Author's notes: !IMPORTANT! Hi! So I'm back again, I successfully passed the exam, so everything is back to normal! :D Thank You for your patience!

…

Carol, Alexandria

The next day

Carol was sitting on a chair by the table on the back porch, watching the sunrise. Henry and Lydia were still asleep. Carol felt frustrated and confronted. They needed food, but the walls needed to be fixed and she still didn't want to leave Henry and Lydia alone, especially now that she heard about this new group, which murdered Maggie's people. Her stomach shrank and stayed like that since Daryl was the first who volunteered to go on this mission. Tears were stinging her eyes, but she quickly wiped them, before they could fall.

"You up so early?" asked Daryl as he stepped through the door. Carol exhaled sharply.

"Can't sleep," she mumbled. Daryl was examining her with his eyes, then he slowly sat in front of her. Carol glanced at him.

"Are you cryin'"? asked Daryl.

"No", stated Carol as she sniffed.

"What's wrong?" asked Daryl while leaning closer.

Carol shook her head, turned her eyes away.

"Come on," said Daryl, trying to get her to talk. Carol looked him in the eyes.

"Maggie said it's dangerous. And I can't go with you," she said sadly.

"I know. We need you here. To fix the wall and protect the kids," said Daryl growling in his low voice gently.

"What if something happens? I have a bad feeling," said Carol worryingly, turning her eyes away.

"I always come back. You know that," stated Daryl, watching her the entire time. Carol looked him in the eye again, nodding.

"I know," she said. She stood up suddenly and wanted to escape the situation but Daryl stood up too and grabbed her arm, stepped in her way.

"Hey," he said. Carol stopped and looked at him. "I'll come back," he stated to reassure her. Carol nodded, looking him in the eye. Daryl took her hand and squeezed it gently while staring at each other for a couple of minutes, then Daryl slowly leaned closer to her and gently kissed her lips.

"Don't do this now," said Carol and backed away quickly. Daryl stared at her startled. "It's like you're saying goodbye forever," said Carol turning her eyes away.

"I'm saying goodbye, but not forever," said Daryl, as he eased up. He got scared for a moment, that he did something wrong, but then Carol clarified that she was just worried. He embraced her tightly and Carol hugged him back, buried her face in his shoulder.

"Be very, very careful out there," said Carol quietly.

"Will be," murmured Daryl and tried again. He backed away a little to look Carol in the eye, then kissed her gently again. This time she let him.

…

In the meantime, Quinn and Negan were already packing their weapons and a little bit of food for the journey.

"Are you sure you're alright?" asked Negan one more time.

"Yes," I stated confidently. "I'm not gonna stay here while you're out there with Maggie."

"Fair point," said Negan. "Just let me know if you feel dizzy or anything."

"Alright, alright," I said waving it off. I felt completely fine, he was over worrying. Suddenly we heard a thunderclap.

"Not now," I said as my eyes were widening. Negan remembered instantly that I was scared of storms. He stepped next to me and hugged me.

"It's okay," he said.

"Yeah," I panted. I was trying hard to not get a panic attack.

"Take a deep breath," said Negan. I did. "Maybe we should get our coats," he suggested and backed away a little to look me in the eye. I nodded. We put on our coats as I was taking deep breaths. Then we went to the front door.

"You good?" he asked. I nodded again.

"Yes, let's go," I said. He opened the front door for me, then we stepped outside. I saw Daryl, Carol, Henry, Lydia, Judith and RJ coming on the street. We stepped off of our porch and joined them.

"So you're going too?" asked Henry.

"Yeah, we are," I said. Henry nodded.

"I wish I could go too, but mom became crazy again," he said quietly so Carol wouldn't hear.

"I'm not surprised. They said those people are dangerous," I said.

"Yeah, I get it. Be careful," said Henry.

"I'll try," I said and hugged him. I patted Lydia on her shoulder.

"Take care of each other and Alexandria, while we're away," I said.

"Hopefully the wall will be ready by the time you come back," said Henry.

"Be careful," said Lydia too. I smiled at them. I looked around, Negan was standing further away from me. While I was talking to Henry and Lydia, he was talking to Judith.

…

"You're going to help Maggie?" asked Judith.

"Yeah, crazy right?" said Negan with a half-smile.

"You're doing the right thing. I'm proud of you," said Judith smiling. Negan chuckled.

"Well, then it's already worth it," he said smiling.

"Judith!" Maggie interrupted them as she was walking by. "Don't talk to him."

Then Maggie kept on walking towards the gates.

"Sorry kid, I'm always trouble," said Negan smiling.

"I know that. Be careful," said Judith as she left to say goodbye to Daryl.

…

While everyone was busy saying goodbyes I stepped to Carol, she was standing a little bit further away.

"Everything alright?" I asked as I approached her.

"Yeah, I'm just… worried. About Daryl and you," she said. "I wish I could go with you, but I can't leave Henry alone."

"I know," I said then I hugged her. I couldn't promise her anything, because Maggie said it will be dangerous. I couldn't tell her that I'll make sure Daryl gets back or something like that because I didn't know just how dangerous it will be. This thought broke my heart, I squeezed Carol stronger for a second. And then I got scared. I might not make it back. Maybe this is the last time I see her. Carol stroked my back, then we parted and looked each other in the eye.

"Take care of the kids," I said forcing out a sad smile. She nodded and we said goodbye. My eyes met with Negan's, he wasn't happy either.

"Let's go," Daryl commanded and we followed him to the gates. Daryl glanced back at Carol, locked eyes with her for a long minute. Carol's eyes were full of worry. Daryl slightly nodded to her, then he turned his eyes to the gates. We headed in the direction of the city. For quite a long time no one said a word. I saw Daryl putting on a hat, I thought it looked funny on him, I tried to suppress a chuckle. Daryl glanced at me questioningly.

"What's with the hat?" I asked smiling.

"Don't like it?" he asked smiling.

"Not really," I said chuckling. He chuckled too.

"We're not going to a fashion show," he said smiling as he pulled his scarf over his mouth and nose. I did the same with my scarf and pulled my hood up on my head as the rain started to fall. Maggie, Daryl, Negan and me were walking in the front row, Gabriel and Jesus behind us, and then Maggie's people and a couple of Alexandrians.

"Which way?" asked Maggie out of the blue, without addressing Negan.

"Straight ahead," said Negan. It was all of the conversation, thank god. One could almost touch the tension in the air between them. The hatred that was coming from Maggie was indescribable and, of course, completely reasonable. On the other hand, Negan was quite tense, he didn't trust Maggie and was scared for his own life. I could see he was troubled. I took Negan's hand as we were walking side by side. He glanced at me, I squeezed his hand a little, reassuringly. He nodded slightly. The rain didn't look like it wanted to stop anytime soon, in fact, it was pouring even more. And to make it worse, the thunderclaps started again. Now I became tense too. Negan glanced at me and started caressing my hand with his thumb while we were holding hands. After a while, Maggie asked again how long we should go and Negan suggested we should wait till the storm goes away, but of course, no one listened to him and Maggie's friends couldn't let the opportunity pass without insulting him. Negan squeezed my hand gently.

"It's okay," he said quietly to me. "We're outnumbered, it's okay. Don't make a fuss about it. I deserve it anyway," he said. I knew he was right, so I didn't say anything, just shook my head disapprovingly. Until Daryl agreed with Negan. I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe he will be the bridge between us. Daryl and Maggie agreed to continue our way underground.

"I'm not sure that's the best idea," said Negan quietly, so only I could hear it. We followed the others down to the station. A couple of them held out flashlights, I grabbed mine too. The smell down there was terrible, but at least we were dry. Maggie asked again which way, Negan told her again that we should wait out the storm, but of course, he got insulted again and we continued our way into the tunnel. This time Negan approached Daryl unsurely, but he turned him off too, by stating that they were not friends. I didn't like this at all.

"Daryl!" I said scoldingly. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing," said Daryl and turned his back on us to follow Maggie. I didn't like this at all. I hurried after him and grabbed his shoulder.

"Why can't you just listen to what he wants to say?" I asked. Maggie stopped and turned to me.

"No one gives a crap about what he wants to say, that's why," stated Maggie while her eyes pierced right through me. I didn't back down, I stood her gaze.

"I know, but he wants to help us," I stated slowly.

"He only wants to help himself," said Maggie.

"You do not know him," I said slowly, pressing every word. "Don't start this again," I said.

Maggie stared at me for a couple of minutes angrily, then she exhaled sharply and turned her back on me.

"I hate you when you're an ass like this," I told Daryl as I left him and headed back to Negan's side. Daryl was looking at me offended, then turned around to follow Maggie once again.

"Just let them be," said Jesus quietly. Gabriel was nodding in agreement.

"I know, it's just nerve-wracking," I said while I was staring at Maggie's back, then Daryl's. Jesus patted my shoulder. I took Negan's hand again.

"You don't have to do this," said Negan quietly.

"She pisses me off," I said.

"I know, but we need that food, so just get over it," he said gently. I glanced at him and our eyes met. I eased up instantly because of his gentle voice and his warming eyes. I exhaled sharply and nodded. We continued our way into the stinking tunnel.

…

Listen to "Animal" by Smash Into Pieces.

Thank You for reading! ❤