Quinn and Negan, Safehouse

The next day

I tried to help Negan pack our stuff but he turned me down. He said I should sit on my butt and he will do everything. I didn't like it, but I had to admit he was right. I had to be careful with the baby. I heard the noise of a carriage and the horses. Carol was back. Negan heard too, he was by the door before I could tell him about the arrival.

I gathered myself up to greet Carol as she came back, but she wasn't alone.

Jesus was with her.

I hugged both of them.

"Jesus, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Came to help you move out," he said smiling. "Daryl would have come, but he can't in his state yet."

Carol poked Jesus with her elbow to shut him up.

"In his state?" I asked immediately suspecting something.

"Yeah, he's still a little bit grumpy, and I needed him to stay and watch Judith anyway," Carol explained quickly waving it off. I understand he had to watch Judith, but he didn't come because he was grumpy? That part didn't fit the bill. I didn't buy it. But I didn't think much about it. If anything happened to him Carol wouldn't be so cheerful and she would have told me. Daryl must be okay. At least I was trying to calm myself with this thought.

"So what should I help with?" asked Jesus to change the topic.

"You can take that to the carriage," said Negan pointing at one of our bags. Jesus smiled at me and did as he was told.

"Get ready for leaving, honey," Carol suggested, I nodded. I had to pee every ten minutes so it was going to be a long way back.

Jesus and Negan got everything ready, then Carol and Negan helped me up on the carriage.

"Everything good?" Negan asked.

"Yeah, fine," I said as I was catching my breath. It was hard to move in this state. I looked at the house for one last time. Negan took the keys in case we needed to come back someday. It was a lovely house. But I might not remember it in a happy way. The entire time I spent here I was anxious and worried about the others and my baby. I should leave those worries behind, locked in this house.

Carol was driving and Jesus sat next to her in the front, turning sideways to see me. Negan sat right next to me. I put my leg up on our bags.

"So how was your holiday here?" asked Jesus smiling.

"I wouldn't call it like that…" I said grumpily. "I worried my ass off because of you guys."

"I know…" said Jesus, his smile faded away. "I can't believe Rosita's gone. It's like she is still here but she isn't."

I shook my head disbelievingly. I felt the urge to cry, suffocating me, but I didn't want to cry again. I let out a sigh instead.

"How's Eugene holding up?" I asked. "And Gabriel?"

"They are not good. Gabriel seems a little bit better than Eugene, he has to be strong for the baby and he finds relief in his faith. But Eugene… he is not good," said Jesus in a grave voice.

"I wish I could be with him now and give him as many hugs as he needed," I said.

"He shut himself inside their house," said Jesus. "Only Max sees him. She said he is not very well, but she takes good care of him. He would be happy to see you."

"He will soon," Carol added. "Eugene lives in the Commonwealth with Max."

"Really? I thought they moved back to Alexandria," I said.

"No, a bunch of our people stayed. Gabriel moved back to Alexandria with the baby, but Eugene, Jerry and his family, Ezekiel, Yumiko, Magna, Connie, Kelly, they stayed," said Carol.

"I see."

There were a couple of quiet moments till Carol spoke again.

"What's going on, Negan? You are unusually quiet," she said.

"What should I say?" he asked. "I'm sorry about Rosita. And I feel sorry for Eugene and Gabe, if that's what you're asking."

"That's very kind of you, but I meant: how are you?" asked Carol. Jesus frowned his eyebrows at her.

"Me?" asked Negan surprised. Carol let out an irritated sigh.

"I figured everyone is concerned only about Quinn and the baby and when might have been the last time anyone asked you, but you know what? Nevermind."

"Hey, okay I get it. Thanks for asking, jeez. I'm good," said Negan.

I smiled to myself slightly. It was kind and thoughtful of Carol.

After this little exchange, another silent phase happened. I was looking around at the beautiful forest, listening to the birds. But I just couldn't shake the thought out of my head that Jesus said "Daryl in his state".

"Carol… what's going on with Daryl, really?" I asked. "Tell me the truth, please."

"It's nothing really. He didn't want me to tell you. He is fine, don't worry," she said trying to shake it off but this just made me even more worried and curious.

"You can't possibly think that I will leave it just there. You make me even more curious," I said.

"He doesn't want you to know," Carol repeated but Jesus interrupted her.

"Oh, for God's sake, he broke his ankle. That's it. But he is almost completely healed. He is okay, no need to worry," he said. Carol shot a killer glance at him while Jesus shrugged his shoulder.

"Oh my god…" I said. "Is he really okay?"

"Yeah, he is okay, it heals in like eight weeks or so, he is almost over it," said Jesus.

"He didn't want to worry you," said Carol.

"Is there anything else you didn't tell me?" I asked concerned.

"Quinnie…" said Negan gently.

"What?"

"Dixon didn't want to worry you, don't get upset," he said gently. His voice melted my heart and he was right.

"I do get upset, I want to know about everything that happened," I said, but I managed to cool down a bit, especially when he wrapped his arms around me and started stroking my arm gently.

"It's okay," said Jesus. "He is fine, trust me."

"I told you everything else," said Carol. "He asked me to keep this one, so you won't get overwhelmed with everything that happened."

"I can take it," I said.

"No, you can't. And that's okay," said Negan as he was still embracing me with one arm.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked offended.

"You are emotional when you are your regular self and you are like a hundred times more emotional since you're pregnant. You can't take it. What did you do last night after Carol left?" he asked.

"I cried…" I admitted grumpily. Jesus reached over the back of his seat and placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Oh, honey…" said Carol glancing back at me. "I knew it was too much… I shouldn't have told you everything. And Daryl was right to keep that one thing from you," she shot another killer glance at Jesus. He held up his hands innocently.

"She needed to know. She will get over it," he said.

"Yes, I will," I stated as I shot a killer glance at Negan.

"Yeah? Can't wait to see what you do tonight," he said.

"Nightmares?" asked Jesus.

Negan nodded.

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here. Yes, I do have nightmares, I will get over them," I stated. "I just need time."

"Of course, honey," said Carol soothingly.

After a while, we stopped for a lunch break, then we continued our way to the Commonwealth.

"How's Judith and Lydia doing?" Negan asked.

"Lydia moved to us, Aaron is helping her to get used to living with one arm. Like teaching her. She has some mood swings from shock but she feels better. She is in progress," said Jesus.

"She doesn't want to see Henry, because she thinks she is ugly because of missing an arm," Carol added.

"What?!" I snapped.

"Bullshit," said Negan.

"Yeah, but she thinks she is ugly now and locked herself in. Henry doesn't think that at all. Not a bit," she explained.

"Poor darling," I said.

"It's just a phase, it will pass," said Jesus.

"When did you learn so much about teenagers?" asked Carol.

"Since Lydia moved in. I'm quite good at observing stuff, so I noticed a pattern. She will get through this too," said Jesus.

"Maybe Henry should try reassuring her about his feelings," I suggested.

"Do you think he didn't try? Of course, he told her she was beautiful, but Lydia didn't believe him," said Carol with a sigh.

"Give her time. She will ease up," said Jesus.

My gaze was lost in the woods for a little while again, till Negan broke the silence.

"What about Jude?" he asked.

"She is doing okay. She had surgery, and Daryl gave her blood. She is healing nicely," said Carol. "No need to worry about her either. Everything is okay, everyone is healing."

"Except Rosita…" I said, but it just slipped. "Sorry… I didn't mean to say that."

"It's okay," said Jesus.

"I just…can't believe she is gone... She was so strong and fierce…" I said tears rolling down my cheeks, I couldn't hold them back anymore.

"Okay, okay… It's okay," said Negan as he moved closer and embraced me stronger.

"Let it out, you'll feel better," said Jesus.

I cried silently for a little while as Jesus turned around to watch the road ahead and I eventually cried myself into sleep on Negan's shoulder.

…

Author's notes: Still no music, I feel like it doesn't fit here.

Thank You for reading! ❤