don't know. She left me on the tower to go help thin the herd."
I turn around quickly and slam my palm into the steering wheel. I won't fucking lose her. If she's dead I'll claw my way into hell and bring her back. "Daryl?" Sasha's voice is quiet next to me and I don't look at her. "I know why you left us earlier. I get it - we need to stop this now before it's to late."
I sit with my thought's for another second before opening the drivers door and pulling myself up to the roof; leaning down to look in the cab. The others just stare at me with wide eyes. "Gimme the launcher." I mutter as Abe hands it over and I place it on top of the truck; looking back at them. "Back us down by the pond and empty the fuel. I'll shoot an RPG and set the pond on fire and hopefully that will drawl the walkers away from Rick."
Sasha nods and slides over to the drivers seat as I climb back on top of the truck and hold on. A few minutes pass before we're backing down towards the pond and Abe gets out of the truck to empty the fuel into the water. Once he's a safe distance away I stand to my feet and mount the RPG launcher on my shoulder - firing into the pond as it ignites in a massive blaze of fire. The walkers turn from Rick and the others and begin to fall into the pond. After a few minutes there's only one lone walker standing alone in the street staring at me. A second later it's running at full speed towards the truck - dark hair flying behind her and I realize it's Ava. I set the RPG launcher on top of the truck and jump down catching her in my arms as she slams into my chest - nearly knocking me down.
I wrap my arms around her thin frame and hold her tightly as a sob escapes her and she clutches my back. I move my hands to her face and pull her back enough to look into her dark blue eyes. "Are you bit?" I ask because she's covered in blood and Im not sure why she's crying; she's on the brink of hysteria as she finally shakes her head no and I pull her back into my chest.
"Everything's gonna be alright now." I whisper to her as she finally sinks her weight into me and let's go of the tension the past few days have caused.
X
It takes me over an hour to convince Ava to go rest while Rick and I fill each other in on what's happened since we parted ways at the quarry.
Ava tells us about the wolves attack and then climbs the stairs wearily. When I finally let my eyes fall from her exit Rick is staring at me.
"Carol said she covered more ground than anyone could have warning the others about the wolves. Then she helped bury the dead and killed several walkers after the church tower fell. I don't know how she's still going."
I make him no comment; shoving a spoonful of Carol's casserole in my mouth. I'm not ready to admit to Rick how relieved I am that Ava is still alive or how proud I am that she stayed and fought for the place.
"How's Carl?"
"He's okay. Responding to my voice. I think he's as exhausted as everyone else and it's going to take some time."
I nod; finishing the food quickly. We talk some more about the assholes in the burnt Forrest and the dire need for a supply run but decide on a good nights sleep for now. Tomorrow will be a long day clearing the dead from Alexandria.
"Hey."
I stop at the bottom of the stairs but don't look back. "You care about Ava."
"I know." I grunt in response; keeping my back to him. He takes a frustrated breath. "Does she? This life is to short, Daryl. Tell her." We stand in silence for a long moment before I take my leave up the stairs without a response.
X
TBC. Please review.
