Two weeks later:

Things at home where not going good. Dixie had continued staying home with Carl. Lori and Rick were fighting and arguing all the time. Rick had gotten a restraining order against Shane for Dixie and Carl. Dixie was still seeing Negan. She hadn't told anyone about her relationship with him. She just kept quiet a lot in general. She didn't feel like talking.

Lori was screaming something and stomped downstairs and left the house slamming the door. Rick sighed coming downstairs, and sat on the sofa. He was heartbroken, she was refusing to break up with Shane - or agree to a divorce, that he filed. She was being spiteful at that time - towards everyone - but mostly at Dixie..

Dixie blinked her tears away, she knew this was all her fault. She got up, went over and hugged her dad. "I….I'll be back, daddy." She said softly. She felt like the house was closing in on her, and everything else. She went outside, and drove off. She though the best solution for everyone was to go away. She called him told him she was leaving town for a while, and turned her phone off, kept it close along with her wallet and just drove. She pulled over after being gone for almost 9 hours. It was midnight, and she checked into a motel, and crashed for the night. The next morning, she turned her phone on, and cried listening to the voicemail from her dad begging her to come home.

Dixie had gotten messages from - Maggie, Glenn, Carol, Hershel, Daryl, Merle, Negan, Carl and Rick. She refused to answer or open any of them. She turned her phone back off and sighed.

A week went by, Dixie still hadn't returned home. She called Rick off a payphone, and her uncle Hershel, then Maggie. "I…. I can't…. I'm nothing but a burden…. And trouble." She said into the voicemail. "I'm the reason….Dads life is falling apart… Mom was right… I'm just, worthless." She cried, and bit her lip. "I...I love you… I'll call again." She promised and hung up. She got back in her jeep and drove more.

Negan didn't know she had run away, he though she just left for some kind of vacation. He met up with her about 5 days later, at a little diner. They slept together, fought, slept together again and mainly argued all weekend. He admitted he was married and his wife was really sick and in the hospital. She sat on the bed, getting dressed. "I really hope things turn out good for you." She said softly.

Negan sighed sitting down. "I…I'll see you around.." He patted her shoulder, kissed her softly, and left the motel. Dixie stayed their one more night, and cried, felt like such a hypocrite, and She took off in her jeep the next morning.

She broke down in DC a few days later, and started walking around, basically keeping the necessities on her. She thought she deserved this, and didn't want anyone's pity. She pawned her phone for cash along with some jewelry.

Now - 3 Days Later after her car broke down:

Dixie sighed. "That's how I got here.." She shook her head taking a drink.

"Dixie… That's the dumbest reason." King sighed. "You have a father at home worried sick about you, along with a little brother.. Your mother - I won't comment on because it sounds like she doesn't deserve that title.. I know what that is like." He looked at her. "Call your dad."

Dixie wiped her eyes, and looked at her cup that was empty. "What….if he doesn't want me?"

King reached over and took her hand. "He does. He's your dad… You've been gone long enough, and you need to go home and be with him. He needs you. You need to forgive yourself, and heal. Ask your dad for forgiveness, and heal together.. You both need to move on and just be there for each other.."

Dixie bit her lip. "I…." She nodded. "Okay… I'll call him." She smiled, walked over to the kitchen phone and dialed her home number.

Carl answered. "Dixie?" He whispered, knowing Mom was home.

"Yes." She smiled. "Is daddy around?" She asked softly.

"No.. He got hurt. He's in the hospital…" Carl frowned. "He got shot."

Dixie sat on the counter, tears welding up in her eyes. "What hospital?"

"Atlanta." Carl whispered. "Please come home. I'm scared...Mom has taken Shane back.."

"I'm coming home. I love you Carl." Dixie promised.

"You have the wrong number!" Carl hollered, and hung up. Lori started yelling at him and dragged him to the hospital to see Rick.

Dixie started freaking out. "He….He's been shot." she gripped onto the counter. "He's in Atlanta hospital.." She started crying more.

"That's a 10 hour car drive.." King sighed. He grabbed his laptop. "Got any cash or credit card?"

"I...I don't… I have maybe 50 dollars left. " She said wiping her face.

"I just booked you a flight for tomorrow It leaves at noon.." He smiled finishing up and paid for it. "Let's get you home."

"T...Thank you." Dixie cried and hugged him tightly. "You're a wonderful person King.." She said softly.

King smiled, "My full name is Ezekiel King Bradley." He hugged her back.

"T...Thank you so much..." She said wiping her eyes.

King nodded and hugged her again rubbing her back.

The world was slowly going to hell, but they didn't really pay attention. Dixie didn't know Rick was in a coma and had been for almost 5 days..

Ezekiel kept Dixie company, showing her around DC and taking her to a play in town. He also showed her behind the scenes at the zoo he worked at. "Her name is Shiva. She's a beauty.. I saved her."

"How?" Dixie smiled watching the tiger.

"She fell in the concrete moat and busted her leg open. She almost bled to death, I took the chance, went in there and saved her since the vets were gone." He smiled looking at the beautiful bengal tiger.

Dixie smiled, "What a good thing you did." she loved his company. She got into the car with him as he drove through the crappy traffic to take her to the airport. He pulled up and smiled. "Well.. It's been a wonderful few days.."

Dixie nodded, looking down. "Thank you for everything.. I really owe you." She smiled. "How can i repay you?

"Just keep moving forward - seek forgiveness, and forgive others. It breaks there bond they have over you.. It's freeing." He smiled, looking at her. "Promise me you'll try - You are a Strong, Beautiful Queen. Just remember that and people will love you and follow you." He said patted her shoulder.

"Thank you, my King." Dixie smiled softly, she leaned in and kissed him softly. "Goodbye."

"Don't you mean good journey?" He smiled softly. " It's an old saying, Live the journey, Your destination is a doorway to another journey." He watched her and kissed her on the cheek. "Good Journey, Queen Dixie."

Dixie smiled more, and nodded. "Good Journey, Ezekiel. God Bless You." She hugged him and got out.

Ezekiel smiled. "May God Bless You too." He watched her walk in, and go inside. He waited and watched in the parking lot for a while making sure her plane took off.

Then he heard screaming from the parking lot.

Note: Running away isn't the answer. Talk about what is going on.

Last Chapter for tonight! More tomorrow.