Penny Lane chapter 4
Al made a personal note in her mind to thank Earl for the customized halberd he forged for her. The handheld spikes worked on lone walkers but were only effective up close. It also put her at risk when it came to pulling the spikes out.
Her new weapon was just a foot shorter than her and light enough to not cause fatigue from extended use. The spearhead went in and out of the walker's skill with the greatest of ease. The crescent axe head excelled in slashing and cutting down more than one walker.
Then she felt the wind shift against her hair for a split second. A bolt flew an inch away from her head and felled the walker who almost got the drop on her.
"They're dead and slow but they can still catch you off guard." Daryl said, his crossbow lowered to his side.
"Good thing I have you watching my ass." Al said before looking at the bodies in front of her. "So what's the tally now?"
"Since we left Hilltop? Ten from me. Seven from you."
"If I beat your number by even one, you have to answer my questions."
"Don't risk your life for a story you might not want to hear. Maggie would kick my ass if anything happened to you."
Al nodded in agreement. "I get that. I'm still going to ask you questions."
The day was warm enough to work up a sweat but having worked in the sweltering forge for hours, even in the shade, Carl was drenched in his own sweat. "I have a new respect for what you can do, Earl."
"Considering you only have one eye to work with, you will have to do more than just deal with intense heat."
"You have two eyes. Is it any easier for you?" Carl asked.
"Two eyes or one, it doesn't make a difference if you don't know what you're doing or what's in front of you."
Taking the bandana from the pocket of his leather apron, Carl wiped the sweat off his brow, blinking a few times when a few drops crossed his one good eye.
"We've all been in dark places, especially with the way the world is now. Those are the times no one can forget." Though Earl was speaking in a metaphor, Carl could pick up immediately what he was talking about.
"Do you think Al can bring Maggie out from her darkness?"
"I want to believe Al could help Maggie live again rather than just existing or surviving from one battle to the next. So far, it's working. It helps that they both have real feelings for each other. It's not only up to Al though. Maggie needs her entire family. That includes you, Carl."
Earl nudged his head towards the direction of Hilltop's cemetery.
"Go take a walk down to the graveyard. Spend your break with her. It'll be good for the both of you."
Walking through the bridge camp, Daryl and Al took stock of the work force responsible for building the bridge. Most of them were former Saviors and a few of them were the desperate ones who bought into the line Negan was selling in order to survive. Then there were several people from the other communities (Alexandria, Kingdom, Hilltop) there as supervisors, medics and patrols.
"Are you getting along with the folks down here?" Al asked Daryl as they walked side by side.
"They keep to themselves and I keep to myself." Daryl remarked dryly. "Out of everyone here, there's about a dozen of them who beat me while I was held prisoner at the Sanctuary. There are times when a few of them look at me like I'm about to draw on them. Can't say I haven't thought of it more than once."
"What stopped you? It's not like they didn't earn a bolt from your crossbow."
"We ain't them." Daryl said.
"Daryl! Al!"
Their moment was broken when Tara approached Daryl and Al with a young man beside her. "Al, it's good to see you. How's Maggie back at Hilltop?"
"She's running things back home as usual while raising Hershel. Same as usual. It's good to see you, Tara. How's life as a lookout?"
"Kind of boring staring out into the distance for herds. On the other hand, after a long time of facing danger around every corner, boring isn't so bad." Tara said with a smile at Al. "Since you're close to Maggie, I figure you could reach out to her and see if there's room for this guy at Hilltop. His name is Alden."
The short-haired former journalist looked Alden in the face and asked, "Were you with the Saviors?"
"Yes, ma'am. I was."
"Don't call me 'ma'am'. I'm Althea or Al if you prefer."
"It's nice to meet you, Al."
"Were you anything like Negan's inner circle of pillaging, mass murdering, extortionist assholes?"
Alden shook his head. "I never robbed or extorted anyone for anything in my life before or after things changed. I was just a misled fool who thought we were fixing the world. We were not fixing anything."
"Did you have anything to do with the line up out in the clearing?"
"No. I swear I had nothing to do with Negan killing Maggie's husband or the other guy."
"Abraham Ford." Al's tone was harsh. It wasn't lost on Alden how Al thought highly of Abraham Ford to not let anyone dismiss him as a nameless 'other guy'.
"I'm not shifting blame and I know better than to make excuses. I supported the wrong team because the other option was the dead. Not all of us were Negan or with Negan by choice. All I'm asking for is a fresh start."
"Why Hilltop? You could have taken your chances with the Kingdom or Alexandria."
"Like I said, I could use a fresh start. I wouldn't get that if I'm in the same place as Negan. That rules out Alexandria. The Kingdom lost a lot of people because of the war. I'm sure they're not ready to accept someone who supported the Saviors. I thought to pick Hilltop to earn a pardon from Maggie Rhee."
" It's very easy for anyone to act all apologetic and contrite when their side lost a war or fell from power. I just met you. Don't take it too personal if I'm not in a hurry to believe a word you say." Al remarked.
"Alden was among those who laid down their weapons and surrendered. He was not for fighting us once Negan was beaten." Tara spoke up, surprising Alden though he did his best to keep his composure. "If you want to reach out and see if Maggie is open for accepting someone like Alden, it's your decision."
Al turned her eyes to Alden. "For now, Alden, your work is here, building the bridge. As for your fresh start, I'll talk with Maggie myself. If she agrees to it, you follow her instructions to the letter. Disobey her, you're out. If you say or do anything to insult the memory of her late husband, if you identify yourself as Negan one time, you will die twice. Is that clear?"
"Crystal clear, Al."
"Get back to work. I'll let you know what her decision will be."
Tara and Al stared a silent nod, indicating that they would talk again later.
Once Alden and Tara were gone, Daryl leaned over and nudged her shoulder with his. "Not bad. I can see why Maggie's into you."
Al smiled briefly at the mention of Maggie before asking seriously, "How do I know I'm not bringing Maggie's enemy into her home?"
"You don't. Neither do I." Daryl answered. "If he's serious about a fresh start, his actions will speak for him."
"If Maggie approves it, I'll support her. If Alden does anything against her..."
"Let's hope it doesn't get to that. We have enough to deal with from the walkers and whatever disasters could happen at any moment that aren't made by the living."
Daryl looked up at the sky as if taking measure of how much daylight was left. "We ought to get back to Hilltop before it gets dark."
When he reached Hilltop's small cemetery, Carl was met by Jesus, who was holding Hershel Rhee in his arms. "I never pegged you as a babysitter."
"This little guy somehow brings it out of me." Jesus said with a soft smile.
Carl looked out to where Maggie was tending to Glenn's grave. "She has not forgotten. It's burned deep into her mind." Jesus remarked. He knew instinctively what Carl would probably ask.
"Can I talk with her?" Carl asked, afraid of intruding on a personal moment.
"You never asked me for permission before. Why start now?" Jesus said. Before Carl could take one step forward, Jesus spoke, "Be mindful what you tell her and what you don't." It took every ounce of self control Carl had to keep his face neutral.
It was easy to smell the odor of sweat and the coals from the forge. That's how she knew who was behind her. Turning her gaze away from Glenn's grave, Maggie looked at Carl, who stood behind her. "How are your lessons with Earl?"
"It's hot in the forge. I had to take a break. Other than that, I'm doing good." Carl started before getting to the point. "I want to talk with you."
"Talk with me about whatever you want. If it has anything to do with Negan, don't."
"It's about my dad." Carl started. "I know you're angry with him about what he chose to do. He didn't do it to hurt you or disrespect Glenn's memory. All he wanted was the cycle of blood and revenge to end."
"When I look into Hershel's eyes, I think of Glenn. Then I remember how he was murdered and how his killer was allowed to live." Maggie looks back at Glenn's grave. "I can't forget. I can't let go."
"No one will ever tell you to forget Glenn or what happened to him. All I'm saying is death and vengeance can not be the answer to every problem."
"The Governor killed my father. He died on the prison grounds. Dawn killed my sister. She died in the hospital. How does Negan get a pass for killing my husband?"
"The Governor and Dawn deserved what they got. I won't argue that. Vengeance was dealt. Your dad and your sister were still dead." Mustering up his nerve, Carl approached Maggie so he was right next to her. "Hershel, Beth and Glenn would have wanted a better future for you and Hershel Jr."
"I miss them." Maggie cried out, tears falling from her eyes as Carl hugged her. For several minutes, Carl just let Maggie unleash everything that was bottled up inside her.
"I loved them too. We all did. You're not alone, Maggie. You have a very large extended family, including me. You also have a cool girlfriend who's hot."
Maggie let out a laugh. "Yes, she is."
"I haven't gotten to know her as well as you have, Maggie, but I'm sure Al would agree that the future has to be different than what we went through up to now." Carl gently wiped the tears from Maggie's cheeks. "It has to be better for Judith, Hershel and everyone else that comes after us. That way, they won't be forced to do the things we had to."
For the most part, Al went through the camp, taking in the sights of everyone working on processing the cut trees into planks and support beams for the bridge. Most didn't give her much thought. One of the former Saviors, a woman named Laura, spoke with her for a bit. She had been with Negan from before the Saviors were formed. Al did not press on how far up the pecking order she was or how the group was formed. She didn't ask what kind of man Negan was. Nevertheless, Laura spoke about it.
"He wasn't always the ego-driven, power-hungry monster who led the Saviors."
"What he was doesn't justify what he became."
"Is it so easy for you to condemn him like everyone else?"
"I spoke with him and those who knew exactly what was going on. He acted as any tyrant, despot or oppressor would in a world of chaos. Inevitably, someone would rise up to topple his reign and take him down."
"We were saving people."
"Your former leader charred people's faces, coveted the wives of others, subjugated communities for their resources and murdered anyone who opposed him. What part of any of those things was done to save people?"
Laura's hand gripped itself into a tight fist as she tried to contain her anger. "Well, you don't have to worry about the Saviors anymore. They are gone, the Sanctuary fell and everyone who gave us a bad name are dead and gone."
"The man himself is locked up for life. However long that is, I don't know. As for your former comrades, how many have really turned a new leaf?" Al said as she walked away from Laura.
Little did Al know, they were being watched by Daryl from a distance, Tara from closer distance, and at a farther distance, Rick.
Having stepped down from her post after a long watch, Tara approached Al with an apple. "Thought I could share what wealth there is with a friend." Tara said, tossing the apple to Al, who caught it with ease. "Thanks." Al replied, taking a bite from the fruit.
"You look like you make friends wherever you go, don't you?" Tara quipped.
"Journalists don't make friends, especially when it comes to finding the truth." Al said before taking a second bite of the apple.
"I never got around to thanking you before." Tara looked Al in the eye as she said this.
"For what?"
"You've done a lot since you got to Hilltop. That doesn't go unnoticed." Tara did not waste time getting to the point. This was one of the things Al liked about her.
"It's nice to be appreciated." Al remarked.
"You're more than appreciated." Tara paused as if trying to figure out how she would approach the nine ton elephant in front of them. "Since you arrived at Hilltop, Maggie's become warmer and more emotionally open than she was during and after the war. Everyone lost someone though that whole mess."
"Did you lose someone?"
Tara nodded. "Her name was Denise. She worked as a doctor in Alexandria. I loved her in the way you love Maggie. She was killed by one of the Saviors at the start. When he showed his charred face in Alexandria, every part of me wanted to kill him."
"Why didn't you?" Al asked as she finished her apple.
"He wanted to bring down Negan and the Saviors. We had a choice of winning a small measure of vengeance or toppling Negan from power and abolishing the Saviors once and for all."
"Clearly, you all chose option two." Al remarked. "What happened to the traitor?"
"He took off. I don't know where he's headed and I couldn't care if I tried. All I know is he did not bat an eye over killing Denise."
"Have you found anyone else since then? Or was Denise your last?"
"I have someone. Nothing like what you and Maggie have. Still, she helped keep my head up when I needed it." Tara said as she took stock of Maggie's girlfriend.
"Not even a month at Hilltop and you're getting ripped." Tara noted.
Al smiled at Tara as she flexed her newly muscular physique. "I have been getting more physical lately. I don't mind it. In fact, I actually like it a lot." So does Maggie, Al mused silently as she thought of Maggie.
"Ready to head out?" Daryl called out to Al.
"Sure. Let's go." Al said to Daryl before saying to Tara, "Send my regards to your friend."
Upon Al's return to Hilltop, Maggie did not wait until they were inside Barrington House. The moment Al got off the back of Daryl's bike, Maggie kissed her and allowed Al to take her into her arms.
Carl and Enid were certainly not alone in noticing how Maggie and Al couldn't keep their hands off each other or how they kissed as if they had not seen one another in ages.
"It's good to see you too, Maggie." Al said as she held Maggie close to her.
"How are things at the camp?" Maggie asked.
"Everyone's trying to get along and get things done in building the bridge. Other than that, it's been uneventful." Al said, smiling at how close Maggie's body was against hers. Leaning in, Al kissed Maggie passionately as she ran her fingers through long strands of hair.
"Unless you want to give everyone at Hilltop a show they won't ever forget, break it up." Daryl remarked, getting a sharp look from both women. "It's barely been a day."
"A lot can happen in one day, Daryl. Trust me, I know." Al said, her arm wrapped around Maggie, who had an arm around Al's waist..
Maggie turned to Daryl and pulled him in for a hug. "Are you staying for dinner?"
"I'll stay for a bit. There's something the three of us ought to talk about together."
"Alright. We'll get to that after dinner." Maggie said.
A/n: Whether anyone actually reviews the story or not, I'll keep writing it through to the end and I'll write it as I see fit.