All Nightmare Long

Chapter 571

Author's Note: The first scene takes place at the same time as Aaron and Eric's scene. I'm not showing Aaron and Eric's cause it isn't changing. I don't plan on getting rid of Summer, I didn't even think of Michonne's recent exit when I said I was thinking about Joey disappearing and leaving. I may just have the bridge blow up, hmm not sure. Still got plenty of time to figure it out. Please review, it means a lot.

Jewel's POV:

Jewel looked up from repacking a bag, hearing Judith giggle. She stepped out of the bedroom and saw Mika holding Judith's hand as she helped her walk up the steps.

"Momma!" Judith exclaimed as she giggled.

"Well look at you, big girl! Walking up the stairs!" Jewel said as she bent down and reached out as Mika let go of her hand when they reached the top of the stairs.

"She let go of the couch and hasn't stopped since," Mika said as Lexi joined them, holding Hope.

"Well, I am very proud of you," Jewel said as she picked up Judith and kissed her cheek. She kissed the top of Mika's head and touched Hope's face.

"Rick told us what's going on with Gabrielle, do you think someone really took him?" Lexi questioned.

"It looks that way, we're going after him," Jewel said. "I know we just got back," she started to explain to the girls.

"We don't leave family behind," Mika said.

"No, we don't," Jewel said. "Carl, come out here please," she said as she kissed Judith's head.

Carl walked out of his room and reached for Judith. "Did I hear someone is walking?"

"Yes, she is," Lexi said with a smile as Jewel took Hope.

"I know that you want to go back to Hilltop and be with Sasha, Lexi, but I need you here, to help protect the girls," Jewel said seriously before turning to Carl. "This goes for you too, Carl, I need you here. I need to know that you aren't going to go running off, and that you are going to be here to take care of your sisters. I need to be able to trust you."

"I'm not going anywhere, Mom," Carl assured her.

"We'll keep an eye on him," Lexi said as she playfully hit his shoulder with hers.

"We'll tie him up if we have too," Mika said teasingly.

"So you're all ganging up on me, huh? I bet Judy and Hope would too if they were old enough," Carl teased back.

"It's all done with love," Jewel assured him. "Come here," she said as she hugged him. "I love you, and I love you too," she said as she kissed Judith's head. She turned to Lexi handing her Hope. "We'll get you back to Hilltop as soon as we get back," she told the younger girl. "Love you," she told Lexi and kissed Hope's head.

"I'm where I'm supposed to be right now. Sasha needs to be with Maggie and Summer, I need to help with the babies. That's where I need to be," Lexi assured her.

Jewel nodded and hugged Mika. "I love you, you know that right? You are my daughter," she told her.

"I love you too, Mom," Mika said with a smile, hugging her.

"Don't make me cry," Jewel said as she kissed the top of her head. "I've got to go, take care of each other," she said as she grabbed her bag and went downstairs. Jewel stopped seeing Rick, Aaron, Gus and Quinn standing there. "What did I miss?"

"Some of us think that you are going after the Savior's," Gus stated.

"We aren't, we're going after Gabrielle," Jewel said as she put down her bag.

"Aaron confronted me about it too," Aaron said.

"We were out scavenging," Rick said.

"Were you?" Gus asked turning his attention to Quinn. "Don't lie to me, we don't lie to each other."

Jewel took a breath. "We weren't going after the Savior's, after Negan, not yet. We were trying to get support. We have people, but we don't have guns."

"You can't tell me you're happy with how things are," Quinn told him.

"Of course not," Gus said. "But shouldn't we all be aware of what is happening?"

"No," Aaron Quinn and Rick all said.

"We're trying to protect the people we love," Jewel said.

"Except that all the people that went are part of your original group except Quinn, so that tells me that you still don't trust us," Gus pointed out.

"I knew," Aaron stated.

"Of course, you did," Gus stated.

"It has nothing to do that we don't trust you," Rick stated.

"Then what does it have to do with?" Gus asked.

"The less people that knew what we were doing, the better. We still aren't any better off then we were when we left. We still don't have guns; we don't have allies. We were hoping to come back with better news. If Negan found out, the less people that knew it would be for the best," Quinn explained. "Believe me, I wanted you to know, but I also didn't want you in danger."

"Right now, we have a family member missing and the more time we spend here talking about if we were wrong or not, the more his life is on the line. Now, if you want to be part of it, get a bag, and come with us. Quinn, you're in charge. You think that we don't trust you, Gus, well I'm showing you that we do. Be aware you're going out there without a gun, any contact with human or walkers, are going to be hand to hand. So, if you're coming, meet us outside in five minutes, if you aren't then tell us now, because we need to go," Jewel stated.

"I'm going," Gus said as he left the house to grab a bag.

"I'll keep an eye on things over here," Quinn stated.

"Thanks," Jewel said as she walked outside.

Eric POV:

Eric went on the porch and watched as the group gathered outside.

"I heard what you said to Aaron," Emily said as she sat on the porch chair.

Eric looked over at her. "I always told mom that we needed to put a bell on you."

"I don't think I ever heard you and Aaron ever disagree about anything," Emily said ignoring what he said.

"We've disagreed before," Eric told her.

"Not that I've ever heard," Emily said. "He's doing the right thing, you know that."

"I don't have to like it," Eric told his sister.

"No one said you did," Emily said.

"This isn't about Aaron and me is it?" Eric asked as he sat down. "You cared for Spenser."

"He was one of us," Emily stated.

"He was, but he was something more to you," Eric told her.

"We were friends with benefits. He was friends with benefits with Rosita too," Emily said, standing up. "Just make sure you talk to Aaron when he gets back."