KEZZ 1: As always, thank you for reviewing!

"Where were you?" Sophia asked them accusingly as they walked into the common room.

"Went ta do somethin', ended up doin' somethin' else," Ani provided vaguely, Sophia's pouting face making her sigh before she added, "We found ya ma."

"Mom?" she asked. "Is she okay?"

"Yeah, she's doin' alright," Daryl told the girl. "She's got a nice little cabin out on the edge of the Kingdom. She's doin' just fine."

"What took you so long?"

"We had dinna with 'er," Ani explained. "I'm sorry we didn' take ya and that we were gone for so long. Didn' mean ta be. Didn' know we'd find ya ma. What'd ya do all day?"

"Well, everyone was interested in Catty like you said they'd be. Catty loved the attention. I helped show some of them how to shoot, so they were pretty impressed with me. Oh! And I helped Ms. Nabila in the garden! That was fun, except she said she was worried about somethin' in the 'royal garden'."

"Sounds like ya had an eventful day," Ani told her, wrapping her up in a hug.

"I was just worried."

"I'm sorry. I know ya had a hard time with me and D taken. I shouldn' a left ya here."

"It's okay," Sophia said, going back to the chair she'd been sat in when they walked into the room. "I don't really want to see her anyway."

"That's a lie and you know it," Daryl told her.

"She's ya ma. Ya love 'er and worry 'bout 'er jus' like I do," Ani said.

"She left. Again," Sophia accused, crossing her arms and pouting.

"I know she did," Ani said as she walked up and sat on the arm of the chair Sophia was sitting in, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and giving her a side hug. "She knows ya don' need 'er, so she wasn' scared a leavin' ya with us. She doesn' know what happened, Phia. She doesn' know we were taken and she doesn' need ta know. When we're done with this fight, we'll bring 'er back ta Alexandria and I'll help 'er how she needs, if she'll let me."

"What do you mean?"

"Have ya eva heard a post traumatic stress disorda?"

"Isn't that the thing vets get?"

"Military personnel, yes, but ordinary people can get it too. Some get it involvin' cars 'cause a bad crash. Some get it 'cause they live in a bad neighborhood and have seen a lot a bad shite, had a lot a bad shite happened ta them. And some, like ya ma, they get it 'cause the stress a what they've gone through is jus' too much. Ya ma, she didn' fight ya daddy, right?"

"No."

"She didn' know how ta fight, didn' want ta kill even the walkas, when we first got ta the quarry, right?"

"Yeah."

"And then I forced 'er ta learn how ta fight. And she took it a step furtha wantin' ta 'protect' everyone by killin' Karen and David. That step she took, that step down that road, it was too much for 'er mind ta take, and she's taken leaps and bounds down that road now. Her mind can' handle it, Phia. Well, it can, but somethin' big has ta happen for 'er ta get ova this momentary hiccup, and even at that point, we're gonna have ta keep an eye on 'er."

"Why?" Daryl asked, listening to Ani trying to comfort and explain to Sophia what she'd told him on the way to the cabin to begin with.

"'Cause ya don' jus' get ova PTSD. Ya can recova ta an extent, ya can make it work well 'nough ta have a semblance a a normal life, but if somethin' happens, somethin' stressful, it can trigga it ta come back tenfold. And then...who knows if we'd eva get 'er back."

"Do we want her back?" Sophia asked innocently, the anger on her face betrayed by the confusion in her voice.

"Do ya really want ta write 'er off?" Ani asked. "Even afta everythin' me family did ta me, I always missed 'em, wished they could a been a propa family for me. Ya still got ya momma, even if it ain' the way ya would like. I thought...Afta what happened at the prison, I thought I was done with 'er, ya know? I was ready ta jus' keep ya ta meself and make 'er forget ya eva were 'er daughta, but the thing is, she is ya momma. I might be a ma ta ya, Daryl might be a dad, but ya still got ya momma out there. Ya don' gotta be all lovey-dovey or ovaly friendly, but she is ya momma. Ya love 'er and ya know it."

Sophia sighed, knowing Ani was right. She'd told Carl that everything got taken from her, but she'd managed to get Daryl and Ani back. Her mom was actually here, in the Kingdom, or rather on the outskirts of it. Merle had trusted her enough to give her a straight up military mission into the Sanctuary that had gotten her a good idea of the layout inside in comparison to the outside. He was back at the Hilltop looking after Maggie and Beth while they were out here, sending her on another mission to keep an eye on his siblings for him. Now, she was stuck feeling conflicted, a part of her wanting to stay with Daryl and Ani, another part wondering if she should stay and look after her mom.

"What...is there anythin' I can do to help her?" she managed to ask softly.

"I dunno, love," Ani said, leaning her head over on Sophia's. "That's up ta ya. But ya should rest up."

"Why?" the girl asked, Ani moving away and stifling a yawn.

"'Cause we got tanight and tamorrow night, and then we're headin' back ta the Hilltop. Got a lot ta do and not a lot a time ta do it in."

"You ain't doin' nothin' but sittin' on your ass," Daryl said as she walked past him, Daryl reaching out and grabbing her to sit on his lap. "You can't keep doin' this. Puttin' yourself in danger. Gotta start thinkin' about the baby."

"I am thinkin' 'bout the baby. I don' gotta be on the front lines, in the line a fire, but I am goin' ta be fightin'. I have ta fight. I can' let ya do it alone."

"And I can't let you keep fightin', baby girl," he said quietly beside her ear, Sophia getting the hint to head to her room when he nodded his head in that direction. "I ain't alone in this fight. Rick's fightin'. So's Michonne, Merle, Abraham, Sasha..."

"Maggie," Ani filled in. "I won' fight foreva, but this thing with the Saviors? It's gotta be done fast. Done right. It's only the first week a Septemba, so we gotta get this done. Winta's gonna be settin' in soon. Once we get this done, I promise I'll sit on me ass doin' nothin' but incubatin' this baby," she assured him.

"That ain't good enough," he said as she moved to straddle him and look at his face. "The baby, if anythin' happens to you, to the baby...What happens if you're caught in the crossfire? What happens if you get caught again? Taken again?"

"I could ask ya the same damn thing," she told him, though her voice was getting colder as she listened to him.

"Don't matter what happens to me," he told her, sitting up and capturing her in his arms as she went to move. "It don't. What matters is you and the baby. Either a you get hurt, somethin' happens to the baby, you die, that's on me. I can't lose either of you. You talk about risks, not wantin' to take 'em. Don't risk the baby in this war."

"I already told ya, I won' be in the thick a it. I promised ya that. But, D, I ain' sittin' it out. I can'," Ani said. She took his face in her hands when he went to say anything else, leaning in and resting her forehead on his. "It does matta, D. What happens ta ya mattas more'n anythin' else in the world ta me besides this baby. I won' fight on the front lines," she told him as he tore his face from her hands and looked away. "I'll stay outta the line a fire, but if there's anythin' I can do from the side, anythin' I can do from behind, I'm gonna do it. I gotta. This war, it'll be done with plenty a time for both a us ta sit and enjoy this pregnancy like we should. But I gotta keep ya safe as much as I can jus' like ya wanna keep me safe. I'll be safe helpin' plan, workin' from behind, stayin' outta their sights. Hell, I plan on puttin' ya back there with me. We can keep each otha safe, then."

"I don't like it. I don't want you fightin' at all. Just like you don't want Phia fightin'."

"I'm not a child. Tell ya what," she said, trying to compromise. "When we're plannin', once we actually got somethin' set up, I'll let ya tell me when ta stop, afta the first step is done. I gotta see it put in motion, and even then, I'm gonna be waitin' far 'nough away ta be able ta keep a watch on what's happenin', but can' get hurt. No one will even know I'm there."

"Ain't good enough."

"Nothin' will be, for eitha a us. I'm tryin' ta make it work for both a us. I ain' happy 'bout havin' ta step back!" she said, climbing off his lap and pacing. "I hate even the thought a sittin' back and watchin', but stayin' home and waitin' makes me sick ta me stomach! I'm tryin' ta give ya what ya want, D!" Daryl remained quiet as she paced, trying to get her emotions under control. "I don' wanna sit on the side, Daryl. But I'm willin' ta swallow me pride and do it. For ya. For the baby. But please, baby, don' ask me ta sit on the side and wait. I gotta know ya comin' home ta me. And on top a that, havin' a field medic could save a lot a lives once the fightin' is done," she tried to reason.

Daryl stared at her as she sat on the coffee table in front of him, elbows on her knees. As she stared back at him, he contemplated her words. She wouldn't be doing the fighting, not really, if she was in the distance. The only problem was that he knew her. If anything went wrong, she'd be the first to run into the fray. She wouldn't hesitate, she wouldn't wait for someone else to make a move, she would simply act, which would put her and the baby in harm's way. He just watched her as she watched him, chewing on his thumb as he tried to think of a way to get her to agree with staying back. Nothing about this situation was going to bring either of them what they wanted and he knew it, though. She wasn't about to stay safe in one of the settlements while he was out fighting, but she was willing to sit back and swallow her pride. He sucked in a breath as he stopped chewing on his thumb, slapping his hand down on the arm of the chair beside him.

"You keep Merle and the twins with you at all times, send him in first," he laid out. "You don't move unless it's obvious we've got the upper hand. You got it? That's the only way this works. You make sure stay on the sidelines and don't do nothin' stupid."

"I ain' makin' any promises, but I'll try," Ani said, standing up and going back over to sit on his lap. "That's all I can do, try. I hate it," she said as she wrapped herself around him, his hands coming to gently lay on her hip and thigh. "I hate not helpin', but I get it. Ya can' do what ya gotta do if ya worryin' 'bout me. And I can' keep the baby safe if I'm in the thick a it worryin' 'bout ya. This is the only way ta at least give us both a sense a ease. Ain' gonna be peace a mind, ain' gonna be perfect, but it's the only way we both get what we need. Ain' what eitha a us want," she said, pushing away and running a hand through his hair, "but it's what we both need right now."

"You promise Merle stays with you?"

"Hell, I'll pull Abraham and Sasha back with me if ya want. Make a little vanguard ta take out anyone tryin' ta escape and makin' sure no reinforcements can get through ta ya if they call for 'em. But I'm gonna follow ya whereva ya go."

Daryl sighed before wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead, "I fuckin' hate this."

"Ya think I don'?" she replied, holding herself to him, the tears freely falling from her eyes as she admitted, "I hate this. I hate that I can' help ya. That I can' protect ya. I hate bein' so damn weak."

"You ain't weak."

"I have ta be right now. For Little D, I have ta step back. I know it."

~x~

"Welcome to your new home!" Negan cried as they offloaded the coward and took the bag off his head. "I must say, I think you are going to love it here. Laura, take him to the room across from Red's."

"Hey boss?" one of his guys called out.

"What's up?"

"Uh, you might want to see this."

"What is this?" Negan asked as he walked through the gate.

"Looks like Fat Joey, sir," one of the soldiers said.

"Obviously it's Fat Joey, but why is his head smashed in? What'd he do to deserve this?"

"We just found him. We'll find out who did this."

"No need. This has Daryl or Ani written all over, particularly that bashed in skull!" Negan said. "You four, come with me."

"Sir, Davis is dead too. Shot in the head, but no one heard the shot."

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Negan said as he turned on his men. "How in the world did not one, but two prisoners manage to get out of their cells and kill not one but two of my damn men? What do you do when I leave here? What, do you stick each others cocks up each others asses? Come on?! How the hell did this happen? Get me a god damn walkie, now!" he said, grabbing the one offered to him out of Arat's hand roughly and leading them down the halls to Ani's room. "For anyone out there who loved the obese bastard as much as I did, I just want to say a few words. Fat Joey was not the most badass sonuvabitch, but he was loyal. He had a great sense of humor. In fact, we were just joking about oral sex with Lucille the other day. Things will not be the same now that he's dead. Without Fat Joey, Skinny Joey is just, psshh, Joey. So it's a goddamn tragedy. For those who loved Davis? Ah, hell, nobody loved Davis. Old bastard was as angry as he was good at gettin' shit done. Even if nobody misses that old ass, it's still a damn shame. So! Let's have a moment of silence."

Ani's room had been empty so Negan gave the couple the benefit of the doubt and hoped that Ani had just sought the solace of being by Daryl by finding his cell. His face darkened in anger when he found it empty as well. "We got ourselves a red situation!" he called through the walkie. "I need a search party. See if Daryl took Ani and ran home like the dumb animal he is."

"On it," Simon's voice came through. "Be there in time for lunch. But, uh, what if Ani took charge?"

Negan thought about it for a moment, recalling what Laura had said about Ani not acknowledging her presence earlier and responded, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, check Alexandria. Turn that sleepy little berg upside down!"

"On it, boss!"

"Get a crew together, check around. See if they aren't hidin' out nearby," Negan said as he turned to head towards Dwight's quarters, the only other lead they had on where the two would go. "See if there's a trail we can follow."

"Sir, I, uh, I have to admit something," Arat said, shifting her weight back and forth.

"Well, spit it out."

"I found a girl, outside, right before the iron. Well, she was pretty impressed by Ani and I figured since we were going out, I could follow the rules by letting her stay in Ani's room. She...she's not here either."

"What?" Negan asked, looking at the woman with narrowed eyes. "What'd she look like?"

"Small, couldn't have been more than yay-high," she said, gesturing to about her mid-chest. "Honey blonde hair, green eyes, young. Said she was only eleven."

"Was her hair just past her shoulders? A braid with a knuckle on one side?" Negan asked, recalling the night at the clearing and Carl's little serial killer girlfriend and the strange adornment she'd had.

"Yeah, said it had been a gift from her dad," Arat said. "How'd you know?"

"Well, dammit all to hell, Arat! You let one of them waltz right in here! Aw, fuck, I can't blame you for bein' fooled by a kid. Damn, you think they could've been workin' together? This kid of yours and Carl?"

"I don't know, sir," Arat said as another man walked up.

"Found Ria's crew. They were in the autoshop. There was definitely some sort of fight," he informed them.

"What the shit is goin' on here? Did I wind up in a zoo? Find me my people, find me my pet, and by Lucille if I don't find out who orchestrated all of this by the end of the day, I'm gonna take someone's head off just because! Now move! And you four, your happy asses are comin' with me."

Negan led them down through the corridors until he got to Dwight's room. The only person who, for sure, could have helped orchestrate the escape of who was about to be a good soldier and who was about to be a damn fine addition to their ranks without having to actually fight. The man had insisted that he could break Daryl and he himself had managed to get Ani right where he wanted her just earlier that day. All he did when he got to Dwight's door was pound on it in his normal fashion before motioning for the men he'd brought with him to knock it down. They did so, immediately beginning to beat the man as soon as they entered the room. When he was knocked out, Negan ordered him to be dragged to the same cell they'd had Daryl in before heading back outside.

~x~

"Do you mind if I borrow Ms. Ani this fine morn?" Ezekiel asked as he walked up to the trio of Alexandrians still in the Kingdom.

"If ya gonna address me like that, it's Mrs. Dixon. And that makes me feel old, so please, don' keep up that fake stage-English with me, if ya don' mind. Jus' call me Ani."

"Very well. Ani," he corrected, both miffed and amused that she'd called him out. "Would you mind accompanying me for a time?"

"Ya good?" she asked Daryl, who was still unhappy with their agreement last night, therefore had had trouble sleeping.

"Where you gonna be?" he asked Ezekiel.

"Mrs. Dixon? I take it that this is Mr. Dixon, then?" he said, observing their interactions. "I thought I might show off our herb beds. I heard you had quite the talent, and we could do with someone with your gifts," he informed Ani.

"Alright, but anythin' happens to her..."

"It shan't. We will not be leaving the walls, nor even going far from here. If it would put your mind at ease, you could join us as well."

"I'll be fine, D. I'll have the twins with me, and I don' see his tiga," Ani said with a shrug before leaning in and whispering in his ear, "'Sides, I can try ta talk ta him. I can try ta make 'im see what's happenin'."

"You come back by dinner, got it?"

"Yes, Daddy," she told Daryl with a smirk before leaning in and capturing his lips as she stood up.

"Stop," he said, smacking her hip as she walked past.

"You guys are so embarrassin'," Sophia complained.

"Ya should learn from 'im so ya know when a man's treatin' ya right," Ani quipped, following the King out.

"You're really married to him?" the big man traveling with them asked.

"Yeah, and expectin' our first."

"Your first? You intend to have more?" Ezekiel asked.

"Ain' like there's protection these days. Not like we eva used it anyways. If it happens, it happens. If it don', we got Little D and Phia."

"You seem a trifle too young to have a daughter as old as that child is," he stated.

"She's not mine by blood, but she is mine. Her momma...she's alive, but she ain' what Phia needs. And right now, she's jus' not in the right frame a mind ta be lookin' afta her eitha," Ani admitted.

"What does that mean, pray tell?"

"It means I've been lookin' afta that little girl since the beginnin'. 'Cause a that, her momma knows I'll keep lookin' afta her. She's suffarin' from PTSD right now, or at least in the first parts a it. And she jus', she can' take it. So she's not, and I wanna keep it that way. I wanna keep as much stress off'n 'er as possible to keep the PTSD from gettin' worse. I love that little girl like she was me own anyway. Holy shite, that's a lot a herbs," she commented as they stopped at a large tire bed that had been arranged, different herbs sprouting from different tires. "Gotta commend whoeva's doin' all this, but ya know if ya plant certain veggies and herbs tagetha, ya'll get betta results?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno," Ani admitted. "Ya'd have ta ask me friend Maggie 'bout that. A course, I don' know if she'd be willin' ta help ya if ya ain' willin' ta help us. Not that she won' afta all is said and done, but the Saviors, Negan, 'e bashed 'er husband's skull in right in front a her while she was dealin' with the possibility a loosin' 'er own baby at that time. While she's helpin' the Hilltop, it's 'cause they helped save 'er baby and now they wanna learn how ta fight. I admire ya desire ta keep ya people safe, but I dare say that ya might realize what we're tryin' ta fight for only afta it's too late."

"You were within their lands, were you not? Tell me, why do you wish to fight?"

"Considarin' who I'm talkin' ta, it might seem insensitive ta say it, but they're slaves. The soldiers are treated like nobles while the workas are treated like what we learned slaves were in history. Catch a beatin' for lookin' at a soldia the wrong way. Catch ya death if ya break a rule. Catch iron ta the face if ya sleep with ya wife because Negan coerced 'er inta marryin' 'im. They tried re-educatin' Daryl; beatin' 'im, starvin' 'im or ratha givin' 'im literal dog food on molded bread. Tried ta break me through emotional and mental manipulation. Forced me ta beat me daddy ta death, bash 'is skull right ta a pulp with me bare hands."

"Woah," Jerry said behind them. "They made you do that pregnant? Wait, you can do that? That's pretty badass!"

"Jerry!" Ezekiel said, though Ani was laughing happily.

"It's cool, King. And yeah, Aloha Man, I can do that. Pretty easy when ya know Maui Thai," she said with a shrug. "This herbs too far inta the sun. Needs moved inta a more shaded or indirect sunlit area. That one there, it needs shade. It's droopin' 'cause it's getting' too much light. And that one there's not worth havin' in an herb garden 'less ya tryin' ta make someone sick or poison 'em. That's all it's actually used for, ta be honest."

"Truly? I thought the flowers..."

"Are the most poisonous part, bein' honest," she informed him. "I mean, I totally get keepin' some on hand if ya need ta poison 'em, or if ya have a fight against an enemy ya need ta get rid a fast."

"I will inform Nabila to carefully remove it, then. Thank you for lending us your knowledge."

"Could ya quit talkin' like that? Jus', ya know? Be a regular dude? Like, Jerry. Aloha Man is nice and laid back. Ya can' seriously talk like that with everyone all the damn time, can ya?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"The whole stage talk shite ya do. I mean, Why put on an act if ya already a king?"

Ezekiel smiled with a bit of a scoff, "They said you were smart."

"Bein' smart is one thing. Bein' obvious and ova the top is somethin' completely different," Ani chuckled. "I ain' doubtin' ya as a king ta ya people, jus' why ya goin' through so much ta show it. What were ya before all a this happened?"

"What were you?" he asked. "I'm far more curious about the girl with a hawk feather in her voice and bobcats at her feet. What were you before the world fell to the wasted?"

"I was a forensic psychologist workin' with the Atlanta PD. Damn near completed me PhD in the field 'fore all a this happened. I practiced a lot a MMA, specializin' in Maui Thai and Judo. I was teachin' at Georgia State, doin' a lot a otha stuff. I was jus'..." Ani stopped to look at their garden and the workers there as she sighed. "I was goin' through the motions, but I wasn' livin'. What I'm doin' now? Fightin' ta live, fightin' for me savival? Well, I guess I been fightin' for that all me life 'til I started college. Then I was free a the fight and jus' doin' what I had ta. But it wasn' the same. Hell, what I did 'fore, back in me home growin' up. That ain' the kind a savivin' I'm meanin' now. Everythin' we do means somethin' now. We live, we fight ta live. We savive, it's 'cause we worked our asses off ta. We neva jus' sit back and take what's handed ta us. We fight for it, tooth and nail. I think that's worth every second a livin'. Don' ya?"

"You're asking me to fight."

"I'm askin' how ya want ta live. Rick gave his piece, but I'd like ya ta hear mine when I'm a bit less, well, flamboyant. Ya say ya want ta keep ya people safe. What happens when ya bumpa crop comes up short and it's time ta pay up? Who gets hurt then? And ya know it's gonna happen at some point. Nights are already startin' ta get a bit on the chilly side. What happens when one a them get trigga happy? Who pays the price then? We can take the fight ta them and hit 'em 'fore they know what hurt 'em, or we can take the risk that more a our people, whetha they belong ta Alexandria, the Hilltop, or the Kingdom, will get hurt while we sit with our thumbs thoroughly seated where the sun don' shine. Ya can fight with us and help us win, or ya can sit back and eitha watch us fall without ya, or watch us win without ya. And if we do win, which we will try our damnedest ta, ya get all the benefit and reward by doin' nothin'. Could ya be proud 'nough then ta still call yaself a king?"

"You are both plainly and logically spoken. Much like Benjamin. In fact, your words mirror his. It gives me much to ponder in this dire our."

"How'd ya get the tiga?" Ani asked, unable to hold off her curiosity any longer and bored of the topic at hand; a few words were obviously not going to shift the man's opinions in their favor right this second.

"Ah, that t'was a glorious tale," Ezekiel said while smiling.

"Glorious, indeed, Your Majesty!"

"Jerry," Ezekiel sighed, humored but frustrated by his large friend.

"If it was glorious like ya said, spill the beans! I'll tell ya how I got these two," she offered, holding Catty up as Bobby chased after a cricket. "I mean, I don' wanna know what the people say 'bout it. I've heard anythin' from ya raised it, which jus' ain' true 'cause the damn thing isn' out with the people all the time, ta ya fought it inta submission, which again, ain' true. A human man can' fight off a tiga, especially not in this day and age. A tiga's too strong."

"You certainly are well acquainted with my realm," Ezekiel commented.

"Nah, jus' that kids like ta talk and me kid has been hangin' with ya kids. Ya a legend in the eyes of the youth ya have here."

"From what I've heard from Morgan and young Masters Benjamin and Henry, you are quite the force to be reckoned with yourself. Jumping off a roof just to save your people? Training them all to fight. Your knowledge in herbology and medicine," he told her, motioning at the plants she'd mentioned needing moved. You claim that I am a legend and yet tales of your feats has not only spread through our youth, but also our ranks of warriors. Morgan has become a valued member of our community over the last week. His teachings of Aikido to both Benjamin and Henry is both beneficial and crucial to our future. He has spoken of you many times and your...conflicting...ideologies."

"They ain' conflictin'. He believes all life is precious, and I agree, it is. But that don' mean all life has ta be precious ta me. He wants ta save everyone. Wants everyone ta live in peace and harmony, but that kind a world is jus' as dystopian as what Negan's tryin' ta pull. Life is a precious gift, one that should not be squandered or wasted. Yet what life will hurt me the most ta lose? The one pointin' their gun at me and me loved ones? Or me loved ones? I could die and be...Well, once upon a time it wouldn' matta. I'd put meself out in front a any danga and keep me people safe no matta the cost ta me. But now," she said with a sigh as a couple tears escaped, her hands moving to her stomach. "I realize now I can' be thinkin' like that no more. I gotta think 'bout Little D and what 'is daddy is gonna be worryin' 'bout ova what 'e needs ta worry 'bout in the moment. Can' be doin' no worryin' on the right thing if 'e knows me and 'is baby are in danga. But ya side-tracked me. I wanna know 'bout the tiga."

"How do you think I came to have a tiger?" he asked.

"Best guess? Ya worked at some kind a animal sanctuary that rescued big cats," Ani said with a shrug. "I've seen documentaries where the cats rescued like that can form amazin' bonds with their handlas aftawards. Eitha that or ya were one a them bastards illegally keepin' a big cat as a pet in one a them tiny ass cages in ya backyard."

Ezekiel chuckled, "I agree with your sentiments on the latter regards. The former, well, that is quite close to the truth." He took a deep breath and Ani could see him physically relaxing his stance, his posture becoming more that she would expect of a man his age, "I was a zookeeper. Shiva fell into her concrete pool one day, only it was empty. Tore her leg up. I knew what could happen, but I didn't care. I jumped into her enclosure and did what I could until the medical team got there. She never showed another tooth or claw in my direction after. And when it all went to hell, there she was. Still in her enclosure. I set her free, and she stayed by my side. And now," he said going back to his Kingly cadence, "she has made me a King."

"I don' think she had anythin' ta do with it more'n gettin' attention. A leada like ya leads by example," Ani commented. "You are the one who made ya a king. Shiva jus' helps with the image."

"Your bobcats certainly help your image as a wild child. Tell me, how did they come to be in your company?"

"I thought they were the baby in our group. Did ya know bobcat babies can cry like human babies? Thought I was goin' crazy when I saw 'em up in the tree. Their momma was bein' eaten undaneath. Think she got caught gettin' 'em up ta safety. Did 'er best ta fight, though. Could tell by how torn up the dead were when they noticed me. Killed 'em and rescued the kitties from the trees. Didn' even know they were bobcats 'til I found me way back ta Daryl," she chuckled. "He wasn't too happy 'bout me showin' up with 'em, though now 'e relies on Bobby ta keep me safe and protected while trustin' Catty ta go get 'im if I run inta trouble. Why ya think I don' go anywhere without one or the otha? Or if I gotta leave me kid, I leave Catty? We trained 'em up like dogs, and while they're still wild and true ta their nature when we're huntin', they're well on their way ta bein' great huntas for our people."

"And how is it that you came to be in Daryl's good company?" he asked, simply curious, nothing more.

"What are ya insinuatin'?" Ani asked a little heated, looking at Ezekiel with anger in her eyes.

"I take it that subject tends to be a topic of sore discussion," he stated.

"People accuse 'im a shite all the damn time! Like I was too young ta know what I wanted based on me looks! Like I was groomed ta be with 'im even though we only propaly met when the world went ta hell in a hand basket! Me own parents tried tellin' Negan that Daryl stole me from 'em, raped me from as early as twelve, tryin' ta get the man ta kill our baby jus' ta get back at me for gettin' away from 'em! And their bullshite reasons for how they treated me! All 'cause me hair is Irish or some bullshite that boils down ta that!"

"I apologize, truly. That was not my intent. In all honesty, I find your romance to be truly endearing. I have little care for the difference in age. Contrary to popular belief, age is just a number to me. It neither makes one wise nor intelligent, it simply measures the years they have walked upon this earth. As for the lies others have said of him, it is clear as day how much you mean to him. You and the child you carry. Surely, if his intentions were anything but pure, you would have already found out."

Ani laughed and told him, "Well, I was the one who told 'im ta stake a claim. He had ta chase me down aftawards 'cause 'e thought I was jokin' and I wasn'. We were both a bit broken back then, and the cracks are comin' back thanks ta the Saviors. I know I ain' gonna change ya mind. I get that ya gotta think a ya people, ya can' be thinkin' a all the communities. But I really hope ya don' lose someone important ta ya 'fore ya decide it's time ta fight."

"And have you lost someone?"

"Me ma. Phia's real momma," Ani said, smiling softly at him. "I didn' so much lose 'er ta the Saviors as I did ta her own mind. And it was me selfishness that caused it. See, I trained everyone. I pushed everyone ta train and learn ta fight. Pushed it inta their heads that the good a the group, a the family, was first and foremost. And then she made a bad choice. And that cost the lives a two good people who might a lived othawise. And it jus' didn' stop. She had ta make choice afta choice afta choice that led her down a road she can' come back from. She's safe now. And she doesn' gotta fight no more 'cause I'm gonna do as much fightin' as I can for 'er."

"And what if she chooses to fight?" Ezekiel asked, wondering who she was talking about as the image of Carol popped into his mind.

"Then she chose ta put 'er family 'fore 'er mind, and I can only hope there's a nice long moment a peace aftawards so she has a chance ta deal with the aftamath, find some form a peace a mind or happiness."

"And do I know of this person you speak of?"

"I'm sure ya got a pretty good picta in ya head."

"Carol."

"Carol. So trust me when I tell ya, any harm comes ta her, well, ya heard some a me exploits thanks ta Phia's blabbermouth, but what she failed ta tell ya 'bout me jumpin' off the roof?" she said, pausing to gauge Ezekiel's reaction. "I killed twenny six people ova the course a twelve hours, all a them ta make sure me people got out unhurt. Imagine what I'll do ta the Kingdom if Carol shows up dead or injured."

"Are you threatening the King?" Jerry asked, lifting his ax just a bit though he really didn't want to fight the pregnant girl.

"Nah, ain' a threat. It's jus' a worse case scenario. One a ya people already tried settin' a trap for the Saviors, tryin' ta lead 'em ta her cabin ta start somethin'. I'm lettin' ya know what's goin' on so ya can keep 'er safe."

"And who was it that threatened Ms. Carol."

"Richard."

~x~

Daryl watched Sophia as she went to chat with some of the other kids her age. She'd really began to shine the last few months, gaining strength and speed in her combatant skills as well as stealth and accuracy as a hunter. He'd looked for her and Ania so much in those woods that he couldn't help but feel responsible for the girl from the moment he found her. That feeling of responsibility had grown exponentially over the last few months. Living with her and making sure he knew what her plans for the day were, teaching her the basics of mechanics so that, if she ever did go out of the walls and get stuck, she could find her way home, teaching her how to track in ways Ania either didn't know or didn't want to teach. He'd spent a lot of time with the girl and couldn't help the small, soft smile that graced his face as he watched her laughing and smiling with the other kids. It was definitely different from what his childhood had been. Even in this world, children could still be children if the adults tried just a little.

He couldn't help but think back to the conversation he'd had with Ania last night, how she'd openly admitted that she had to be weak. That was the first time since they'd found out she was pregnant that she'd become honest to both him and herself that she was doing too much for being pregnant. He hadn't been able to get her to just stay in Alexandria, but a promise to stay out of the fire fights, a promise to let others do the fighting for her, that was more than he could have hoped for before everything with Negan happened. Daryl couldn't help the scowl that formed as he thought about the man with the bat, how he'd been the one that added scars to Ania's face. That fact alone had his blood boiling.

He'd promised her that he would make Negan pay, that she could be there when he did, when they finally put an end to it all. She just couldn't be there during the battle to come. He needed her to be safe, and he needed her to trust him. She'd told him that she did, she just hated not being able to fight by his side. He'd held her close afterwards as she cried, promising him that it was just the stupid hormones making her emotional, not that she was actually sad. Though she was scared, he was too, and all they could do for the rest of the night was hold each other whispering little promises, words of love, and encouragement back and forth.

With a sigh, he walked around the Kingdom until he found the room where they kept Shiva. He'd seen where Ania was talking to the King, motioning to the plants in the tires and making Daryl scoff and shake his head. She was done caring about others and yet still giving advice the minute it was asked of her. While he knew a part of her meant what she'd said, it just wasn't in her nature to leave things as it were. Hell, she hadn't left Sophia or Carl alone at the beginning, taking it upon herself to teach them basic survival when it came to the woods. She hadn't left the rest of the group alone when it came to training with knives and self-defense. Not even Merle had managed to escape her caring nature and had grown to be a man that people looked up to, even though he still made some feel awkward around him. He sat facing Shiva as the tiger paced, thinking about his wife, his unborn child, and the kid he'd become responsible for. He wasn't so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear as Morgan quietly entered the room himself after some time.

"Well, you're good with her," he commented as Shiva stood in front of Daryl, looking straight at him through the bars. "Ezekiel will be impressed."

"Well, figure any guy that has a pet tiger can't be that bad," Daryl said, looking up at the man. "And he's okay by Carol. Yeah, we found her, out in that little house. Ani was happy to see her."

"Look, what I said," Morgan started explaining. "When I said she just...went away...it's what she told me to do."

"No, I get it. We need the Kingdom," he told Morgan after a moment's pause. "You gotta make that happen."

"I'm sorry," Morgan told him. "I mean, I-I really am, but, uh, it can't be me."

"Look," Daryl said, standing up to face him. "Whatever it is you're holdin' on to...it's already gone, man. Wake the hell up," he said, walking over to where he'd discarded his bag and new bow and grabbing them up.

"You're the same as me, Daryl. You and Ani both," Morgan said.

"You don't know shit about me, about her."

"No, I do," Morgan countered, cutting him off. "'Cause you didn't tell Carol what happened. Neither of ya. And I'm glad for that. See, we're all holdin' onto somethin'."

Shiva brushed her muzzle against Daryl's hand as he shifted his weight and brought it closer to the bars, "You don't know shit. I'm goin' back to Hilltop in the morning with Ania. We're gettin' ready."

He walked out after that, finding Bobby scratching at the door as Ania entered the 'throne' room. She had a sad smile on her face that brightened almost immediately as she caught sight of him. While he didn't exactly smile back, she could tell he was happy she was back too. Daryl caught her in one arm as she threw herself at him, just breathing him in before relaxing and pulling back to look at him. He simply brought her under his arm as he continued walking out, Ania barely able to catch a glimpse of Morgan before she was pulled around and led away. Daryl was frustrated by both the King and Morgan for refusing to fight. They didn't have a reason to, he understood that well enough, but the time was coming when they would, and by that time, it'd be too late. That's why he wanted to get Ania and Sophia out of the Kingdom as soon as possible. Ania had said two nights. It'd be two nights come morning. He was done waiting around. It was time to take his wife and their girl and get ready to fight.