Hello fellow fanfiction writers and readers, here is another chapter of this story that I hope you guys will enjoy. As usual I own nothing except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners. Thanks for reading, please leave a review
I sit with Judith in the park in the middle of the town, the pond back to normal with zero fuel, I have two ducks swimming in that pond. It has been two months since the attack, we not only survived we became closer as a community, we have expanded with a bigger and better gate.
Maggie sits with me as we talk, she is excited and scared as any rational person would be. We have formula stocked and that was a very good thing for her and Glenn. "How long have you and Daryl been together?"
"Two months and three days, we got together the day of the attack before he left. Ten months ago, you all came here, ten months ago he moved in an it kind of snowballed from there, he opened up to me and me to him. Just getting to know each other a little at a time until one day I tried giving him a haircut, yeah that was the night he finally kissed me." she smiled listening to everything I said, as we watched Judith walk around on unsteady feet playing with the ducks or on the slide.
"We're all glad he has you, I am glad we all have you." with that I carry Judith home to have some food. It has been so long in retro spec that they came; with them came change, change was better when it was positive.
Rick, Michonne, and Carl are at the table. "This girl needs more time out, had to drag her kicking all the way home. Oliva should be able to care for her both in and outside." placing her in her chair as Michonne set her plate in front of her.
"I keep telling you, Rick, she needs to be outside."
"Yeah, dad."
"Yeah, dad." I copied as we all ganged up on him, but he just smiled.
"Fine, I just don't want her to get hurt." it was all inevitable we all will be hurt, but it is how we handled that hurt that mattered.
"So, Rick, I love you." I started out, it was how I kind of started with my own father, putting on big eyes and pouty lips.
He just set his coffee cup down, but his face was cracking as Michonne knew what I wanted, she stands with her arms around him. "What you want, Cami?"
"I want to go with you and Daryl, he has been god awful not letting me go anywhere. I have nothing to pick today, the garden and chicks are already done, I think it is vey unfair I am not asked to go since the attack." making my eyes as big as they can, my lips quivering, it worked on pa, but Rick was a hard man.
"Fine, just don't look at me like that, ever, it breaks my heart…like a little lost puppy." He muttered the last part.
Carl scoffs. "Now if I did that, I might get popped in the head."
Michonne gave him a one arm hug. "You could do it to me and I am sure you'll get what you want, well within reason. Girls, are very different and now it looks like we just adopted Cami."
Rick just laughed, along with Michonne as Carl smirked. "Good, I love her now I have a big sister who can kick my ass, and watch out for me while I protect Judith."
I smiled. "I just need my knife and I will be set to go."
I was happy as walked back to my house, Daryl was at the table eating when I walked in he smiled, he looked ready to go as I strapped the knife to my waist. "Morning, hun." his voice chimed, his eyes went to the knife, but he said nothing.
"Morning." placing a small kiss to his lips, kissing him was my new hobby. He was the best scout, so he was gone a lot, we have slept in the same bed, showered but nothing more than that. He seemed to enjoy it, the way his hands would move, his tongue it was all magic guess being a criminal and bad boy really paid off.
I was dressed in ripped jeans, and a cranberry plaid button down shirt that was keeping very warm, my brown riding boots when he was in black jeans, pretty worn too, a black button down with what it seems is a missing pocket.
He had no issues with me walking to the gate with our hand intertwined, his bow slung across his back as we enjoyed the small walk, Rick and Michonne wait at the gate for us. I felt a twinge of guilt at tricking Daryl. He was not going to be happy I was going but I knew I could be useful and I have proven I can handle myself.
"I won't be gone long, should be back by tonight." his voice was raspy by nature, but it held such love now, a fact he only let me see behind closed doors.
I hesitated as we reach the gate.
"Come on now we don't have all day." Rick smiled as we stood close, him and Michonne hugging as Daryl hugged me before pressing his forehead to mine.
I whisper. "I was given permission to go." I watched as his eyes opened and they're cold and cruel, I would not back down even though it seemed my safest bet.
He in one movement move back his arms disappearing from me, he was pissed, his face was cold and menacing. "No."
I just walked to the gate as Eugene smiled down as it opened, I can hear Rick. "Daryl, calm down. She will be with us and if you hurt Michonne's new baby girl she will cut your junk off."
I held in the laughter, my face contorted when she chimed in. "I will too, she is my daughter now, I will go level ten mama bear on you." I felt the genuine love we all shared, it hurt a times because I really did miss Ma and Pa, my brothers too.
"She is safe inside the fuckin walls, I …" my heart melting if he wasn't so damn stubborn every time he almost says something mushy he stops and becomes cold.
I called back as I was far head of them. "That's why you should tag along, I might trip and kill myself." the look he gave me was amused and angry all rolled into a panic attack, this was a new side Rick had never seen, not with Carol or Beth.
Rick and Daryl had to jog to get to me, I didn't have my map, so we are going by Rick. "We have more than enough provisions so if I might ask why are we going out again?"
"You can never have enough, we also are checking around for lone survivors." Rick spoke as we got into the car, he was driving and low and behold I was stuck in back like a disobedient child; Daryl ignored me.
Rick says. "I think today is going to be a good haul, I can feel it, maybe having Cami here will be good luck. Here and Eugene have been the only ones to find good food supplies, medical supplies, they point us, and we go. Maybe we will find a new friend or two along the way." he was hopeful and that was what was needed.
Daryl was not a happy camper. "Doubtful, we have not seen anyone in weeks."
I just watched out of the window, up the street I noticed a house with a shed but what got me was the tracks to the shed, they're still there that means something was taken to the shed often. With luck Rick had to pee and we are able to pull to the side of the road, I walk into the yard after checking over the gate for walkers. It was a decent backyard, very well kept so I climbed over while they took a leak as Daryl put it.
I moved close to the fence in case it was needed to jump over, my knife was out as I tapped on the shed three times, but it locked as I take one of my pins and get to work, I learned this from Brice when he was going through his criminal phase. The lock clicked open as I tried to keep the chain from making to much noise. But just a lone walker in some tattered pink clothes bustled from the house, she was taken care of easy but knowing there are more lurking made me hurry.
I opened the shed thinking some tools that could be used would be resting inside, but no, at that moment every bad thing I said about women who used coupons and paid a dollar for two hundred worth of shit, I took it all back.
In that moment a hand clapped down around my mouth, I tensed up before ramming my elbow back as hard as I could into a very soft gut, it was a little dark as I held my knife to a throat. "Calm down now, Cami. It's me Rick." I was crying, I was scared but I just put my knife way.
"Sorry, but look what I found can you bring the car around."
Rick chuckled. "Thank you lord for extreme couponers." amen to that, I was alone everything looked new still, that walker in pink kept everything air tight, I helped load the trunk, Rick walked into the house to check if there was more, and there was another large cabinet filled with cans, dry milk, dry potatoes, things we need. The trunk was filled to the max, as some had to be set in the back seat with me. This was at least a good day.
Rick let out a sigh. "Daryl, come on she did good. She can't learn to survive living behind a safe wall. You love her don't you, I love Michonne and yeah it be easy to say stay behind but that is not how life is now. She is your girl stop acting like she isn't here, because I am glad she is here." they thought I was sleeping on a pillow made of bags of pads.
Daryl gives a grumble. "I can't lose her, I don't know how I fell so hard for her. I never have loved anyone but Merle but what I feel for her I never wanted to feel or even thought I could." my heart was goo, he was a good ole southern boy deep down.
I wanted to say they're both hot headed and I was logical, rational, and could be of use.
Rick points and we see a sorghum barn, Eugene said we needed it so here we are, I was out giving a slight stretch before we walked into a massive trucking garage, two trucks lay there, it was pay dirt both are filled with supplies everything we could use, one had maybe half of the other but still so much. I was going to drive the filled one just to show Daryl that I could, how useful that I could be.
"I can drive one truck, I know how, you two figure out who will drive the car back." I just jump in the cab of the sixteen-wheeler, as they debated I watched Rick get into the car as Daryl got into the other, I buckled and was the second to pull out, it was a task, but we had a little cargo train going. I turned into the gas station behind them this was very un-needed, but Rick mentioned it might be worth it. I watched as Daryl hooked a vending machine to the back of my truck as it was his way of messing with me.
I was in the driver seat when fireworks went off making me jump pulling my rifle, heart hammering in my chest as I un-buckled the door flew open and there stood a guy, he was very nice looking. His hair was long it looked soft to the touch, he smiled his green eyes filled with mirth.
"Hello ma'am, my name is Jesus. I see we have a problem."
I smiled. "Hello Jesus, I am Cameron now I take it you want this truck and I can't let that happen, but we can work something out. Either you can come back to our safe-zone or we can give you some, allies are better than enemies. He gave me a look as Rick and Daryl shoved him into the truck, I jumped down.
I took Jesus by the coat. "He is not an animal, he was talking to me, we need no enemies I am sure they will come at us, he was not hostile, Rick trust me, please."
"Talk." Rick gave him a chance.
I added. "We are good people, you seem the same." I pleaded he stared at me the entire time, even as Daryl growled taking my hand.
He finally spoke. "I belong to a community called Hilltop, I was out trying to find supplies same as you. We have peace and I would like to keep it that way." his tone was honest.
I gave Rick a look. "Rick, we need allies and maybe this Hilltop will be good. I think no, I know we need to give him that truck a sign of good faith, between new friends." Daryl just fumed walking away as I rolled my eyes. "Excuse Daryl, he is rough around the edges, but he will come around."
Jesus smiled. "Maybe he is just jealous." of what?
Rick gave me a hard look, "Cami, this is your call. I trust you."
I was thrilled, "Jesus, we're from Alexandria. Take that truck it has a vast amount of supplies, a gift from Alexandria to Hilltop as a show of friendship." He was looking around, not sure if I was being honest but Rick gave him the keys moving away from him.
He spoke. "Here, I am sure we will both benefit from our new friendship." he gave me a small map, that he started marking. "Hilltop." I smiled.
I nod, "I will send two scouts with a map to Alexandria, drive safe." I smiled getting into the truck as Rick calmed Daryl down they both got into the car as I pulled out seeing Jesus checking his haul, he was smiling as he waved us good bye. As I drove the sound of the damn vending machine was driving me insane, but soon I was pulling into our home. It would be getting dark soon, Oliva, Maggie, Eric, and a few others unloaded the truck. Oliva was checking everything in, I moved some away into a basket Enid was holding, same with Carl.
Michonne hugged me, as Maggie smiled, "Bravo, you did very well with that man." I was happy they at least thought so. Girls are happy with the trunk of the car, it held so much food, and things, I took some cheery blossom lotion, shampoo and conditioner, a few boxes of tampons, the baskets filled and safe in the hide outs, I set my girl things away.
The house was silent while I just cooked some chicken and a salad, I made a nice and simple ranch dressing with the packets we found. I sit eating alone when he finally strolls in, he just takes his food to his room not speaking a word to me. I knew he was giving Denise her orange pops for Tara, when she arrived back. I sit alone, this was not what I wanted, I wanted him to see me being able to handle myself and be proud that I could do so. He has been a little hurt by Carol maybe that has something to do with it, she vanished in the night soon after the attack, Morgan and Rick tried to find her but nothing.
With nothing left to do after cleaning any mess I go for a walk in the darkness, lights glitter all around me, my feet just carrying me around, the tower was guarded, the storage area locked down. I lay in the grass just looking up at the stars, so bright without the lights of the cities to drown them out. I was in love with him he was a hard man to love but I did, it had been two months since we started dating but the feelings came before I started to accept them. We rode his Harley to find my family, he had to of cared to even do it.
I stay outside enjoying it all when I felt another next to me. "Give him time, Cameron. He and I were loners until we met Rick, I adjusted well and so had he, but love was never something he felt for a girl. I am sure he loves us like family, but you are another subject." Michonne smiled from next to me, her eyes also staring at the sky.
I say. "I love him and would do anything not to lose him."
"We all do what we can to ensure the ones we love live, I love Rick, Carl, Judith, and you. I lost my son, my Andra the first few weeks of the outbreak, my little peanut was gone, and I vowed to myself Carl and Judith would not have the same fate." I felt my lips moving as tears threatened to spill over.
I did let them it was not weak, I say. "My ma was bitten while trying to protect me, it was days into the outbreak we never thought it reach us at the farm. But it did, old man Hank came stumbling onto the farm looking beyond ill we had heard what was happening, but than more came. My ma was in the house and the boys started to cut down massive trees to use as a gate to protect the farm, so I fired nailing him the head just like the army said. That caught her attention she rushed from the house her own gun in hand, we tried, god help us we did but there was so many. She shoved me down into the ceiler and kept firing. She had been bitten, I can still remember her words to pa." I take another breath as fresh tears cascade down my face.
"She said 'take care of her boys, she is your responsibility now. I love you all so much, so happy you each blessed me with being your ma. I have loved enough for many lifetimes your pa, and you kids. Pa, don't let me turn into a soulless killer, take me out to our spot and do it, I can die happy there. Cameron hunnie, I would die hundreds of times to just keep you safe, you don't ever think this is your fault. You were my blessing for our lord, a little girl so beautiful and smart, I am going home now.' her voice grew weak even as pa carried her away, he killed her before she turned. He was a hard man but after she passed his goal was for me to be safe and that killed him too, he was bitten five days later by his own best friend. All my brothers were in the army, they gave me to their best friend when he promised to take me here."
She was holding me. "We all will lose someone important, so much has happened, so much that we shouldn't have lived through. And despite it or maybe because of it, we did. We're still here. The two of us. We're still standing, and we're gonna keep standing." Michonne was right, it hurt but it was right.
She and I started to walk again, before she gave me a hug. "Get some sleep, he has been following us the entire time. He was sitting on the slide when you were talking about your ma." oh, god he heard me sobbing, snot and all.
My feet moved to our house even as he strode up next to me, his hand slipped into mine. "I am sorry, Cami."
I sigh, "It's okay but we are a team in this."
