A/N: Sorry again for the delay; I wanted this chapter to be really great for you guys and part of me thinks I failed. Just know I tried really hard. Merle was a character I really liked and when he died it was sad and it sucked so I hope I did him justice. I changed a bit so hopeful that doesn't annoy anyone too much. Also if any of you can remind me of what happens between now and when the Governor attacks the prison that would be helpful, I'm drawing total blanks. Also please read the new story I started I always thought about writing a story like that, but I could use input and advice. As always Review please. I said it once but I'll say it again...sometime I doubt what I'm doing/writing so any feedback would be wonderful. Thanks so much
Chapter 15: Ain't Bad People
The following day, everybody was still processing what was going to happen. Questions were being asked that didn't have an answer. Would we lose the prison? Would we have to go back out on the road? How would we survive out there with a baby? The most important question though….would we die?
Riley had left the baby; Riley told Carl he better come up with a name soon or she would, with Beth and went out to the courtyard. There she saw Michonne and made her way over
The black woman was sitting on the table top of one of the picnic tables and glanced over when she heard boots approaching. Riley swung her crossbow off her shoulder and hopped up on the table as well.
"Riley Dixon" Riley said keeping her eyes on the fields
"I know" Michonne replied looking at the young girl before her.
"Michonne"
"I know" Riley answered with a smirk. She glanced over and saw Michonne wearing a matching smirk as well
"you know the Governor…" Riley began "he isn't gonna play fair…there's more to this story then Rick's letting on"
Riley had noticed that since yesterday night after Rick's statement he seemed more on edge then anyone of them. He also keep looking over at her like he wanted…needed to tell her something but couldn't find the words. Today she was going to find him and see what was truly wrong.
"He needs to die" was Michonne's reply.
Riley thought over her words "I'll help" she spoke then hopped off the table swinging her bow back over shoulder and precede to go find Rick. Michonne watched as the girl walked away from her. She grinned she knew she liked this girl. She was one of little words but the ones she spoke; spoke volumes.
Riley was walking through one of the back courtyards of the prison when she saw Rick kneeling down by a pile of trash. She watched him for a moment before slowly approaching. The closer she got the more she could see; he was wrapping what looked like a blue computer wire around his wrist. He then sighed unraveled it and threw it back into the pile.
"not gonna kill yourself are ya" Riley spoke quietly
Rick snapped his head in her direction
"how long have you been standing there" Rick asked rubbing at his eyes
"long enough….what's going on Rick"
He raised his head; she had called him Rick
"I told you, you could….nothing is going on, I need to go check on something can you look in on the baby?"
Riley nodded her head and Rick turned on his heel. Riley watched for a moment, she saw the troubled look in his eyes and knew he was fighting something bigger then himself, a gut reaction took over and Riley yelled out
"DAD" and she took off after him. Rick stilled at the voice, he turned and watched as Riley threw her small frame into him. She enclosed him in her arms, his circling her as well.
She then whispered "whatever you do…it will be okay…we'll be okay, you're a good man in a bad world, the odds are against you, but you'll do what's right…I know you will"
She then pulled away "I'm going to go make sure Carl named that baby…tried of calling her little one" and with that Riley took off leaving Rick staring at the space she once stood. He shook his head and knew what needed to be done.
Riley walked into Beth's cell to see her and Carl sitting on a blanket with the baby.
"need a break Beth" Riley watched as Beth nodded her head stood up and headed for the door as she passed she whispered
"I heard Daryl talking to Merle this morning" Riley looked at Beth blue eyes matching blue eyes. Beth was a nice girl, Riley didn't spend nearly enough time with her
"great" Riley mumbled as Beth grinned and walked from the cell.
"hey Beth" Riley called getting the girls attention
"maybe when things quiet down I can take you hunting teach you thing or two…you never know when you'll need it"
Beth's eyes lit up "that would awesome" Riley nodded her head and smiled
Carl watched as Riley sat cross legged on the blanket and the baby tried to crawl towards her.
"you name her yet" Riley asked as she put a hand out for the baby to grab
Carl shook his head "will you take me hunting too" Riley glanced up
"after you name this baby" she said with a smirk "and by the looks of it that will take a while"
Carl huffed out and sat up a little more "I don't know…mom never mentioned any name what if I pick the wrong one"
Riley moved a little closer and scooped the baby up. "hey little one" Riley murmured out as the baby reached for her hair.
"you can't pick the wrong name…coming from you it will always be right. Just pick a name that means something to you, makes you remember something. I always knew that if I ever had kids and one was a boy I would name Henry"
Carl watched as Riley kissed the baby's forehead "why Henry"
Riley stopped and lifted her head with a smile she answered "it was my grandpas name…he…he was a great man; gave me my first crossbow, taught me how to hunt when Daryl and Merle didn't want to take me….let me hide out at his house when…when Daryl or Merle weren't home. When he died…he was a great man." Riley ended looking back at the baby.
"Pick a name that when you think of it you know it belongs to someone great."
Daryl was standing outside the cell and smiled. He was about to turn into the cell when Rick called him over from the cell block door.
Riley told Carl to talk to the baby, maybe she would let him know what name she liked best as he spoke them out loud to her. The boy laughed at first but as Riley left the cell she heard him start to list out different names. With a smirk she went looking for someone who she needed to have it out with.
Riley walked through the cell block and when all she saw were torn apart mattress she knew Merle had been here. With a huff she decided to try her efforts in the tombs.
She approached what looked like the generator room and pushed the door open "Merle…you in here" she called out. When she got no response she turned to leave until she heard some movement behind one of the bigger units
"what you want Miss. Grimes" Merle drawled out as he stepped out from behind the unit. Riley watched as he approached a table and leaned against it. His eyes looked like he could be high but she knew there was nothing here so was it possible was Merle Dixon…crying
Riley sighed and crossed her arms holding onto the strap of her bow.
"Merle…I…you know…" Riley rambled and then she asked the question she always had floating in her mind but would force back to the deepest darkest corner
"are you the way you are because I killed mom?"
Riley looked at Merle and then turned away, biting down on her lip
Merle watched for a moment; thinking over this question. He knew they were pass lying and this was an honest question and it needed an honest answer
He looked down at his little sister, the one person he vowed to never disappoint and he had done just that without even truly knowing it.
"Rye bread" Merle whispered out. Riley raised her blue eyes and for the first time saw that hers and Merles were exactly the same. She really looked at her older brother and noticed how she took more after Merle then Daryl. The way they spoke, the way they carried their crossbows; that was when Merle used one. The way they looked, their eyes giving away everything and nothing at the same time.
"if your asking me if mom didn't die would I have turned out how I turned out…well little one I honestly don't know"
Riley's eyes widened 'little one' that was were she got it from
Merle sat with Riley on his lap. He was going to teach her how to drive sure she was only five but hey got to start sometime right. "alright Rye bread, you ain't always gonna be my little one, you have to know how to do certain things so if something ever happens you'll be prepared ya hear" Merle craned his neck and looked down at his little sister. Riley's blue eyes were shining with excitement or nerves he couldn't tell. Riley nodded her head "you won't let anything happen right?" Riley questioned turning her head and staring at Merle "never little one, never…nothing gonna hurt you with big brother around" he spoke quietly kissing her temple. Riley smiled and listened as Merle told her what to do.
Riley stared at her brother "it was my fault wasn't it…Daryl keeps saying 'she lost to much blood, she lost to much blood' but she lost that blood because of me." Riley ended tears filling her eyes
Merle walked forward "you listen and you listen good" Merle spoke grabbing her shoulders and holding her so she wouldn't look away
"you are not to blame, shit happens….stupid shit, but momma wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world, you understand? Neither would I…I love ya Rye bread. You'll always be my Rye bread…my little one." Merle ended pulling her into a hug
"I'm sorry Merle…I wouldn't trade being your sister not even for the…"
Merle pulled her in tighter "I know little one, I know we all say things.."
Riley cut him off "I love you Merle"
Merle mumbled "I love you more…more then anything" as tears filled his eyes; if he had any doubts about what needed to be done they vanished in that moment. He then pulled away and shoved Riley towards the door
"go on and check on that baby…make sure she has a name. There's some stuff I got to deal with real quick…I'll find you later" and with that Merle slammed the door in her face.
Rick and Daryl were standing on the cat walk. Hershel was leaning against it as well looking at Rick as he spoke to Daryl. After Rick finished telling Daryl about what the Governor really wanted, Daryl eyes flashed to the older man
"ain't us" were the only words Daryl uttered
Herschel smiled at the hunter "he's right…we're better then this, better then him"
Rick looked between the two "it's off then we stay and fight" and with that Rick took off towards the cell block in hopes of finding Merle before it was too late.
Riley couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, so she did what she always did, hid out somewhere were she could watch everything unfold but not be seen. She was hiding in one of the rooms located down a hallway of the tombs she has never been in before. She was about to give up and just go ask Merle what was going on; everyone was being so unlike themselves it put her on edge.
Just as she was about to open the door she heard voices; one sounded like Merle the other she couldn't place just yet. Once they came into view her heart stopped what was Merle doing with Michonne she was sure the two of them couldn't stand each other.
Just then the sounds of Walkers approached and she watched as Merle and Michonne took them out, but then Merle turned his body around and knocked Michonne unconscious with his elbow. Riley was going to bust through the doors and demand to know what the hell was going on but she knew better.
She waited until Merle had turned the corner dragging Michonne behind him. Riley quietly opened the door and followed.
Rick didn't know what to do. He searched everywhere for Merle, and on top of that Carl was asking if anybody had seen Riles.
Rick went out and found Daryl leaning on the fence of the cat walk.
"Daryl" Rick shouted. The hunter looked up and walked towards the distressed looking leader
"I can't find Merle" Daryl knew that Rick had asked Merle to be the deliver of Michonne. While it troubled him greatly he thought that maybe this would be a chance for his brother to get in good with the group. Now that the plan had changed it was looking less likely.
Daryl quickly ran into the cell block followed by Rick the two were able to track down Merle's last location…the generator room.
"he was here" Daryl spoke both man looking at some supplies that were scattered on the floor. Rick didn't know if this was the time but Daryl needed to know
"we can't find Riley either" Daryl let out a breath and rubbed his eyes
"she's with him" he spoke. Daryl just knew, Riley deep down loved Merle too much to watch him travel down the rabbit hole. She would do anything to bring him back to the light. Merle was also feeling like shit; Daryl had talked to him earlier and he had never seen his brother so upset over something.
Daryl walked towards the last cell on the upper level he knew that Merle was up there doing God knows what. He stood in the doorway watching as Merle sat slumped against the wall holding a picture in his hands. Daryl couldn't tell what the picture contained but Merle looked deep in thought and on the verge of tears. Daryl cleared his throat and Merle jumped to his feet "what you want baby brother" Merle asked turning his back and picking something up off the floor. Daryl studied him for a moment "everything okay with you and Riles" Daryl asked looking for clues in his brother demeanor. Merle turned back around shoving the photo into his shirt pocket. "we're been better" was his reply. Daryl waited sensing there was more Merle wanted to say. "I screwed up baby brother….Riles ain't ever gonna look at me the same. The one person I never wanted to let down…" Merle raised his head looking Daryl in the eye "I couldn't be who she wanted me to be…but I swear one way or another I'm going to make her proud of me again…I'll get her to love me again" Before Daryl could reply Merle was pushing his way out of the cell. "she'll always love you…she does love you" Merle stopped at Daryl's words. He chuckled "I'll do anything for that girl…she'll always be my little one…"
Daryl snapped back to reality "I'll track them down". He then started to jog out of the room
"I'll come" Rick spoke starting to follow after Daryl
Daryl stopped and turned jogging backwards now "you can't track for shit...I'm faster on my own" and with that he was off.
Riley followed from a few yards away, she could hear Merle and Michonne talking but couldn't make out much of what was actually being said. She took a chance and ventured a bit closer
She was trekking through the forest while Merle and Michonne was sticking to the road.
"why you doing this Merle?" Michonne questioned looking to her left at the one handed red neck
"Officer Friendly couldn't be the bad guy so little ol' Merle took the work load on"
Michonne scuffed at that "I don't think you're as bad as people think you are, as bad as you think you are"
Merle walked a bit quicker "then you don't know nothing"
"Riley doesn't think you're a bad guy" Michonne spoke out jogging a bit to catch up
Merle slowed down a bit at her name while Riley sped up
"yeah well…doing something bad for a good reason still makes you bad, wouldn't you say"
Michonne looked more closely at the older Dixon; she could see the sadness, the lost, the fear in his eyes. She then looked out into the woods around her. Looking back down at her feet she spoke
"so your doing this bad thing so that good people like your sister can be safe"
Merle stopped and looked right into Michonne's dark black eyes "I'll do anything for that girl…anything I love her more then you'll ever know…more then she'll ever know" he whispered. He then turned and started walking again.
When he stumbled into a Motel parking lot, he tied Michonne to a pole and went over to a car picking the lock and then getting to work on hotwiring it. Merle almost had it when he connected the wrong wires and the horn started to blast.
"come on Merle" Michonne mumbled to herself. All of a sudden Walkers started to come out of some of the rooms, and out of the office.
"MERLE" Michonne shouted
Riley who had been standing in the woods behind the trees didn't care anymore if they knew she was there or not, they needed help so she walked out, raised her crossbow and took out a Walker that was inching towards Michonne.
The woman quickly turned to the source of the arrow and made eye contact with Riley. Riley gave her a smirk and a shrug before moving closer and taking out any Walker she could. Once close enough to Michonne she untied her from the pole and together they were able to finish off the Walkers around them.
Merle pulled himself from the car and was at a lost when he saw that Riley was standing next to Michonne.
"no time Merle get in"
Riley then pushed Michonne into the passenger seat and jumped in the back. Merle looked down with panic running through his body. Never the less he jumped into the drivers seat and started off down the road.
Daryl was running faster then he ever had in his life. He needed to get there before it was too late, before Merle did something that would alter his life and the lives of others. His thoughts went to Riley and how she would put herself in danger for her brothers. He quietly cursed to himself hoping that neither of his siblings did anything stupid
The car ride was silent for a long period of time. Michonne occasionally looking over at Merle as he looked at Riley through the rearview mirror. Michonne knew neither Dixon would break the stillness so she started
"how long were you following us" she questioned
"long enough" was Riley hollow reply
She then turned her attention to her brother
"you don't have to do this Merle…you…you're a good man…" before she could finish Merle let out a low chuckle
"don't laugh and don't deflect…why Merle"
Merle looked at his sister then over to Michonne. He gripped the wheel tighter
"you just don't understand" he whispered out. "I need people to know…know that I'm not all bad" he quickly shot Michonne a look
"I never thought that" Riley whispered from the back staring out the window
The car grew quiet once again; all lost in there own thoughts their own demons
"you're my brother Merle, my blood and sometimes blood ain't enough but in this moment its…its everything. You and me we're the same. You always did the right thing, and yes it was always for the right reasons. You're a protector through and through, that's your role, that's what makes you good, that's what makes you not all bad. You will do what needs to be done to protect those around you….believe me I know."
Merle looked down for a moment squeezing the wheel even tighter. Michonne watched as the emotion is Merles face took over. He suddenly stopped the car and leaned over opening the passenger door. He then reached in the back and grabbed her sword handing it over.
"go get out" Merle spoke "both of you" he ended looking back at his sister
Michonne looked over at Merle and then back at Riley. She gave Merle a look and softly spoke out "you should give yourself more credit" and she was out of the car standing on the side of the road
Merle watched her for a moment before looking back at Riley, she shook her head and climbed over the seats sitting next to her brother
"not leaving ya" she spoke, and reached for the door. Merle however was quicker and pushed the door open wider; with his other hand he shoved Riley from the car and slammed the door shut. He locked it and sat for a moment. Riley got to her feet and pounded on the door
"MERLE" she shouted "open the door"
With sad eyes Merle looked out the closed window "love you Rye bread…you'll always be my little one" he whispered out. He then put the car back in drive and sped away.
"FUCK" Riley yelled out
Michonne watched unsure of what to do. The Dixons were a complex family and their relationships even more so. Riley spun around
"I gotta go…I gotta go after him" and she readjusted her crossbow took one last look at Michonne; as she started to run she turned and shouted back
"when you run into Daryl tell him…tell him…fuck I don't know"
And with that she turned back around and took of in a sprint
Michonne watched as the figure of Riley Dixon disappeared down the highway. She then sighed to herself and started off back in the direction of the prison.
Daryl was running for what seemed like hours when a figure in the distance came into view. He saw the person pull out a sword and stab it into the head of a Walker whose body was laying beside it. In that instant he knew it was Michonne…his heart swelled a little that meant that Riley and Merle had to be close by as well.
Michonne turned at the sound of somebody running towards her; when she turned she came into contact with the middle Dixon. Daryl looked into her eyes and knew something horrible had happened
"where are they?" he questioned breathing heavily
Michonne looked out down the road "he let me go….wouldn't let Riley go with him, even though she wanted too… pushed her from the car, but she ran after him" she then turned back to Daryl who narrowed his eyes and with one last breath of air took back off in the direction Michonne had pointed
Rick called everybody into the courtyard he needed to come clean, he needed to go back to the way it was before. He didn't want to make decisions alone especially when they effected the group as a whole. He didn't want a democracy anymore. The group may have looked to him as a leader which he was still trying to come to terms with; he was afraid though, he refused to become these peoples Governor.
"I wasn't entirely truthful with you all. The Governor he…he offered me a way out. A plan that would let us keep the prison and him off our backs. He wanted me to hand over Michonne, and I was going to do it; for the good of the group. I asked Merle to bring Michonne and hand her over. He left before I was able to tell him the plan was off. Daryl went after them but their not back yet…I realize now that I was wrong. I can't be the one to make the choices of the group. We're a family and families make decisions together so we make this one together. We either stay and fight or we go, but we go together. I refuse to become your Governor. This isn't a democracy anymore."
With that being said Rick walked out of the courtyard leaving the others to mull over the new facts and to come to a conclusion on the outcome of their future.
Riley was too late. She had ran the whole way but Merle being in a car had the upper hand. She was running through the forest when she heard gun fire. She stopped and waited. Her mind fought with her heart; she wanted to…needed to get out there and make sure Merle was okay. She also knew the Governor was around and she wanted to make sure he wasn't okay. She knew however that she couldn't risk being seen, in the end it would just cause more problems for everyone she cared about.
Riley waited until the gun fire stopped and watched as cars and trucks retreated. She counted to sixty in her head and then made her slow way out from the cover of trees to the abandoned warehouses.
She swung her crossbow in front of her and quietly made her way around to what would be the front. It almost looked like this had once been a farm of some sort. Beside the dead bodies, eerie calmness and moans from around her she would say it kind of reminded her of Herschel's farm.
She stopped all movements when the sound of a steel door being pushed open from her left caught her attention. She froze and raised her crossbow higher. She waited, then a figure stepped out, stumbling as they went. She once again aimed her bow but her grip loosened as the sun bounced off a shiny piece of metal. She looked from the metal knife to the arm it was attached to. Her bow fell from her hands and she walked forward
"Merle" she trembled out.
When the figure didn't turn around she called out a little louder "Merle"
Slowly the person in front of her stopped and turned. Merles blue eyes found his sister and with a shaky breath and no louder then a whisper he spoke "hey little one" and then he fell to his knees.
Riley was beside him in a blink of an eye. She quickly took off her vest and pushed it onto the wound located on Merles stomach "that bastard" she hissed through clench teeth "I'll kill him Merle I swear to God I'll kill him" Riley was working on autopilot. She completely shut down and was only focused on one thing…saving her brother.
Riley stopped all motions when a bloody hand covered hers. She refused to look up and instead pulled her hands away and removed her black sweatshirt as well, leaving her in her worn and faded Johnny Cash t-shirt.
"No, Merle NO…" Riley then pushed both articles of clothing against the wound
Merle watched with tears in his eyes. He wasn't ready to leave her yet. His little sister, his little one, he wasn't ready
"it's too late Rye bread" Merle spoke finding it hard to breathe
Riley shook her head, tears starting to form and blur her vision
"no it ain't…only a Dixon can kill a Dixon remember" Riley yelled out finally looking up and meeting Merles gaze.
Merle watched as tears started to slowly fall from Riley's eyes. He moved his body so he was lying down. Riley lifted his head and laid it on her lap. She still continued to apply pressure to the area and watched as blood soaked through both and started to coat her hands.
Riley heard Merle mumble something and leaned in closer to hear "only a Dixon can kill a Dixon"
Riley saw Merles eyes start to close and knew she couldn't let him fall asleep
"Merle" she started and watched as his eyes fluttered open
Riley could see that she was fighting a losing battle; Merles eyes were already starting to close again and more blood was seeping through. She leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead
"when you see mom tell her I say hi"
Riley then placed her forehead against her brothers
"you ain't bad people" she whispered to him over and over as tears rolled down her cheeks
Riley wasn't sure how long she sat there, the tears stopped and the numbness took over; she didn't care about anything anymore, one thought ran through her mind 'the Governor will die, he will die and he won't hurt anybody else….I'm going to kill him and watch him suffer'
Riley was pulled from her thoughts when she felt Merle shift under her. Her eyes shot down and she watched in horror as Merle opened his eyes. His once baby blue eyes were now yellow, glazed and cold. Riley stumbled backwards and watched as Merle sat up and looked at her. He then stumbled to his knees and then slowly to his feet.
Riley watched for a moment the tears returning she fumbled on her butt her a moment before also getting to her feet and while keeping an eye on Merle walked backwards until her feet hit the hard handle of her crossbow. She bent down and searched for it, pulling it into her hands and then aiming it in front of her.
She lined up the shot and watched as Merle got closer, she dropped the bow and back up another step
"I'm sorry Merle… I'm sorry…I'm sorry" and with one last look and a trembling breath she murmured out "only a Dixon can kill a Dixon" she raised her crossbow, and with shaky hands let an arrow go. She dropped her crossbow and ran her hands through her hair. She heard the thump of Merle hitting the ground and fall to her knees.
Daryl had been running for an entirety. He finally reached the location of where Rick and the Governor had their meeting. He pulled his knife from his pocket and slowly made his way towards the warehouse. When he was in the front he stopped and listened he heard what sounded like someone mumbling. All the blood drained from his face and his heart pounded in his ears. With a shaky hand he raised his knife and continued forward.
His body froze and the world around him slowed down. There was his sister rocking back and forth muttering "I'm sorry" over and over, to the dead Walker in front of her. Only it just wasn't any Walker it was his brother. He wasn't sure what to do. He took a deep breath and cautiously walked towards the scene.
Riley heard the sound of approaching footsteps and snapped around crossbow at the ready. Seeing it was Daryl she lowered her bow and turned back to Merle, she leaned in close and whispered something Daryl couldn't hear. She then raised her head and let out a breath. She stood from her spot, swung her crossbow over her shoulder and turned.
Daryl watched as his sister looked at their dead brother and then turned looking at him, eyes red but no sign of tears. The most heartbreaking sight however was that she looked hollow, broken, lost but there was also something else behind all those things, something he couldn't place but it made his blood run cold.
With one last look behind her she tugged the strap of her bow hitching it higher on her back and made her way forward. She walked by Daryl and as she reached the edge of the grounds she stopped "we stay and we fight; he can't win…he won't win" she spoke with a emptiness that hurt the air around them. She then continued on her way.
Daryl walked over to his brother and kneeled beside him
"love ya brother" he said looking at the dead cold eyes that were no longer Merles. He was about to stand and race after Riley but he stopped and reached his hand into Merles shirt pocket. He pulled out the photo and unfolded it. He stared at it for a minute tears starting to form.
He couldn't believe Merle had kept this picture after all this time. Daryl remembers taking this picture. It had been a out of the ordinary difficult night for the Dixon children. All three had got a beating from their father. None as bad as Riley though. After it was all said and done, their father stormed from the house. Riley refused to let go of Merle, Daryl remembers when he needed to use the bathroom, Riley sat against the wall outside and Merle needed to leave the door cracked. The only way Riley would sleep that night was with Merle. In the picture Riley is passed out on Merles chest, he too is sleeping; his arms wrapped around her protectively, one hand placed on the back of her head.
Daryl shook his head trying to erase the memories, he rubbed his eyes and looked back at his brother
"she'll always love you…me too" he whispered out
He then pushed himself to his feet and turned taking off after Riley.
Back at the prison everyone sat around the common space. Rick pacing back and forth. Michonne had returned and informed the others of the situation. Everyone thought the worst. Rick didn't even want to think about what would happen if a certain two Dixons didn't come through that door. His thoughts then shifted to what would happen to the certain two Dixons if the third didn't return.
His pacing and racing mind were silenced when the door creaked open and footsteps where heard. All eyes snapped in the direction and watched as Daryl and Riley walked slowly down the stairs. All eyes were on them and their every move
Riley pushed her way pass Daryl and the watchful eyes straight to Carl who was holding the sleeping baby. Riley locked eyes with Carl for a moment and then very carefully repositioned her into her own arms.
Daryl walked over to Rick; Rick looked at him then to Riley. When his eyes returned to the hunter Daryl bowed his head "she had to do it" was the other phrase mumbled out of his lips. Rick bit his lip and rubbed the back of his neck returning his eyes back over to the girl he now called his daughter.
Riley held the baby, bringing her lips to her forehead "hey little one" she murmured
She then brought her eyes up to Carl's shining blue ones. The look they shared spoke a million different words. Carl offered her a weak smile
"she got a name yet?" Riley spoke softly gently rocking the baby
She saw Carl shake his head from the corner of her eye
Riley took a deep breath "…you think maybe…maybe.."
Carl nodded his head "what were you thinking?"
Riley peeked over her shoulder at Daryl and saw him biting at his thumbnail
"Judith" Riley spoke looking back at the infant
Carl thought for a moment then smiled "I kind of like it" he grinned and then looked over at his dad
"Riley thought of a name dad"
Rick walked over followed slowly by Daryl
"what you come up with kiddo?" Rick asked placing a kiss to Riley's head
"Judith" she whispered
She saw Daryl tense for a moment
"I like it" Rick grinned "how'd you come up with that one"
Riley looked to Daryl then to Carl and lastly Rick before bringing her eyes back to the sleeping child
"it was my moms"
I think it stinks...what are your thoughts?
