When they arrived at the meeting point, Connie watched Daryl nervously looking around. The others didn't arrive yet. Connie was nervous too, she was worried about the reunion with Kelly. She was certain, her sister wouldn't want her to leave without her. But what should she do? She couldn't leave Daryl with both kids behind and not only because it was her idea to bring Lydia along. Yes, she felt responsible for her, but she also just couldn't leave him… at all. And she knew Kelly would be safer with her friends, she didn't want to put her at risk too.
Lost in her thoughts, Connie finally saw some riders in the distance.
When Carol, Ezekiel and Kelly arrived, Connie smiled at them and Carol smiled back, but her face was still very tense.
Kelly and Connie walked off to talk in private.
Henry, who was still standing next to Lydia greeted his parents. Both of his parents gave him a tight embrace. Carol examined him closely and saw the bandage on his leg.
"Oh my god, are you hurt? Where were you?" And to Daryl: "What happened?"
Her voice was so stern that even Daryl felt uneasy.
"I guess Tara filled you in, regarding the Whisperers," he said cautiously.
Carol, who still had her arm around Henry's shoulder, answered:
"Yes she did. She told me everything and she told me about her too." She looked daggers at Lydia and Lydia retreated a little bit.
"Why is she with you?" Carol asked Daryl, who couldn't stop to feel uneasy about the situation.
He knew Carol trusted him with her life and she trusted him with her sons life, which he had endangered.
"I know you're upset. But she's with us because she can't go back."
Carol was obviously annoyed.
"Well, if you want to move around with that girl, risking your lives, fine. But leave Henry out of it."
She turned to Henry and said: "Come on Henry, we're going back."
But Henry didn't move.
"Mom, I can't," he responded and moved away from her.
"Henry, what are you talking about? Of course you are coming back with us. You're hurt. I don't let you go with them."
"I said I can't." Henry paused for a moment, then continued, trying to pick the right words.
"Look mom, I love you and I know, you're worried. But I promised Lydia to protect her. I'm not leaving her." And seeing Carol's stern look he added: "And we're not alone."
Carol looked at Daryl who was just standing there in silence but she could read in his eyes that he wanted her to give in to Henry's pleads.
"No," she said firmly. "There's no way I let this happen. I want you to stop that nonsense and to come with us, now." The words sounded very loud.
Ezekiel softly touched her hand. He didn't say anything until now.
"Can we talk?" He asked his wife and both of them went a few steps away.
Henry gave Daryl a hopeful look and Daryl nodded, but he was still unsure about everything.
"What do you want to talk about?" Carol asked Ezekiel. "There's no way I'm letting him go with them."
"I understand your concern, my Queen, but listen me out," Ezekiel answered. "As much as I don't want to let young Henry go, as much do I know that he has deep feelings for that girl. Nothing will stop him from being with her."
Carol looked at Ezekiel like he had lost his mind.
"Nothing could stop me from being with you either," he added with a smile.
"But they are just kids, what do they know about feelings," Carol said, still not convinced.
"Not kids, young adults, whose first love is growing fast."
"He's fifteen years old, Ezekiel."
"Not much younger than Romeo was," Ezekiel said dreamily.
"Yes, and we know how the story ended," Carol said dryly. "No, we can't."
"We can't keep him in our nest forever either. One day he has to spread his wings and fly."
"And what if he falls?" There was sadness in Carol's voice and Ezekiel put his arm around her.
"Oh come on, it's not that he's alone with her out there. There will be Daryl and Connie. Both of them seem to be capable enough to protect him. They will give him the guidance he needs."
"But they are not his parents," Carol reminded him
"Maybe he doesn't need his parents right now."
Carol sighed. She knew there was no use to argue and that Ezekiel was probably right.
"Our boy will fly high in the sky and we will patiently wait for his return," Ezekiel said and pulled Carol closer to him.
"I hope it won't be too high or the sun will dazzle him," Carol answered with a sigh.
Then they walked back to Henry, Lydia and Daryl.
In the meantime Connie and Kelly were talking in sign language.
"What do you mean with 'I will be gone for a while'?'" Kelly asked her sister.
"At least take me with you," she added.
"I can't, it's too dangerous. You better stay at Hilltop with the others."
"Too dangerous for me but not for you? How can I let you go like that?"
"Don't worry about me. Someone will be my guardian angel for this journey." She pointed in Daryl's direction. "He will keep us safe. And I know too, how to protect myself."
Kelly looked sad, she didn't want to let her sister go, but knowing her stubbornness she knew it had no use to argue with her.
"And there's really no way you could take me with you?" She asked hopefully.
"I want you to stay with the others," Connie told her and added: "Please."
"Alright," Kelly said, still moping.
Connie lay her arms around her sister, hugging her. There were tears in her eyes and in Kelly was crying too.
"Please, take care," Kelly begged her and Connie nodded with a smile. They hugged each other again before they started to walk back towards the others.
When the Kingdomers rode off, the little group, accompanied by some of the Highwaymen, started to walk back, towards the Sanctuary. It was raining heavily and soon everyone was wet to the bones. They hid from the rain in one of the buildings on their way.
Connie was standing next to Daryl and he saw that she was shivering. He took off his vest, put it around her shoulders and received a grateful smile. The vest was too big for her, but at least it was something to keep her warm. She moved closer to him and their hands touched accidentally. Then they stood in silence side by side, watching Lydia and Henry, who were trying to keep each other warm by hugging each other. Connie was still shivering and Daryl was too. He thought about putting his arms around her to warm her, like Henry did with Lydia, but he didn't dare. However, as she slightly moved closer to him and looked looked him in the eyes, he, being nervous as hell, finally put his arms around her. They were standing in the same position like earlier this day, her hand resting on his chest again. But this time there was no excuse for his heart beating so fast under her hand and he felt a little embarrassed. He could feel her soft breath against his neck. Her warm body in wet clothes was so close to his, and he could smell the scent of her hair. Suddenly he realized that it was becoming too much for him. Afraid, that his body would show her, without his intention, how much attracted he was to her, he slowly moved away. There was no way in hell he was going to let this happen. It was just the first time in so many years that he felt attracted to a woman like that. His face was heating up and turning red. He prayed she wouldn't be wondering why he moved away from her so suddenly, but even if he tried not to look at her, out of the corner of his eye, he could see a suspicious look on her face. It made him go hot and cold at the same time. He still hoped she didn't figure out how appealing he found her. What would she think of him? That he was some kind of a pervert? She didn't know him. She didn't know the last time he was so close to woman and felt these kinds of feelings, was endless years ago.
When the rain stopped, they walked back to the Sanctuary. The Highwaymen kept watch, so every member of the group could sleep. And all of them did, except for Daryl. He lay awake and all he could think of, was Connie.
Daryl never felt so awkward around women before, like he felt around her. His relationships with women were basically the same as they were with men. Yes, he admired them and besides being tough, there were other qualities he liked in them. Each of his female friends had a special trait he liked. Michonne, for example, teased him a lot, it annoyed and amused him at the same time. Beth was so innocent and pure and he admired her hopeful nature, back in the day, when she was still alive. Maggie and Rosita always said what they thought and always wanted to do the right thing. And Carol… Well, Carol was his best friend, she knew him almost better than he knew himself. He allowed himself to be vulnerable around her.
But all of them were just friends. Maybe good-looking friends, but still friends.
He never wanted to impress them or to flirt with them. He knew it would feel strange, if he did. Sure, sometimes he felt a little envious when he saw his friends being in love and sometimes he wondered how it would be, to have a relationship of his own, because it was an uncharted area for him. Sometimes he even asked himself if there was something wrong with him since he preferred to be a loner when almost everyone was in a relationship.
But Connie suddenly changed that and from one day to another there was a woman in his life, he wanted to be more than friends with.