Author's notes: Listen to "lovely" by Billie Eilish and Khalid before you read! ❤

…

Negan, Alexandria

Negan was pacing in his cell. Michonne just left, she was searching for Judith. The little girl disappeared. Negan told Michonne that Judith is smart, but he didn't let the opportunity slip without mocking Michonne. And there he was again, feeling guilty and regretful immediately. Why he had to mock Michonne when he could have just helped her? Deep inside he felt like he could take better care of Judith, because Michonne was so busy with the council and because she kept things from Judith. She thought Judith wasn't ready, but Negan knew better. How couldn't he? All he was doing with his days was taking care of Judith. She talked to him every day, she was so lonely, and she was eager to hear stories about Rick and Carl. Also, Negan listened to her when all the adults were too busy to pay attention to her. And now she was missing. Negan shook his head, he kept pacing.

Wish I could help her. I would find her.

He closed his eyes and let out a sigh. Judith was the only friend he had for a long time. He didn't want to lose her too.

…

Quinn, Hilltop

I thought I was going mad. Two days passed without knowing anything about Henry and Daryl. Jesus said goodbye to leave for the fair at the Kingdom, so I won't see him either until the fair ends.

I heard the door open.

"Hey!" it was Enid. "So, I'm going to wash you quickly, change the gauze, put in another infusion, and then I leave for the fair with Alden.

"No! You leave me too?! I will be completely alone! Who's going to change gauze while you're gone?" I asked I was scared and worried.

"It's the biggest event since forever, I have to go. Don't worry. I asked a girl to change gauze I already started to teach her the basics."

I closed my eyes tight then I opened them again.

"I can't go to the fair, I'm worried about Henry and Daryl, and then Jesus left too, I just… I'm going mad here!

I was on the verge of crying, Enid took pity on me leaned over, and hugged me. I cried into her shoulder.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have come in so cheerfully about the fair when I know you can't go. I'm really sorry. Jesus said Henry and Daryl are supposed to go to the fair, so I bet they are already there. Don't worry," she said, let me out of the hug, and stroked my hair. "I'm really sorry."

I nodded. She prepared water and the sponge to wash me, I wiped away my tears.

"I'm sorry for being a burden. I hate to be like this. Unable to do anything. I can't even eat, I'm on this piece of shit infusion for almost a week."

"You can start eating next week. At the end of next week, you can turn around in bed on your own. After a month, you can sit up and walk around a few steps in the room. After two months you are free to go. Siddiq told me."

"Two months… it's like forever… just think about how many things happened to us in one week… Two months? I'm going crazy. And I can't go to the fair either…"

Enid sighed, put fresh gauze on my wound.

"All you can do is heal now. You need to rest. How's your jaw?"

"It's fine. Doesn't hurt anymore."

"Be careful with it. Alright, I'm finished I'll move you around a little."

"Fine…"

She moved me to the right side, then to the left, then put me back on my back.

She fixed my blanket and pillow and then looked at me.

"I'll hurry back. Everything's going to be fine."

"Okay," I said.

"Okay. Heal!" she said goodbye and left. I heard the lock on the door click.

I closed my eyes tight and I exhaled sharply. I was left alone again, now completely alone.

Everyone I cared for was far away…

…

Negan, Alexandria

Negan haven't heard about Judith for a day when she finally showed up at his window. Seems like Michonne found her and she was quite happy, so Negan thought they made peace.

"Hey, Jude. What's up?" he said and walked to the window.

"I came to say goodbye. I'm going to the Kingdom. There will be a fair, where all the communities trade with each other."

"That sounds fun. Will you bring me a souvenir?" of course, Negan already knew about the fair, he heard a lot of things by his window.

"I'll try," she said smiling.

"Okay," Negan smiled too. "Well, see you next time, then."

"See ya!" she said and hurried back to her house. Negan smiled, he could see how excited the little girl was.

He glanced around the cell and sat back on his bed when he heard Gabriel coming. He was carrying something.

"What're you up to, Gabe?" Negan asked curiously. Gabriel set down a little shelf.

"I brought you something. Come on, let me tie your hands."

"What is this? Some kind of torturing tool?" asked Negan frowning his eyebrows. Gabriel seemed way too happy, just like Judith.

"No, it's a tiny bookshelf. I'll bring you some books as well," said Gabriel while he tied Negan's hands.

"Why?" asked Negan.

"Because I'm in a good mood today," said Gabriel smiling, opened the cell, set the bookshelf by the wall, then locked back the cell. He untied Negan's hands.

"I'll go get some books," he said and left. Negan kept frowning his eyebrows, he didn't understand what was going on. Gabriel was in a way too good mood. After a couple of minutes, Gabriel came back with a bunch of books, he handed them one by one through the iron bars. Negan took them and set them on the shelf.

"Really? What's going on?" asked Negan, disbelievingly.

"I told you, I'm in a good mood."

"Why is that?"

Gabriel was smiling to himself, then looked Negan in the eye.

"I'm just happy. I'm happy with Rosita. And Alexandria joined the fair."

Negan smiled suspiciously.

"Alright. Thanks for the books," he said.

"You're welcome," said Gabriel and left. Negan laughed disbelievingly. He crouched in front of his new bookshelf to take a look at the books. He picked out one, which seemed to be an adventure story, sat next to the wall, and started to read.

…

Quinn, Hilltop

I tried to start reading the book Jesus gave me, but I couldn't. I was so worried. I couldn't stop thinking about Henry and Daryl. What happened to them? Did they make it to the fair? I was going mad. I wished we still had phones, so I could just call them or ask someone else from the fair if they arrived. I was really going nuts.

I picked up the book again. I have to keep my thoughts occupied. I have to, I must, unless I'm really going crazy from worrying.

I tried to start reading the book again.

…

Daryl, Kingdom

Daryl was really weary from fighting with Beta, he could barely walk, but everything vanished when he saw silver hair in the sunshine. As the gate opened Daryl saw Carol immediately… with Ezekiel. Daryl shook his head and tried to look away, but Carol looked in his direction and their eyes met. Carol had worry all over her face and she hurried towards him, but she wasn't going to him, she was going to Henry. Daryl wished she would be hurrying to him, but that was not the case anymore. Daryl could feel something had changed since he talked to her about Leah. He wished Carol would care about him just like before Leah, before Ezekiel…

Daryl just stood there awkwardly during the family reunions, staring at his own shoes, until Carol came to him. His heart skipped a beat as she hugged him. He couldn't help, but smile, like a shy little boy.

This was the first time Alexandria and the Kingdom opened up to each other since what happened. Carol backed away from Daryl, looking him in the eye, smiling. Tears in her eyes.

"Thank you for keeping Henry safe," she whispered. She couldn't help, but show a little affection, despite Ezekiel was standing right there. She quickly got herself together, locked eyes with Daryl for another minute, then she turned around and saw Judith, but Tara interrupted all the happiness with concern. They had to arrange a meeting for the leaders, because of Lydia.

…

After the meeting, Henry escorted Lydia to Carol and Ezekiel.

"Mom, Dad, this is Lydia. Lydia, they're my parents," said Henry smiling. Lydia smiled faintly, standing there awkwardly.

"Hi, I'm Carol. Nice to meet you, Lydia," she said smiling and shook hands with the girl. Ezekiel did as well. They stood there in awkward silence for a moment, then Carol smiled at Henry.

"Why don't you show Lydia around? I'm sure you'll have fun," Carol said. Henry nodded and turned around to go on a walk with Lydia. Ezekiel turned to Carol.

"Our son's going to take a girl on a date to the movies tonight," he said with a huge smile on his face.

"Everything you just said sounds completely impossible," said Carol, smiling, but then her smile faded away. "I'll go, find Daryl. He looked weary. And I haven't seen Quinn, so I want to ask him about her."

"Sure, go my Queen," said Ezekiel smiling. "I'll check on Michonne."

Carol smiled and hurried away to look for Daryl.

Eventually, she found him, sitting, petting his dog. She approached him.

"Are you alright?" she asked. Daryl glanced up at her, nodded.

"You got into a fight, didn't you?"

Daryl nodded again, shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm okay."

Carol nodded and sat next to him.

"Thank you again, for keeping my son safe. I knew I got the right babysitter for him when I asked you," she said smiling. Daryl smiled slightly. Carol glanced around, then looked back at Daryl.

"Where's Quinn?" she asked. Daryl flinched, avoided Carol's gaze.

"She couldn' come…"

"Why?" she asked.

"She's got injured when we brought back Eugene. She's got surgery, she's bedridden."

Carol's eyes widened.

"The moment I leave her alone, the first thing to happen is this. What happened exactly?" she snapped and leaped to her feet. She couldn't believe that Henry and Quinn got injured, not to mention Daryl, who was clearly not telling everything.

"She saved Jesus from a skin. He would be dead," said Daryl, glancing up at her.

Carol exhaled furiously, she shook her head.

"What happened exactly?" she asked, strictly.

"She jumped on the attacker and got cut on her stomach. Internal bleeding. Siddiq got it."

Carol shook her head.

"I have to go to her, I have to see her," now Daryl stood up, slowly, then took her hand.

"You were preparing for this fair for months, you can't just leave," he said, then he squeezed these words out: "The king needs you here."

Carol shook her head, she knew Daryl was right. Daryl continued. "I'm going back to Hilltop and look out for her. She also has Enid and Jesus. We're taking care of her."

Carol looked him in the eye and nodded. She glanced at his hand and then his face, examining his injuries.

"You fought one of them, didn't you? Those are not from walkers," she asked quietly. Daryl nodded. Carol stepped closer and brushed away his hair from his face. "Are you sure you're alright?" she asked. Daryl nodded again. "I was worried about you," Carol said quietly. Daryl couldn't stand it anymore, he hugged her. He buried his face in her shoulder. Despite how much Carol enjoyed their hug, she slowly backed away. She chose Ezekiel, she couldn't let her feelings surface. She smiled at Daryl and tried to change the topic.

"Would you like a caramel apple?" she asked innocently, still smiling. Daryl laughed.

"What?"

"Yeah, come on, I'll get you one," she said smiling and they headed to the caramel apple stand.

…

Author's notes: I know the bookshelf was visible on the show in earlier scenes, but I couldn't find the circumstances that would explain who and why gave it to Negan. So I decided to put it here because Gabriel was in a good mood. 😊

Also, I'm not gonna write about how they headed out to Hilltop and then got caught by Alpha, you can watch that on the show. 😊

Listen to "Another Day on the Battlefield" by Smash Into Pieces. This time it's for Daryl. ❤

Thank You for reading! ❤