Better Days

Chapter 331

Author's Note: Nothing much to say, we're getting close to the big cliffhanger. Which means season 6 is near. Boo Negan! And there's no Michonne and Rick. Any way please review.

Carol and Jewel's POV:

Jewel folded Hope's laundry as she looked up and saw Carol baking another casserole. "Carol, what are you doing?"

"Making a casserole to take to Pete," Carol answered.

Jewel turned and looked at her. "You are going over there? Alone?"

"You did," Carol pointed out.

"And look what it got me," Jewel told her. "Bruises on my neck, my head hurting, and a big old cut over my eye. Rick going crazy, being almost threatened to be kicked out. Now, you're telling me you are going over there to give him a casserole? You and I have known each other for a long time, Carol. You're planning something."

"He needs to check on Tara," Carol simply told her.

"Ronnie's over there, and I'm pretty sure that she doesn't want him there. I know I don't want him around Tara. You want to try again? And this time, give me a straight answer?" Jewel questioned.

"I just want him to know that I'm not afraid of him," Carol answered.

Jewel took a breath as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Carol, I don't think that's a good idea. You have a cover, you shouldn't blow it."

"Like anyone would believe that little old me would do anything like threaten him. I mean, I'm weak, right?" Carol asked her.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Jewel asked her friend.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Jewel. You've always had one run in with him. I've got this. You should go spend some time with Rick, finish what you two were starting in the apartment," Carol teased.

"He's sleeping right now, but thank you for being worried about my love life," Jewel responded. "Don't worry, I plan to spend some time with him, before the meeting. Be careful, Carol. I don't have to tell you that he's a dangerous man."

"We never dealt with the dangerous men in our lives before, Pete's our surrogate. He stood in for your father," Carol told her.

"But he isn't my dad, and he isn't Ed. He's a man whose a lot like them. He's a man we both want to stop, that Mar wants to stop. Just be careful Carol, I can't, we can't lost you," Jewel told her.

Morgan's POV:

Morgan crouched down in front of Jenny. "There's people in trouble, trapped by the monsters', I have to go help them."

"What if there bad?" Jenny questioned.

"Not everyone is bad sweet heart," Morgan told her as he rubbed her face gently. "I helped you and Chris, and you weren't bad. Right?"

"But the Wolf men were bad," Jenny reminded him. "They killed Chris, and they threatened to kill us. How do you know they aren't Wolf men too?" she asked with the honesty of a six year old.

"Well, I'll tell you what, I'll look for W's on there head and if there are one's, I won't help them out of the car. Is that alright?" Morgan asked.

Jenny nodded. "Where am I hiding?"

Morgan smiled. "How about this car right here? You get in the trunk, I'll wrap this blanket around you."

"What if you don't come back?" Jenny asked.

"I'll come back, I'll always come back," Morgan told her.

"Chris said that too…and he died," Jenny reminded him.

Morgan nodded and picked her up and placed her in the trunk. "I know, and he always wanted to come back, and so do I. Now you get under the blanket, I'm going to prop the trunk open, just a bit, not enough for the monsters' to get to you, but enough so you can breath," he said as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back," he told her, as he propped the trunk open with a rock.

Daryl and Aaron's POV:

Daryl looked at the walkers' surrounding the car and gave a small chuckle.

Aaron looked at him. "What?"

"I came out here to... not feel all closed up back there. Even now, this still feels more like me... than back in them houses. That's pretty messed up, huh?

Aaron gave a small smile. "You were trying," he told Daryl.

"Had to," Daryl answered.

Aaron shook his head. "No you didn't," he told him.

"I did, for Jewel, for Summer, for the babies, for Mar, and Mitch. Hope wouldn't have made it out there, even when most of us were giving up what little water and food we had to Jewel so she could feed Hell Raiser. Lil Ass Kicker would have been next. So I had to try, to give them a chance," Daryl explained.

"Listen, I saw you with your group out there on the road. Then you went off on your own by the barn. Storm hit and you led your people to safety. That was it, I knew I had to bring you people back," Aaron told him. "Phoebe had already left to deliver the water, she was determined to bring you all back because of the babies, but it took me longer to be convinced," he told him. "You were right, we should have kept looking for that guy in the poncho. I shouldn't have given up, you didn't," he told him.

Daryl got a cigarette out. "I'll lead them out, you make a break for the fence," he informed Aaron.

"No, no this was my fault," Aaron responded.

"It wasn't a question, and this ain't your decision. It ain't nobody's fault. Just let me finish my smoke first," Daryl told him.

Aaron looked at him. "You want me to go home and face your sister and tell her that I left you out here so I could get home? That's signing my death warrant," he informed him. "Not to mention Summer, and Mar, the look of heartache that your son would have. No, you don't lead them away, we fight. We go for the fence, we do it together. All right? Whether we make it or not, we do it together. We have to," Aaron insists.

Daryl looked at him then nodded. "All right," he finally agreed. "You ready?"

Aaron nodded as he picked up his weapon.

"On the count of three," Daryl said. "One, two…" he heard a sound and turned to face Aaron's side of the window and saw a man fighting to clear out the walkers. He pushed his side of the door open and fought along side Aaron and the unknown man. Daryl ran to the other side of the fence. "Come on, get in here." he told the two as they came to the other side, and Aaron locked the gate as he took down a walker.

"That was…oh…thank you," Aaron stumbled. "I'm Aaron, this is Daryl."

"Morgan," Morgan introduced himself.

"Why?" Daryl asked.

"Why? Because all life is precious, Daryl," Morgan told him.

"Whoever set that trap, they're coming. But I have good news, we do. We have a community not too far from here. Walls, electricity, it's safe. If you'd like to come join us," Aaron stumbled an introduction.

"Phoebe's right, you have to work on that," Daryl informed him as he was looking at the other man.

"I thank you. But I'm, we're on my way somewhere. Fact is, I'm lost, so... if you could tell me where we are," Morgan said as he started digging into his jacket.

"You're with someone? Where is he?" Daryl asked. "Is he waiting to attack us?"

Morgan laughed. "She's of no danger to you. She's in the trunk of that car. I beg of you, not to point the bow at her. She's only six, just lost her brother a few hours ago, probably by the same group who did this."

Daryl nodded. "We'll follow you," he told the man who saved his life.

"Jenny, sweet heart, it's me. I'm going to get you out. I brought some new friends with me," Morgan told her as he opened the trunk.

Jenny peeked out of the blanket. "Do they have W's on there foreheads?"

"No, no W's," Morgan said as he lifted her up. "They're going to show us how to get to Washington, sweet heart."

Daryl bent down and put his bow behind his back and pulled his hair back off his face. "See no W's. I'm Daryl," he said as he extended a hand.

Jenny walked to him cautiously and inspected his head. "I'm Jenny," she said as she shook his hand.

"That's Aaron, we want to get away from the men with W's too," Daryl said as he stood up and let Jenny go to Aaron. Daryl went over to Morgan. "Look, I know you want to get somewhere, but out here with a child it's hard in a group, but alone, that's a death wish," he said softly.

"You got kids?" Morgan asked as he pulled out the map. "I'm trying to find an old friend," he said as he handed Daryl the map Abraham had left for Rick at the church.

Daryl looked at him. "You're the Morgan who saved Rick in Kings County?"

"You know Rick?" Morgan questioned.

"He's my brother in law," Daryl answered.

Aaron smiled and looked up from talking with Jenny. "Well see us meeting was all for the best."

"His brother in law? Jewel….a blond with a heart of gold who is quite bossy when she wants to be, that's your sister?" Morgan asked.

"You met her once, and already got her down to a tee," Daryl told him. "Morgan said that you just lost your older brother Jenny. I did too, his name was Merle, about a month and half or so ago. What's your brother's name?"

"Chris…." Jenny said as she wiped away the tears.

Daryl reached out his hand. "You don't have to worry about crying. I cried too when I found out Merle was dead. But you know, my younger sister and oldest niece is going to love having you around. They are going to love giving all this grime off you, and dress you up," Daryl told her. "But first we need to get there," he said as he moved his bow and arrow to the front. "I'm going to give you a piggy back ride, it's a long walk, and those are little legs."

"You don't have to Daryl," Morgan told him.

"Yeah, I do. You saved Rick, he made our group what it is. He made my sister love the first time, gave Summer a father for the first time. I got another niece, a newborn named Hope, just because you were a good man. You're one of us, and if I went home and told them this one walked all the way, Jewel and Summer both would have my hide. Then they'd have Aaron's just because he was with me. So, yes, I'm going to pick up this little one, and she can take a good old nap. What happened to that eye?" Daryl asked her.

"I ran over a tree about three weeks ago, it cut it bad," Jenny told him as she climbed up on him.

"Oh you and Summer are going to love each other," Daryl told her. "Hold on tight," he told her.

Author's Note: Next chapter will be Rick and Jewel!