(Author's notes: I got a question about what was Maggie's story, it was on the show but I didn't want to write it down again, so it was basically how she lost something when she found a house where she found mutilated women and realized that men did that to them.)

…

Quinn, on the way to DC

As Maggie explained our next move we all sat down to rest a little bit. It was late at night. My eyes kept going back to the stars. Negan sat next to me. I got my bottle and drank a little water, then I handed it to Negan. He drank a little and gave it back. I examined him with my eyes. He seemed troubled.

"Are you sure everything's alright?" I asked. He looked at me.

"Yeah."

"Or are you just troubled by Maggie?" I asked quietly. He shrugged his shoulder. Not very talkative which wasn't like him.

"You were not bit, were you?" I asked while my heart started pounding heavily. He shook his head slowly without looking at me. My heart slowed down a bit. As I was about to think what should be my next question I was interrupted by Daryl, he stepped to us.

"Hey, uh… can I talk to you for a second?" he asked glancing at me then turning his eyes away. I glanced at Negan.

"Sure," I said and gathered myself up. I walked away from the rest of the group with Daryl. I hope he is about to apologize for his asshole attitude. We stopped further away and he turned to face me, grabbing the belt of his crossbow on his shoulder, like he wanted to hold onto something for support.

"So… uh… I just want to apologize," he started. "You were right. I had no idea what Maggie was planning."

"I know you're tormented by memories right now," I said as I looked him in the eye. "But those days are gone. Years passed."

He nodded in agreement.

"Yeah. I'm trying."

"I know you are. This situation is not easy for any of us."

"I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. And for turning down that jerk," he nodded towards Negan as he said that.

""That jerk" is trying to help us. And you brought him because he knows the city. So if he wants to say something, probably you should at least hear him out," I said a little bit grumpily.

"Alright," nodded Daryl. We turned our eyes elsewhere, I felt uncomfortable. I was bad at these soul-touching conversations. I looked at him again.

"I would say I'm sorry for hitting you, but… I still feel like you deserved it," I said honestly. Daryl chuckled.

"I know I can be stubborn sometimes."

"Sometimes," I said mocking him.

"Yeah," he said still smiling. Another awkward silence. I glanced at Negan, he was staring at us but turned away quickly when he saw me glancing at him.

"Thank you for saving us, by the way," I said looking at Daryl again. "I think I can say it in everyone's name."

"Pfff," he said. He couldn't take compliments.

Another moment of awkward silence, then I made up my mind. I was tired and scared and angry. I hugged him. He got surprised for a moment, then hugged me back immediately.

"What would we do without you?" I asked.

"Stop," he said chuckling. He put his chin on my shoulder.

"Are you okay? Not bit or anything?" I asked quietly. We backed away, he looked me in the eye.

"Nah. Everything good. Little bit tired," he said.

"Yeah, we all are," I said as I looked over at the group. Maggie gathered herself up. I turned my eyes back at Daryl.

"You shouldn't run away like this, though. I don't want to face Carol with the news of your death. She couldn't take it. And I couldn't take it either," I said locking eyes with him. "Not to mention Judith and RJ."

He nodded.

"I try not to."

"Let's go!" said Maggie and off she went, followed by her friends. I glanced at Daryl once more.

"You know… I'm completely sure that Negan changed, but I have a feeling that Maggie changed too. And maybe not in a good way," I said looking very serious. Daryl got it, he nodded, but he didn't say anything. We followed the others and caught up with them eventually. Maggie asked Negan for directions and led the group outside. I hurried to Negan's side. He didn't look at me, we were just marching who knows where. Only Negan and Maggie knew. The night was clear and silent. A gentle breeze caught my hair, it felt good to breathe fresh air.

"Finally. That disastrously disgusting shithole won't go out of my nose for a while," said Negan breathing in the fresh air, thinking the same as I did. I smiled at him. But this idyllic situation didn't last long, because after one disaster came the next. We approached a place where hanged dead bodies were marking the road.

"What the hell?" asked Jesus frowning his eyebrows with dislike. Negan cracked a joke about how this place looked better the last time he saw it, but no one laughed. I couldn't either. I had a really bad feeling about this. Those hanged bodies… there was a lot, I mean a lot of them. Daryl looked at Maggie questioningly. Negan started to suggest something but halfway through his sentence two of our people got shot by arrows. My heart skipped a beat. I ducked behind a tree, Negan followed me, and everyone else did the same, we scattered in an instant. I didn't dare to peak out, arrows were flying around us. I glanced at Daryl, he peaked out.

"Masked assholes," he said.

"It's them," said Maggie, her eyes wide with fear.

"We have to fight back!" said Daryl and jumped out to shoot. He got one of them and ducked behind another tree. I only had a knife. There was chaos in a minute. I looked at Negan questioningly, his eyes were full of concern. Maggie's people attacked, two of them got killed. Negan grabbed my hand and we changed location to another tree, but before we could duck Negan screamed.

"Negan!" I yelled as I turned around and pulled him behind the tree. His thigh had an arrow sticking out. My heart fell out of my chest. He grabbed the arrow and pulled it out while groaning painfully. I couldn't do anything just stare. I glanced around quickly, everyone was scattered. I didn't see well in the dark either. I couldn't find Daryl. I glanced back at Negan.

"Let's go!" I said, grabbed Negan's arm, and dragged him to the woods, away from the fight. He was limping but we could still move quite fast. We were running away from the fight. I glanced back above my shoulder. I shouldn't have left Daryl and Jesus there like this, but I didn't have any ranged weapons and Negan was injured. I had to take him to safety. I was just hoping once again that Daryl and Jesus will be okay. I glanced at Negan he was limping beside me glancing around nervously.

…

Author's notes: Listen to "Imperfection" by Evanescence.

Thank You for reading! ❤