Chapter 27-Working things out

Shane's P.O.V

Shane watched Carl and Negan talk. He moved his hands into a fist when he saw Carl hand, Judith, to Negan. Shane frowns as he watches Carl go to the car and leave Judith with Negan. He was about to walk over there when Carl showed back up and grabbed his daughter. Shane walked up to Carl after he talked to Negan. "Carl," Shane says as he walks up to the teenager who looks at him.

"Hey, Shane," Carl greets the man.

"Carl, I don't care if you sneak away from Hilltop to come and see Negan. That is your choice, and I am okay with what Daryl did, and I understand why he did it. But I do NOT want my...I don't want Judith anywhere near that nutjob," Shane tells Carl with a frown on his face. Carl stays silent for a few moments.

"Then you shouldn't be allowed near her either," Carl says flatly. Shane doesn't say anything as he stares at the boy with wide eyes. "You killed Otis. You killed Randall, and you let my Dad to a field so you could kill him. You wasted your chance when you did that, but you got a second chance, didn't you? You're getting married, you got your own family, and you have you got to meet your daughter. You came back from your dark place, and so can Negan," Carl argues. "If you can't see that, then maybe you haven't changed as much as I thought," With those words, the teenager walks away. Shane walks away, rubbing his head with a frown on his face after about a minute.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl walks up to the gate as Carol drives her car inside the campgrounds. Carol climbs out of the car and gives Daryl a quick hug. She lets him go and looks at Beth's car. "Who's car is that?" Carol asks Daryl as she looks at the car.

"Beth, Carl, and Enid are here," Daryl replies, making Carol nod. He looks at Gabriel. "You heading back to Alexandria?"

"I am," Gabriel says. Gabriel walks away from them to talk to some of the others.

"I didn't expect Maggie to let them come here with Negan here," Carol says. Daryl smiles.

"She doesn't know they are here. She's at Oceanside with Al," Daryl explains to Carol with a smile.

"That's going to go over great," Carol says with a bit of sarcasm in her voice.

"Yeah," Daryl says as he starts to walk with Carol, who looks around. "How's Ezekiel doing?"

"Good, he has some things to attend to at the Kingdom, or he would have come," Carol tells him. Carol doesn't say anything for about a minute. "Have you talked to Maggie at all?" Daryl shakes his head with a frown.

"No, I've been giving her some space. I hate it. I know I did the right thing and that this was the only way to save Troy, but I hate being at odds with Maggie," Daryl explains to Carol. Carol looks at Daryl. She lays her hand on his shoulder.

"She'll come around," Carol reassures Daryl. "We're family regardless of where we are. We are all family."

"Yeah, we are," Daryl agrees.

"Okay, tell me something good. What's been going on with you?" Carol asks him.

"Alicia's pregnant," Daryl says.

"With your baby?" Carol asks, a little hesitant. Daryl nods...causing Carol to beam. "That's great. You'll make a great father."

"I hope so," Daryl says.

"You will," Carol says as she continues to walk. Daryl shakes his head and follows her, still having doubts.

Troy's P.O.V

Troy looked out the window as they drove towards the Sanctuary. They were only a few miles away now. "Why did you stay at the campgrounds?" Troy asks Laura, who glances at him. "I know you wanted to make sure nobody attacked Negan but was that it?" Troy asks.

"I wanted to make sure you were going to be okay," Laura replies. Troy turns his head and looks at her. "Negan's way of life was okay, but I believe in this new one Rick wants to build, and I wanted to make sure that you and Negan got to be a part of it," Laura explains. Troy nods.

"I'm glad you stayed," Troy says with a small smile. "You're the only savior I liked."

"You aren't so bad yourself," Laura says with the same smile as they get to the Sanctuary. The gate is pulled open, and the two of them drive-in. Laura stops the truck, and they both step out. They look at Arat as she walks up to them.

"Are you retaking charge of the Sanctuary?" Arat asks Troy, who shakes his head.

"No, I don't know who Rick will put in charge," Troy replies. "I'm not with this place."

"No one blames you for that," Arat says. "Then what are you two doing here?"

"Rick is okay with me staying at the campgrounds as long as I check in with the saviors and make sure everything is okay?" Laura explains to Arat. "So why don't you start by telling me what has been happening here." Arat stares at Laura and scoffs.

"If you ever think those people are going to trust you. You are just as stupid as Dwight," Arat growled at Laura. "Find someone else bitch," With those words, Arat walked away.

"It could have gone worse," Troy comments.

"How?" Laura asks.

"She could have stabbed you," Troy replies. Laura shakes her head as she walks towards the doors. Troy follows her with a smile.

Al's P.O.V

Al walks around Oceanside, looking around the community. "Where's Maggie?" Cyndie questions as she walks up to her.

"She is unpacking still," Al tells her.

"You okay?" Cyndie asks her.

"Yeah," Al says before she sighs. "No, I'm worried that this thing with Negan is going to get worse, and I'll have to choose between Maggie and Daryl."

"Al, I know that you are trying to help Maggie, but you can't do as much as you want, and you can't understand it," Cyndie says. "You didn't watch Negan crack your husband's skull open with a baseball and laugh about it. You would be the same way if that was you," Cyndie coldly says to Al. Cyndie walks past Al brushing her shoulder against the woman's as she walks away. Al continues to walk through Oceanside.

The Trailer

An hour after talking to Cyndie, Al walks into the trailer and sees Maggie lying down on the bed. "Like I said. You have every right to be mad about Negan but is all of this anger worth it? It is worth fighting with Daryl or anybody else over. Would Glenn or Abraham want you fighting with your friends over that a***? I didn't know Glenn, but I did know Abraham and Daryl has told me stories about both of them, and I don't think either of them wanted this"

Al walks towards Maggie and sits down on the bed. "We don't know how much time we have left in this world and I, for one, want to enjoy that time, and I want to spend as much of it with you as possible, but I want to spend it with the woman I met when I came here. Not this one so filled with anger and revenge she doesn't see that she could lose the people she loves. The only way Negan does any more damage to you is if you let him," Al says to Maggie. Maggie gives Al a small smile and nods. Maggie leans forward and kisses Al. "Now we can sit in here all day or go walk around." Maggie grabs Al's arm and pulls her closer to her.

"I'm okay with staying in here," Maggie says. Al nods as she kisses her girlfriend. Maggie pulls Al onto her lap as their kiss gets more passionate.

John's P.O.V

John walks into the infirmary with two plates of food. June turns around and looks at him. "Are you bring me dinner?" June asks John as she stops what she is doing.

"I am," John replies as he hands her his plate and sits down. June sits down beside John with a smile. "Anything new happens in here?" John asks her.

"Nope," June says.

"Really, 'cause I have seen you with a grin on your face since we came back with our run yesterday," John explains.

"Okay, fine. Something did happen, but it's not my place to say what. Ask Daryl," June says to John, who nods. "I have been thinking about maybe asking Tobias if he wants to learn how to be a doctor and help me in here."

"Really?" John asks. "Why Tobias?" He questions.

"He's not very old, and he seems like the person who would benefit the most from it. He helps with walls, and that is about it. At least this way, he learns something that will be useful to him, and we can have another doctor," June explains to John, who nods.

"It's a good idea," John agrees. June nods as they continue to eat.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl watches as Carol and Gabriel leave to head to Alexandria. He looks at Beth, Carl, and Enid as they come over. "We should be getting back as well," Beth says to Daryl, who nods.

"We'll try to come back sooner. You should try to talk to Maggie," Carl says.

"I will be. I'm going to Hilltop tomorrow," Daryl informs the teenager, who nods. Daryl looks at Enid. "Keep these two out of trouble," He says.

"If Maggie can't do it, what makes you think I can?" Enid asks with a teasing smile. Daryl chuckles.

"We'll see you later," Beth says as she hugs him. Daryl hugs her back.

"Stay safe," He says as they get into their car and leave. Daryl starts to walk back towards his cabin.

"Hey," John says as he walks up to him. Daryl looks at him. "Is it okay if I come with you to Hilltop tomorrow?" John asks Daryl, who nods.

"Yeah, we'll leave around ten," He tells John, who nods.

"Goodnight," John says as he walks away. Daryl walks towards his cabin and walks inside. He looks at Alicia, who is sitting on the couch.

"Where's Charlie?" Daryl asks.

"Asleep. It's dark already. They left pretty late," Alicia says. "I've been waiting. I told you we'd talk," Daryl walks over to Alicia and sits down. "I had someone before the stadium and the dam. His name was Jake. He was Troy's brother. I lost him when the ranch fell, and it hurt like hell. It hurt even more when I thought I had lost my Mom, and I never wanted to feel that pain again. When we slept together at the prison, I didn't even want to risk it. That's why I said what I said," She explains.

"What's changed besides you being pregnant?" Daryl asks.

"I saw what Negan did to Maggie. How angry she got and how much she changed being around him. Negan has her stopped in time, and I don't want to be trapped. I want to live, and I get that chance now being here in Virginia and with this new camp and our family here. I don't want to live in the past anymore. I want to look forward to the future," Alicia tells him. She looks at Daryl. "I was so worried that if I decided to give us a chance, you'd die the next day but regardless of when I did decide to give us a chance, you could still die the next day. Hell, you die tomorrow. I could die tomorrow. So if you want, I would like to give us a chance," Alicia says. Daryl stares at Alicia. Daryl leans in and kisses the brunette, who smiles into the kiss. Daryl pulls back after a few moments.

"I got to get some sleep," He says. Alicia nods.

"That's a yes?" She asks Daryl, who nods.

"Yeah," Daryl replies with a smile. Daryl stands up and goes to his room, leaving Alicia on the couch with a massive grin on her face. She goes to bed with that grin on her face.

Thanks for reading. This chapter marks the real beginning of Daryl and Alicia dating, and the next chapter will start my story with Tobias. I have a few stories I am working up with characters like John, Morgan, Shane, Nick, Daniel, and some others, and if you have any stories for any of the characters, let me know. I might do them. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time