Better Days

Chapter 284

Author's Note: I wanted to show a bit of Quinn before we jump into the next episode, only because of most of the OC's, she's going to be the most important. She has plans, plans that will through her mother off balance, but that is later. We are not talking about last nights episode. I am so glad that I'm a season behind. So the second part of this chapter with Jewel did not want to be written. I had Carol talking to her, then Daryl, and it didn't feel right. So it had to be Rick. Review please.

Quinn, Aiden and Deanna's POV:

Quinn sat down in the chair that Deanna used for interviews so she was straight across from Aiden, Deanna stood behind her with her hand on the chair.

"Does she have to be in here?" Aiden asked as he sat in front of them.

Quinn looked at him and didn't let Deanna answer. "This is part of the towns history, Aiden. You taking another group out, and one of them comes back injured then starting a fight because you didn't like how they critiqued you. So, yes Aiden, I need to be here."

"Quinn's right, Aiden. What the hell happened out there? Quinn let him answer," Deanna told her oldest child.

"They have no right to be here, inside these walls. They don't belong to be on this supply team, they don't know what they are doing," Aiden told them.

Quinn shook her head. "It's the other way around, Aiden. You shouldn't be responsible for an animal's life, let alone people."

"Quinn," Deanna warned. "You had a dead one tied up? That was reckless, Aiden."

"Two, mom. He had two hung up," Quinn answered.

"They killed our friends," Aiden told her. "It had to pay. They had no right to kill either one of them."

"They were already dead, Aiden. You not only endangered Glenn and the others, but yourselves also," Deanna told him. "Quinn thinks we should let Glenn take over the supply team."

Quinn snapped her head around and looked up at her. "You said you thought it was a good idea. My God, you were being a politician again weren't you? You're seriously going to let him do this again aren't you? You're seriously going to let him get someone else killed? Or himself?"

"Quincey, enough. I do think it's a good idea, but I'm not 100% sure if putting someone else in Rick's group in charge is the way to go right now," Deanna answered truthfully.

"Yet you put Rick in as constable. You should kick them all out, right now. I'm sure there are people here that would be willing to take the babies, maybe even the younger kids," Aiden answered.

Quinn turned and looked at him. "Say that to Jewel. I've seen what happened when she thinks one of her cubs are threatened," she said with a smirk. "You wouldn't stand a chance."

"No one is taking anyone's children. I better not hear you say that again, Aiden. No one is leaving Alexandria," Deanna said. "We need people like Rick and his group, they know how to survive out there."

"They aren't going to do any good if you don't actually listen to them mom. They've got to adjust but they aren't the only ones," Quinn said as she stood up. "Summer isn't going to be on the supply team anymore, right?"

"She doesn't belong out there," Aiden said.

"No, you don't belong out there," Quinn snapped at him. "I'm talking to mom not you," she told her brother. "He's one person short, if you aren't going to replace him and Nicholas with people who have actually survived, then he needs another person. I'm going," she told her mother.

"No, absolutely not, I am not going to have you criticize my every move," Aiden answered.

Quinn looked down at her mother. "You trust me right? That's why you wanted me to do a town's history. You trust me to tell you the truth of what happens right? I'm not going to let another innocent person be hurt or injured because of him. If he's not a coward, then I'll see it for myself and back off," she told her.

Deanna nodded. "Quinn's going out with you the next time, Aiden, or I'm removing you from leading the team. You can go now," she told Aiden.

Quinn watched him go and looked at Deanna. "Is this where you're going to tell me that I overstepped again? May I remind you when I was twelve and I was on the debate team and I got a topic that I disagreed with, you said, you stand up for what you believe in, no matter who it makes mad. That is what I'm doing now."

"That you listened too?" Deanna asked as she shook her head. "I'm having a meeting tomorrow with Rick and Michonne, then I'm going to have a welcome party for their group."

"Don't you think your pushing them to adjust to fast?" Quinn questioned her mother.

"It's just a welcome party, to show them that they are welcomed here," Deanna answered.

"Bake them a cake," Quinn answered. "Jewel and I will be at the meeting tomorrow."

"Jewel?" Deanna asked.

"Rick and Jewel are a team, that is not going to change. The group trusts both of them, and even though Rick will tell you what he thinks, he's going to be diplomatic about it. Jewel is going to tell you the hard truths. You need to hear those hard truths, mom, from someone other than me," Quinn told her. "I need to get home," she said as she left.

Rick and Jewel's POV:

Jewel glanced over at Rick as he came out of the bathroom from showering and changing out of the Constable outfit. "Did you mean it? That we'll just take it?"

Rick looked at her as he sat down on the bed. "If that is what it takes to keep our family safe, then yes."

"The governor tried, not once but twice, to take over the prison. The second time, he killed a lot of us. The risks of some of our people dying is high," Jewel told him as she caressed his face. "You know I'm going to be with you, no matter what. But, this isn't who we are."

"It may have to be, for us to survive," Rick told her as he kissed her.

"I don't by that. There's a reason you want to keep it among the five of us, because you know it's wrong. You know they wouldn't approve. I think that's why you made sure I knew, because you knew that I'd offer another option," Jewel said as she kissed him. "Push comes to shove, if this is what needs to be done, then you know I am with you. I don't believe it's the right thing, but I am with you. But before we decide to do this, before we become the people we hate, before we teach our children that this is the only way to survive is becoming them, we need to try to teach them. I know they are living in a state of delusion, but we have to try to make them understand, try to convince them they just got lucky so far," she told him as she rested her forehead on his. "We have to try."

"You're right, I knew that you'd try to talk me out of it. I don't want you involved if this is the way it has to go down, Mrs. Grimes," Rick told her as he kissed her. "IF this goes down this way, I want you inside with the kids."

Jewel shook her head. "It doesn't work that way Mr. Grimes. If it goes down that way, I'm not staying in the house, so you can be the only one to feel guilty out of the two of us. I don't want to believe that is the way it HAS to go, I believe we can make them understand. We can make them see they made the right decision on bringing us in. That is what I'm going to work on, because I am not ready or willing to become the Governor, not yet, maybe not ever. You want me to be inside with the kids, then think about the other kids here. If we do this, they are in danger, or worse, they'll be orphans because of us."

"I still want to try and get some of our guns back. You and I are the only ones that know we have this one," Rick told his wife.

"I'm fine with that," Jewel said as she touched his face.

Rick gave a slight chuckle. "You always did say you would tell me if you didn't agree with me."

Jewel kissed him. "I did. You haven't done a lot of stupid things that I've had to disagree with. So, I can try my way?"

Rick nodded as he kissed her again. "What do you have in mind?"

"Deanna put you and Michonne in charge, Quinn asked me to help her out with things. Deanna will want to meet with you and Michonne. I'll make sure I'm in there too. You are going to have to buy whatever Deanna is selling, you can't show her that you don't like it. I'll do that. She already knows I'm outspoken. I think that's why Quinn likes me, because she knows I'll speak my mind no matter what. We've got to give this a shot," Jewel said as Hope started to fuss in her bassinet. "For her, for Judith, for all of us," she said as she kissed him. "Do you mind getting her? I need to change the bandage on my hand."

Rick nodded. "I love you Mrs. Grimes."

"I love you Mr. Grimes," Jewel said with a smile.