Quinn, Hilltop

Two more weeks and I'll be free to go. Jesus and Daryl helped me learn to walk again. Now I can do it alone, very slowly. I was sitting in a chair, staring outside the window, when Daryl came in. He was never a man of words, but since the fair, he was even more silent. He barely talked. He came to me with long steps, like he had an aim.

"Hey," he growled.

"Hi. What's going on?" I asked, but then I saw someone else come behind him.

It was Carol.

"Oh my god! Carol!" I wanted to jump to my feet, but I couldn't yet, so I semi-slowly pushed myself up from the chair. She hurried to me and hugged me tightly.

"What are you doing here?" I asked her, while I backed away.

"I wish I could say that I came to visit you, but… I came to take Daryl with me. We have trouble in the Kingdom."

"Wait, what? Daryl told me you can't visit because you are guarding Henry," - It must be very serious if she left Henry to come here. – I thought. "What happened?"

"The Kingdom is literally falling apart. Pipes bursting, the cold doesn't help… There was a fire. Everything is rotting and falling apart… And the winter is breathing down on our necks. We need more people… I'm afraid we have to abandon the Kingdom."

I was speechless for several minutes.

"What are you going to do? Are you dividing people between Hilltop and Alexandria?"

"Yes… We need some fighters to help us leave and escort us on the road."

"Daryl, can you please leave us for a moment?" I asked him politely. He was spaced out, I bet they already talked through the whole thing. But I was interested in something else. Daryl nodded and left. I sat on my bed and turned to Carol. She was watching me worryingly.

"How are you?" she asked with tears in her eyes. "I'm so sorry I couldn't come to visit you. Daryl told me what happened."

"I'm fine, don't worry. And I understand, you were busy with the fair, then the Kingdom and Henry… How's Henry?"

"He is fine. Ezekiel is watching him now. Can I check the wound?" she asked pointing at my stomach. I nodded and pulled up my shirt. She gently removed half of the gauze to take a look.

"This is huge! It must have been painful."

"After we ran out of painkillers, it was. Daryl went out to find more, but he couldn't. I'm fine now. Two more weeks and I am free to go."

"I wish I could have been here, to help you," she said with regret all over her face.

"You have enough on your hands already, don't worry about me. I'm glad you are taking Daryl. He hasn't spoken much, since the fair. I'm sure he wanted to stay by your side. I was a burden to him."

"Don't say that. He volunteered to help you. Michonne sends her best wishes to you too."

"Michonne? When did you meet her?"

"She was at the fair, with Judith," Carol smiled, tears in her eyes again.

"What? How are they?"

"They're fine. Judith enjoyed the fair so much… until… you know."

I nodded silently. Then I had to ask.

"Did Michonne say anything about… Negan?" I asked. Carol exhaled sharply.

"She said he was fine, back then. I don't have any new information about Alexandria since the fair. I'm sorry. I'm sure they are alright."

"Are you not mad at me for asking about him?" I asked, I felt guilty.

"No. I think I kind of understand you now…"

"What are you talking about?"

"If you happen to be able to meet Negan again… I won't stop you."

"Really?" I asked taken aback. "What changed your mind?"

"Judith became friends with him… Maybe he has really changed."

I smiled. This was the first time in forever I heard about Negan… but then I frowned my eyebrows and looked Carol in the eye.

"What happened really? You changed your mind completely. What's going on?"

She was staring at the floor. She acted strangely. After a couple of minutes, she looked me in the eye.

"I'm going to break up with Ezekiel… I have been thinking about it for a while now… I didn't want to cause him pain, now that we have all this trouble at the Kingdom. I was going to wait and then… "

My mouth fell open.

"You want to break up with Ezekiel?" I repeated. She nodded slightly. "Yes! Finally!" I said happily. "Not that I have any problem with Ezekiel, but you know that I always cheered for you and Daryl…"

"Are you kidding me? Daryl is still trying to find his lost girlfriend… He is just being kept with us because we need his help," she said hopelessly.

"There's something going on Carol, I can see it. Tell me."

She let out a sigh.

"When Alpha captured us… during the fair… she took Daryl somewhere. I was going mad. I couldn't stand the thought… of losing him. I had no idea what that woman would do to him. She had a gun… I just don't want to lose him. Maybe if I'm available, he will try again…"

I listened to her in silence, I couldn't believe what I heard. She wants to give Daryl another chance?

"After the fair…" I said. "He was really gloomy. He even raised his voice once, which he never did to me before."

"Why?" asked Carol.

"Because he wanted to stay at the Kingdom. He wanted to protect you and Henry from Alpha. And he was pissed off that you chose Ezekiel, instead of him."

"There's no way he said that."

"I wanted to persuade him to go back to you, that I'll be fine with Jesus, and Daryl said, I'm quoting his words here: "She is with Ezekiel, she doesn't need me!" That's what he said. Which I took as a confession, that he was upset because you didn't choose him."

"Nonsense," Carol waved it off as she stood up, but her entire face was red. "He wouldn't… He is still waiting for his forest girlfriend."

"He was in love with you all along… that woman was just a fling."

"No, it was more than that… he wanted to run away with her…"

"Okay, I see I can't change your mind about this. I'm just happy you will be available to him again."

Carol shook her head.

"I can't believe after all this, you still think… that we… that HE…" she let out a sigh. "I'm not breaking up with Ezekiel just because of Daryl… I just… don't love him anymore. And after Daryl was in danger, I couldn't think about Ezekiel."

"I understand."

"But, I have good news too," she lit up a little. "Eugene is trying to make a radio connection between all the communities."

I jerked up my head.

"You mean, we could call each other?"

"Yes. If he succeeds, you can call me anytime," she smiled. I smiled too, then almost immediately the thought hit me hard.

"They wouldn't let me talk to Negan, would they?" I asked sadly. Carol shook her head.

"I don't think so," she examined my face, I could feel it as I was staring at the ground. She continued. "I shall go now. I have to hurry back to Henry."

"Okay. Be careful."

"You too. Get better quickly," she said and hugged me.

Not long after she left, Daryl came in. I didn't even have time to think through what just happened. Carol really visited me and she wants to give a chance to Daryl. I was so happy for them. But then, the Kingdom was falling apart… Why do I always have to feel bittersweet? When there is good news, there is always bad news as well. I had to concentrate as Daryl was standing right in front of me.

"I came to say goodbye," he said in his low, growling voice.

"Finally. You know that you shouldn't have done this for me. I would have been perfectly fine with just Jesus."

"I wanted to help."

I slowly stood up, Daryl stepped to me and held my hand to help.

"I feel like a granny," I chuckled. I saw a slight smile. When I was able to stand, Daryl let go of my hand and we faced each other.

"I'm grateful for your help. Thank you," I told him. He nodded. "Take care of Carol and Henry."

"Will do."

I nodded, smiled at him, then I hugged him.

"I don't want to lose any of you. Keep yourselves safe until I fully recover, so I can protect you all."

He chuckled. I backed away, unbelievingly. I made him laugh. After such a long time. I smiled widely.

"Wow," he said. "Okay, I'll keep myself and Carol and Henry safe, until you fully recover, just so you can save us."

"Thank you," I smiled at him. His smile faded away slowly. He said goodbye and left. I sat back on my bed.

I was left alone again. Only Jesus taking care of me now. I hope everything will go well with the citizens of the Kingdom.

It was hard to believe it is the end. I thought about my temporary little house in the Kingdom. I thought about walking in the morning sunshine between the crops.

It all ends.

I have to recover, fast, so I can help them. Only two more weeks.

…

Two weeks later

Jesus stood by my bed, I stood up on my own, he was watching me if I needed help.

"So, where am I going to go now" I asked him.

"Well, I was thinking about Maggie's old room," he said.

"Will it be okay? What if she comes back?"

"She stopped answering our letters. I have a feeling she won't come back."

I sighed. Jesus seemed gloomy.

"Everything all right?" I asked.

"Yeah. Sure," he said. "Let's go, I'll show you your new room."

He said and held out his arm to help me walk. I grabbed it and we headed out of the infirmary, for the first time since my injury.

…

Author's notes: Listen to "All good things come to an end" by Nelly Furtado.

Thank You for reading! ❤