Chapter 135-Taking control

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl put his bag on the back of his bike and looked at Alicia as she walked up to him. "Strand, Cole, Shane, and Tobias went to get our stuff from the Kingdom. They'll meet us there." Alicia tells her husband, who nods silently, causing Alicia to hold his hand. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know who to trust," Daryl admitted softly. "Everybody is so filled with anger, I have to keep our people safe, but I don't know if I can trust the other men doing it to have the same goal in mind."

"You started this. If you need to, take back leadership. You gave over leadership to them for your family after the kids were born. Maybe you need to take it from them so they can grieve for their families. Put someone else in charge with you for a little while," Alicia tells him. "Let Shane and John grieve. I think that's what Shane wants. John wants blood. Maybe having the power to take it taken away from him will help him, maybe calm things down."

"Tell the others we're having a meeting when we get home." Daryl tells her after a minute of thinking, his voice firm.

"I will," She says with a smile as she walks away.

Arya's P.O.V

Arya puts her bag in the back of Negan's wagon and looks at her Dad as he came up. "Are you sure I should be doing this?" She asked worriedly.

"He is." Enid says. "We could use a break from you."

"Shut up." Arya says softly as she hugs her. "I love you, Mom." Enid smiles as tears swell up in her eyes, and she kisses Arya's head.

"I love you, too, sweetie." Enid says warmly.

Arya lets her go and looks at Carl, who smiles at her as he hugs her. "I'm proud of you, more than you'll ever know." Carl whispers to her. "I love you."

"I love you, Dad," Arya says as she lets him go, trying to wipe her eyes, but she froze as her father took his hat off his head.

"Dad gave this to me after Otis shot me. It always made me feel strong, like he was right beside me, showing me the way." Carl says as he sets it on her head. "I hope it does the same for you."

Arya smiles as she hugs him again, the hat fitting on her head then looked at him hopefully. "Can I have the gun, too?"

"No." Carl answered dryly. "When you're older."

Pouting, Arya just said "Fuck, had to try."

"Let's hit the road, girls," Negan says as he walks towards the wagon with his bag, stopping as he saw the hat on Arya's head. After a moment of staring, Negan laughed, tapping the hat down to cover her face "Aw don't you look precious?"

"I'm going to be sleeping in the camp as you. Just remember that." Arya warned as she climbs in the wagon.

Negan just chuckled and turned, surprised as Enid caught him in a hug. "Good luck with the little one."

"Which one?" Snorting, he patted her back "One in Kate or the midget?"

"Fuck off!" Arya called out from the wagon.

"Be safe." Carl added, patting Negan's shoulder firmly.

"I'll try." Negan says before he hugs Carl. "I'll keep her safe, kid."

"I know you will." Carl nodded then looked him in the eyes. "You'll be okay."

"I will," Negan says as he pats his shoulder back and climbs on the wagon "Come on Katie, burning daylight!"

Kate grumbled as she nodded at the pair and climbed in "Coming dammit, you try moving when you're twice your average weight. Come on Lydia."

Lydia hurried in, carrying her and Kate's bags and jumped inside, the wagon starting to move.

Negan's P.O.V

Negan looked at Arya as she watched the trees her hand on her bow. "Don't worry, kid. We're safe."

"How can you be so sure?" Arya asks warily, clearly wondering if the Whisperers were just watching them.

"Because we're surrounded by our group. And if they are watching, their asses are welcome to try." Negan says as he looks at the wagon in front of him and Daryl's bike, and the ones behind them.

"Do you know why Uncle Daryl called a meeting when we get there?" Arya asked, leaning over to see the front and where Daryl was still riding up ahead.

"No." Negan shook his head. "He has a reason. Daryl usually doesn't do anything without one."

Kate looked over to Lydia, asking softly, seeing her hunched in the back of the wagon "You ok sweetie?"

After a moment, Lydia looked over "How long have you known him?"

Kate shrugged "Bout four years now."

"Almost ten years myself," Negan answers. "You're safe with him, Lydia."

"He held a knife to my throat." Lydia says dryly, causing Arya to rub her back in comfort.

"He shot at me." Negan says with a smirk.

Chuckling, Kate looked at him "Babe, everyone's shot at you at one point or at least thought about it."

"Fair point! But what I'm saying is that now I'm one of his people. He's a hard ass, but once you gain his trust, he treats you like family. Kind of like that one beside you. Maybe the hat will make her as nice as her Dad is,"

"No, but maybe it will give me good aim." Arya says with a smirk.

Negan chuckles "That' impossible I've seen how he shoots."

"Oh fuck you!"

Kate quipped "That's my job."

"Ew! Aunt Kate!"

None of them noticed the small smile Lydia gave at this sight.

Rick's P.O.V

Rick and Carl sat in Rick's house hours after the mass leaving, looking at the inventory of their food and charts. "We should be good for the winter. If we need some more, Beth or Daryl could give it, they both had good crop seasons, and I know they have a strong reserve." Carl tells his Dad, who nods.

Jotting it down, Rick asked his son "Kingdom's repairs still holding?"

Carl grimaced "Last we checked, but they never held up to a big storm. I talked to Reilly and he said he'll send a few welders out there if the boiler acts up."

"I'm worried about the solar panels." Rick admitted, pointing at their location on the map. "If they run out of juice or get broken, we won't be able to keep warm."

"We can find some wood ovens. We should be able to find them here," Carl says as he marks a town on his map. "Aaron said that...that Jesus saw some while scavenging once, just couldn't bring them back."

"Alright, we'll do it tomorrow," Rick says putting a hand on his son's arm in comfort, hearing the stutter over Jesus's name, as the door flies open, and they look up to see Michonne storming inside.

"We have a problem," Michonne says. Rick and Carl stand up and follow her outside, seeing the fury on her face. They followed her to the church, where a message was written on the door, and Gabriel was staring at it

SILENCE THE WHISPERS

Those words were on one side of the door, and the letters on the right side made Rick clench his fist.

THEY FAILED US

"Gather everybody now." Carl growls. his gaze burning at the messages.

"Carl-" Rick tried to say to him calmly.

"Let me deal with this."

"We'll deal with it. Together." Rick tells his son, who nods as he walked off, his fists clenched.

Daryl's P.O.V

As soon as they had returned, Daryl had called for them to come to the Main Cabin, looking at everyone. Some looked expecting, others still angry looking, and others just tired and exhausted over the events of the last week.

"I know we all lost something to Alpha, some of us more than others," He says as he looks at several of the members, many looking away. "I started the Campground. At first, I led it by myself until my kids were born, and then Shane, John, and Morgan helped me. We have led together for almost a decade," Daryl says as he looks at the three men. "I've trusted them with my life, with the lives of my family. I can't do that now," Daryl says as he stares at John and Shane, the pair looking at him with wide eyes. "I know what you both lost. That's why it is time for you to step down. I did it once for a family. Now you must grieve the ones you've lost."

"Is that an order?" John asks standing up as if to challenge Daryl, June tugging at his arm begging him silently to calm down.

"Does it have to be?" Daryl asks back, his voice daring John to answer.

"He's right." Shane says after a moment as he sits down with a heavy look on his face "Alright."

Daryl looks at John, who glares at him and walks out of the cabin. After a moment of silence, Strand cleared his throat. "So you and Morgan will be in charge now?"

"No, we're taking a page from Alexandria, a council. Eight of us. If a decision is tied, One of us will be a deciding vote." Daryl tells them.

"So, who are the other Six?" Deacon asks. Daryl looks at Alden, who drew back, eyebrows rose

"You have a good head on your shoulders. You always have."

"I'm in." Alden says with a nod. He looks at Alicia who grinned at her husband

"Of course."

"Daniel?" Daryl asks the man as he looks at him, the man nodding once with a silent look He looks at Strand, who smiles.

"It would be an honor." Strand said with a grin.

He then looks at Rosita, who wrapped an arm around Morgan quipping. "I thought you'd never ask."

Then Daryl looked at his last candidate and this drew some stares as Negan just sat, looking behind him, then back at Daryl in disbelief.

"Are you fucking with me?"

"I understand if you want to say no because of Laura, but you have so much to fight for. I trust your judgment." Daryl tells him.

Staring for a moment, Negan tightened his jaw saying dryly "In case you may remember, I wasn't the best leader."

"Yeah, the asshole you were was a piece of shit leader, Judith could do better, but the man in front of me, I think he'll be a great leader." Daryl tells him.

Negan stares at Daryl for a moment before he nods. "I'm in, boss."

"This is how the Camp will be run from now on. Does anybody have a problem with that?" Daryl asks. Nobody says anything. "Alright, unpack, get some rest, we go work to do. Arya, Negan will show you to your cabin."

Carl's P.O.V

Carl and Rick stood in front of the church as the People of Alexandria were gathered in front, Rick standing in front of the large crowd, many rumbling and talking amongst themselves. "I don't care who wrote this. Because I know most of you are thinking it. You think Daryl and I failed you-"

"They didn't!" Carl says, cutting his Dad off and making Rick look at his son wide eyed, hearing his tone.

"Carl let me-" Rick tried to say to him in worry.

"What would any of you have done differently? We didn't know what Alpha had planned. Without my Dad and Daryl, it wouldn't have mattered. We owe everything to them. My Dad got us to Alexandria, Daryl, and my Dad found Jesus, who brought us all together. My Dad led the war against the Saviors. He fucking blew himself up at to save us, almost died for it, and after, Daryl took control. He fought against Richmond and almost lost his wife. He led us against the rippers. He built the New World. He led the recuse for Morgan and Rosita, he fought Beta, and they led the mission to try and save our friends from Alpha. They couldn't. None of us could have saved them. This shit is over! If I see anything like this again, I'll find who did it and break your jaw, knock your teeth out, and then throw you in a fucking cell. Does everybody understand?!" The people nod, and some of them even look scared. "Go home!"

After the people turned and began to leave the father and son stood on the Church steps staring out. Then, Rick turned to his son as they were alone to comment "Little harsh don't you think?"

Carl deflated at his father's tone "I'm sorry Dad I...just hate that they don't respect you. It reminded me of when after the war with the Saviors people kept giving you shit even when you just tried to help people."

"I know son, but I'm an adult I can handle it." Rick waved this off "I just think the people need to let off steam. I promise Alpha will be held to account, but the people need reassurance not fear."

Carl turned to his father...not just his father his hero "I know. I just wanted to protect you."

"Carl I'm your father. No matter how old or capable you get, it's always supposed to be My job to protect You." Rick steadily said, laying a hand on his shoulder "Alright you talk to Aaron where the stove you saw was. I need to talk with Eugene about something."

At this, Carl sighed and nodded, heading to find Aaron.

Rick's P.O.V

That night Rick sat on the couch looking at the pictures and the wall, lost in thought. "They're asleep." He looks at Michonne as she sits down beside him.

"Good." Rick says with a smile. "Carl was pretty impressive today. If somewhat frightening."

"He takes after his father." Michonne tells him, laying her head on his shoulder. "Everything he said was true, you know that, right?"

"Yeah, I know."

Michonne looked up at him "You still look concerned."

"I know he saw Tammy as a grandmother figure, Paul was one of his heroes, and he knew the rest." Rick layed his hand over his face rubbing it "I'm just worried today was the start of the anger coming out."

"Rick, we'll be there to catch him when he falls. And give it a week or so...when his son is born, he'll remember what to fight for."

With a smile, he turned and kissed her "Nice to see you're still the smart one."

"One of us has to be. Now, it's been a long day. I'm getting some sleep," Michonne says as she stands up. "You coming?"

"I'll be up in a second," Rick tells her. Michonne nods as she rubbed his shoulder, then as she went upstairs, and Rick stands up and looks at the picture of Lori that Anna had drawn. "You'd be proud of our son." Rick says before he walks towards the stairs.

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie watched Hershel sleep and looked at Al as she wrapped her arms around her stomach, her chin on Maggie's shoulder. "You okay?" Al asks her softly.

"No." Maggie answers, eyes closed. "I can't stop seeing him on that spike. I can't stop thinking about what I would have done if it was you or Beth up there."

"It wasn't," Al says, kissing Maggie's neck in assurance. "We're right here. I'm sorry you had to see that."

"I'm going to tell him soon."

"Tell him what?" Al asks, drawing back, then her eyes went to Hershel and widened "No no, what-"

"Everything about Glenn, what happened to him. I'm going to tell him about Negan."

Thanks for reading. The next chapter will have a small time skip to show Kate giving birth, and then probably one with Enid, and then a couple more in winter, and finally, we'll get back to war. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.