Red River Blue
Chapter 56
Ezekiel shifted closer to Michonne, trying his hardest not to smile as he gazed lovingly down at the little bundle in her arms. All the stress and commotion of the previous evening sent her into labor. And about the same time that their longtime friends were discovering the dismembered heads of their friends and family members, Michonne was gripping his hand as she pushed their son out into the world. Ezekiel had never been so happy in all his life. But he also felt guilty for having been given such a joyous gift while others were suffering so much tragedy.
"I'd like to thank everyone for coming," Ezekiel said, looking around him at what was left of the coalition leader's council. Georgie already packed up her people and left as she had a tendency to do at the first sign of trouble. Ian was present, sitting in a folding chair he brought in from the next room. Glenn made the meeting, though he looked haggard and disheveled. His young daughter was curled up in his lap, clinging to his shirt. Rachel was standing sentry near the window, her eyes red rimmed and puffy. With Cyndie gone, she now had the weight of her people's welfare on her young shoulders in addition to her grief. Morgan was leaning against the wall behind her. For the moment, he only seemed committed to helping Rachel get Cyndie's people past this crisis. Ezekiel was curious to see if he would end up taking on a more permanent leadership role in Oceanside or return to wandering the post-apocalyptic world like a nomad.
Ezekiel wasn't sure if anyone would turn up from Alexandria. Everyone was hit hard by the unexpected loss of so many people. But they were hit harder. Carol and Daryl lost their son. A horror that, looking down at his own newborn baby, Ezekiel didn't even want to begin to imagine. He was relieved when Rosita and River shuffled into the room, each of them carrying a baby. River had Rosita and Aiden's son balanced on her hip. And Rosita was cradling the baby she'd recently adopted, letting the little girl tug on a lock of her long dark hair as she fed her. They climbed onto the empty cot on the other side of the small infirmary recovery room and snuggled in close to each other.
"It's okay," River said, her misty eyes lingering on the baby in Michonne's arms. "It's okay for y'all ta be happy. He's beautiful."
"Yeah," Glenn agreed, offering him a soft sad smile. "Congratulations."
Ezekiel ducked his head, wiping the tears from his eyes. He took a few deep breaths to steady himself before he thanked them both for their compliments. It meant more to him than he could express in words.
"I know it's not something we usually do," Ian said, breaking the soft sounds of their grief with his quiet baritone, "...but would anyone object if I start the council meeting with a prayer?" He looked around for any objections to his offer. But like he guessed, people were eager for a comforting word after the horror and loss they'd just experienced.
Ian held his hands out. And people slowly adjusted their bodies, tightening the loose circle and grasping onto the person on either side of them. When they were ready, he bowed his head and closed his eyes and began.
"Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love."
River wasn't a huge fan of religion in general. Mostly because the people that practiced it usually came off like judgmental hypocrites. But as Ian delivered his hopeful words, she was reminded of Hershel. Beth and Maggie's father was the kindest and wisest man River ever had the pleasure to know. She wished he was here now. To help them through this crisis. When River looked up, her blue eyes locked with Glenn's. And she knew he was thinking the same thing.
"Thank you," Ezekiel said. "That was lovely." There were nods all around. And though people were still mourning the fresh losses they experienced, they did seem slightly less downtrodden than they did before Ian's prayer. Which gave Ezekiel an idea. "Would you be willing to repeat that prayer later, when we address the group?" Ian nodded, happy he was able to do something to help.
"Is it okay if we get to the tradin' part of the meetin' now?," River asked. "I need ta get back to my family." Ezekiel nodded, gesturing to indicate that she had the floor. It seemed morbid to hold trade negotiations while bodies were still being buried outside. But the honest truth was that they just needed to get it done and over with. Everyone wanted to go home to their own communities. And without the trades they were about to work out between them, no one would make it through the coming winter.
River pulled a piece of folded paper from her pocket. Pinning it to her thigh, she used her hand to smooth it out as best she could before she held it out for Ezekiel to take.
"I got no energy ta barter," River admitted. "That's what we've got fer tradin'. Antibiotics. Pain killers. And bullets. The amounts we've got to spare are listed on the paper there. I'm fine if y'all just split it between ya. But since Hilltop has way more people than anyone else, I want them ta get a bigger share of the medicine."
Glenn gave her a grateful nod. And the room was quiet again as they milled over River's generous offer. Everyone raised livestock and grew crops. But Alexandria was the only community that had the means to provide the items River was offering. And they usually bartered them at a high cost. Her generosity set the tone. And the rest of the trade talk went smoothly. Rachel agreed that Oceanside would provide everyone with fresh seafood throughout the summer and enough salt to last the winter. Glenn had livestock, some that was ready to go now and more that would be ready for slaughter in the fall. He also had wheat and corn. Ezekiel had the Kingdom's endless gardens and their herds of sheep and goats. And Riverbend was raising flocks of chickens and ducks. They also had the best arrowmaker out of all the communities.
With everything being divided equally between them, some communities made out a little better than they would have otherwise. Some a little worse. But they would all make it through another cold season together. And after such a brutal attack, it felt comforting to know that they all had each other's best interests at heart.
"Now can we talk about what we're going to do about the sickos that just killed Cyndie?," Rachel asked, crossing her arms under her breasts.
The room filled with awkward tension as the rest of the council exchanged looks. Rachel was old enough to remember the war against the Saviors. But she was young enough at the time that she wasn't present for much of the actual fighting. She didn't see her friends and family members die ugly in front of her. If she had, she might not be so eager to start another war with an enemy that had already proved she was just as smart as Negan and twice as brutal.
"Until we figure out how to neutralize the walker hoard, we're just going to have to respect their borders," Glenn said, shifting his daughter onto the other side of his lap. He had no doubt that Alpha would eventually be hunted down and killed. But at the moment, none of their hunters were in the proper state of mind to take on such a task.
"Borders my ass," Rachel cursed. She lifted her hand, pointing her finger at River and Rosita. "They've got one of those freaks staying at their fucking camp!"
"This wasn't Lydia's fault," River said, her tone surprisingly calm and even despite Rachel's suddenly aggressive behavior. "She's just as upset as everyone else." Lydia wouldn't even come out of her tent. Mika went in and slept with her because she was worried Lydia might slit her wrists in the night. The horrible guilt the girl must be feeling on top of the already tragic loss had to be crushing. River felt nothing but sympathy for her.
"Wasn't her fault?," Rachel repeated. "HER MOTHER KILLED SAM!" Rachel turned, balling up her fist and punching the wall until her knuckles were bleeding and Morgan yanked her against his chest to keep her from breaking her hand. "We would be getting engaged right now if that bitch just stayed where she belonged! Now he's dead outside. She cut his fucking head off!"
Rachel pushed Morgan back and away from her before she stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her. The loud slap woke the baby in Michonne's arms and he let out a loud squealing wail. She adjusted the baby, rubbing his back and cooing to soothe him. From the practiced way she held the boy, it was obvious even to those that didn't already know that this wasn't her first time mothering a newborn.
Glenn's daughter Annie finally removed her face from his chest. She glanced curiously towards the baby's cries, as though she'd only just realized there was a newborn baby in the room. Glenn released the girl from his grasp, letting her slide silently to the floor on her bare feet. She crossed the room, squeezing between Ezekiel and Michonne so she could get a peek at the tiny baby in her arms. Ezekiel leaned down, lifting the girl up. Michonne scooted over slightly, making room on the bed for Annie to sit. She cuddled into Michonne's side, gently stroking her hand over the baby's tiny puff of curly hair.
"Would you like to hold him?," Michonne asked. Annie's eyes grew wide and she nodded her head eagerly. Ezekiel hovered nervously close as Michonne handed the tiny baby over to Glenn's daughter, helping her position her arms to support his head.
"I should send Axel up here fer a visit before we go," River said. "Ya know how much he loves babies." Michonne gave River a pointed glance. But she didn't object. As much of a menace as Merle's son was, he was surprisingly gentle with babies and small animals.
"Axel does love babies," Annie confirmed. "That's why when I have a baby, he's gonna be the father."
One look at Glenn's face had River snorting out a laugh before she could stop herself. It felt wrong to laugh, given everything that was going on, but also sort of amazing at the same time.
"How many kids are ya planning ta have, sweetie?," River asked, biting down on her lip to keep from bursting into more laughter. Annie answered her without any hesitation, giving the impression that she'd thought her marital plans out in her mind well before now.
"At least ten," she announced.
"Gonna take a lot of kissin' ta make that many babies," River warned the girl.
"I know," Annie agreed, her eyes lighting up at the mention of kissing. Glenn buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent laughter. Once he regained control over himself he retrieved his daughter from Michonne's bed and lifted her into his arms.
"You want everyone down by the stage in an hour?," Glenn confirmed. Ezekiel nodded, though he was still working out what he wanted to say when he addressed the crowd. It was going to be hard to inspire hope when so many people were feeling hopeless. But seeing how happy Annie's mention of her crush made everyone had given him an idea. He leaned in, kissing Michonne on her forehead.
"I'll be back in a few," he promised. "I've got to talk to Henry."
**I didn't write Ian's prayer. I found it online. It was credited to Vienna Cobb Anderson.**