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Forever Rising Phoenix	By : ImagineLayla131 Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 7147 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT, AMC, ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE. NO MONEY/PROFIT IS BEING MADE OFF OF THIS FANFICTION!

Chapter List
- 39
- 40
- 41
Hello world and my wonderful readers! Part Three has arrived, the final part of this saga-turned-trilogy! I'm loving all the responses to Billy and Christine, keep them coming! I really felt Delilah's strength and her pain in this chapter! :( I was going to post tomorrow since it's Chace Crawford's birthday and he's the basis for Billy, but I was so excited I couldn't wait. Happy early birthday, Chace Crawford! Keep rocking the sexy! ;) Ironically, the same age difference between Billy and Delilah is the same age difference between him and me! Haha.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE OR I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT AND AMC (TELEVISION SERIES), ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE (COMIC BOOK SERIES), AND THE REMBRANDTS, RESPECTIVELY. I ONLY OWN MY OWN ORIGINAL IDEAS AND CHARACTERS.
Chapter Forty: Where The Truth Lies, Part Three
She stepped back a little, looking at both Billy and Christine, knowing what she was about to admit would knock them flat on their asses, but it all came with realizing the growth she had obtained. "After hearing everything you both have revealed to me, all I have to say is this: Thank you."
Billy and Christine, along with everybody else, had perplexed looks on their faces as soon as the words escaped her mouth.
"What?" Christine asked.
"What could you possibly have to thank us for?" Bill added.
Delilah took a deep breath before continuing, knowing all eyes were on her. "I know how I used to be and I know how I am now. I probably had an inflated head from all the attention I used to get, but it was never intentional. I was more carefree and childlike and love-struck back then, seeing the world from a Peter Pan approach of not having to worry about anything and always wanting to have fun because things were so messed up for me. I thought that since I had already been through so much, nothing else would bring me down. Alas, it took two of the people in the entire world that I loved more than life itself, just as much as I loved my mom, two people that I would do anything for, running off together to get me to actually hit rock bottom. If it weren't for that, I don't know if I would have undergone the almost drastic metamorphosis that I did. I am not the girl that you abandoned a year and a half ago in Houston. I've changed and grown. I have friends, genuine ones, some that are the closest things to siblings. I have a wonderful man, who loves me, with everything he's got and whose feelings I don't have to doubt because I know he would never betray me, and I am equally as crazy about him. I have people that admire and look up to me, who value everything I've done for them and who I would selflessly do anything for again. What I have here is a real family. We fight, we disagree, we cry, we laugh, but most of all, we love and we protect. We don't throw in the towel the minute the shit hits the fan, no matter what our faults are." Delilah looked over at her sister with an assertive yet serious gaze. "You may have Bill, Christine, and his children, but you'll have to live with for the rest of your life that you had to steal him from me to get him all to yourself." Christine looked away, embarrassed and annoyed, as Delilah gave the same look to Billy, assertive yet serious. "You'll always know that you allowed yourself to be manipulated by Christine, Bill, that an addiction spiraled out of control and how it rendered you powerless and unable to do anything to stop it." She looked at both of them at the same time. "You thought I was dragging both of you down. In reality, you were the ones actually dragging me down." Delilah reached behind and grabbed Rick's hand. He seemed a little surprised but was touched by her words. She turned around and gave him a small, warm smile as she mouthed the words "I love you." and squeezed his hand. That little reassurance set him at ease, for now, and he returned the smile and nodded, the others smiling over that small act of love.
Billy and Christine were baffled. Christine was annoyed because despite everything that happened, Delilah still emerged victorious with a band of devoted followers. Even in a zombie apocalypse, she was still favorably viewed by others. Maybe I should stop acting like such a bitch, where has it gotten me? Am I really happy? I have the man I love and his children, but he doesn't love me back. If Billy had the chance, he'd take the twins and run. Perhaps this was supposed to happen all along?
Billy, on the other hand, just felt more shamefaced than before. Delilah, the one and only girl he had wanted to spend the rest of his life with, had moved on, and he couldn't get her back. She was right, he was taking on what should have been Christine's guilt as well, but she was incapable of feeling anything. There were times where he just wanted to kill Christine so she'd be out of his and everybody's lives forever since she was such a monster, but he couldn't do that to his kids…
"Christine, you made it very clear that you never wanted kids. Why did you keep them?" Delilah spoke up before either one of them got a chance to say something.
Just like that, any rational thoughts disappeared from Christine's head and were replaced by greed. "Why? Oh, Delilah, I see you haven't gotten it yet. Getting pregnant with Billy's child was the best thing to ever happen to me, it meant I had an eternal obligation from him, and even now, it's the one thing you don't have. I mean, look at the Dudley Do-Right stiff you're with now." She nodded her head over at Rick, who frowned at her, as did Carl and the others. "Do you really think your very own Sheriff Woody doll over here is going to want to have anymore children when he already has two? Seriously."
"Knock it off! One more time, I'll paint a red and white target on your ass and have Daryl practice on it with his crossbow. Understand that?"
Christine nodded curtly, trying to hide the fear that Madison had instilled within her. This rodeo bitch was scarier than Jason Voorhees.
"You're already a horrible sister, I can only imagine how you are as a mother, you couldn't even come up with your own baby names." Delilah shook her head. "Unoriginal bitch." She mumbled under her breath.
"We did it in your memory." Billy stated.
"If it was in my memory, why didn't you just give her my name?"
"Why, so I could have a little reminder of you always? Besides, those were MY names that you took from ME."
"Can it, Chrissy! You've never had an original thought in your life, you're a vapid follower, not a strong leader. Just show me them so we can get this over with. The rest of your party is waiting on you and I have a feeling they're not happy now that they know the truth."
"Alright. Come on, let's go. They're still in the nursery, I reckon." Billy motioned to her before going down the stairs with Christine.
Delilah turned back to Rick, Carl, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Tara, and Madison. "Please come with me?"
They all nodded, wanting to support their friend.
"Delilah, why didn't you tell us more about your life before the outbreak?" Glenn asked.
She heavily sighed. "I figured it didn't matter because none of us are who we used to be. I also didn't want you thinking different of me or judging me by my accomplishments. I've had people do that before, be friends with me just because of what I had done, it's not good. I wanted you to like me for who I was."
Maggie nodded. "That's understandable."
"It sounds like you had a blast, I'd love to hear stories sometime, that is, if you're up for it?" Beth asked.
"Me, too." Tara joined in, all of it making Delilah smile.
"You got it. Ok, let's do this."
Rick took her by the hand and lead them all down the stairs. Every step seemed to take a minute to descend down, as if time was purposely slowing. Delilah didn't know what to think or expect, it felt like Shaun White was skateboarding on ramps inside her stomach and the cold sweat had returned. This still felt like a dream, but she knew it wasn't, no matter how much she wanted it to be.
Rick looked Delilah in the eye when they reached the first floor, trying his best to calm her nerves, but he could tell it would take more than a look. With a heavy sigh, he opened the door and the others followed behind him. Scott, Avery, Carol, Michonne, Tyreese, and Daryl were already there waiting in the lobby. Delilah nodded politely at them.
"How are you guys doing? I'm so sorry about all this."
Carol gave her a quizzical look, the others appeared puzzled as well. "What could you possibly have to be sorry over?"
Delilah turned to her, Daryl, Tyreese, and Michonne. "That you had to see me act like that, I didn't conduct myself appropriately." She then turned to Avery and Scott. "I also don't want you two to think any less of me. There's a lot of unresolved frustrations of pain and anger directed towards them, and it just came flooding out." Rick, along with everybody else, was rather impressed with her. Delilah didn't have to explain herself since they all knew the story, but she did, proving she really was pure of heart.
"After everything those two did, you're in the right." Daryl said.
"I wanted to knock that bitch on her ass since the day I met her. I saw the damage you did, right on, Delilah." Avery held out her fist, to which Delilah weakly pounded back, making Daryl and Tara smirk with affection.
"Thanks."
"She had it coming. I just want you to know that I am so done with them." Avery made a "no safe" movement with her hands, over and out to the sides.
"I can't believe this is all happening. Out of everybody in our group, I've known them the longest, and I can't believe I couldn't tell something was up. I mean, Billy has always been such a terrific leader to all of us, even back in Dallas." Dr. Scott added, shaking his head.
"Sometimes people can put up a really great façade." Michonne stated.
"It makes me question how nobody in the uncontrolled world we live in now has tried to kill her. Your sister is shameful and seems like the type that's capable of hurting a lot of people, if she hasn't already hurt other people besides you."
The conversation was cut short when Billy opened the door and rolled in with a double stroller, Christine following behind him.
Reality once again sucker punched Delilah the moment she glanced at the stroller and her heart sank into the pit of her stomach. This was actually happening and it wasn't a nightmare. She softly gasped and buried her head into Rick's chest, balling his shirt with her fist as she let tears fall. Maggie, Glenn, Madison, Beth, Tara, and Carl walked up closer to her as Ty, Michonne, Carol, Avery, Scott and Daryl watched on with sad looks on their faces while Christine looked down on the floor. The whole sight broke Billy's heart and made everything set in that much more.
It shouldn't have been like this, it's all my fault.
Rick rubbed her back up and down. "It's ok, Isla. It's ok. You can do it." He leaned in and kissed her temple.
Delilah knew he was right and pulled herself together, this could no longer be avoided. She walked towards the stroller and looked down inside. Baby Boy Santino was in the front seat of the stroller wearing a pair of white overall suspenders with a navy blue/charcoal grey short sleeved shirt underneath that had a white duck on the side, topping it off with white and blue striped socks and blue baby Converse sneakers. He looked exactly like Billy did as a child with straight dark brown hair and green-blue eyes, a cute button nose, and dimples in his cheeks and one in his chin.
Baby Girl Serena was in the back seat of the stroller, wearing a light blue denim Cinderella style short sleeved jacket scattered with little white polka dots over a white t-shirt necklined light pink dress that had little black hearts all over and a two ruffled skirt on the bottom, topped off with a pair of silver and pink sandals and a light pink rose decaled hair barrette in her curly blonde hair. She had Billy's eyes, but the rest of her looked like Delilah and Christine's father. Serena also had a dimple in her chin, but unlike her twin brother, she had a wide nose and her head was two times bigger.
Both of the twins appeared to be very healthy looking and well dressed, which was remarkable considering how Christine had the worst style. Billy must have dressed them. Delilah thought to herself as she watched the twins looking all around at the new surroundings.
Ever since she found out the news, a part of Delilah really wanted to hate them, for they would always be a reminder of so many things. A reminder of Billy and Christine's tryst, a reminder that the tryst had repercussions, a reminder of why her own relationship had broken up, and lastly, a reminder of what she could have had with Billy. All in all, they were part of the cause leading to her betrayal and broken dreams. Except when she laid eyes on their innocent faces for the first time, her heart couldn't help but melt a little. The twins were awake with curious expressions on their faces, looking up at her and wondering who she was. Delilah bent down and smiled a little as a newfound warmth encircled her, an addition to her already broken family.
"Why don't you pick one of them up, Delilah?" Billy offered.
She looked up at him, surprised, but shook her head. "Oh, no, I couldn't."
"Yeah, she's right." Christine said. "She probably shouldn't." She looked over at Billy, who gave her a hard-faced look before turning back to Delilah.
"Nonsense, of course you can. Here." He walked over and bent down, unbuckling Santino's stroller seat, who started babbling as soon as he saw his father. "Hey, buddy. Have a nice nap?" Billy lifted him out of the seat and into his arms, turning around to face Delilah as he situated the baby on his hip. She had seen Billy with babies in his arms before, like when his nieces and nephews were born, but Delilah felt her heart ripping out of her chest all over again. She was still tormented on why this all had to happen. When Santino wrapped his little arms around Billy's neck and said "Da-Da.", Delilah burst into tears for the second time and buried her face in her hand, making Billy hurt even more. "Delilah, honey…" He whispered. All he wanted to do was wipe her tears away, to caress her cheek and take her in his arms, to kiss her like he used to. Hell, he wanted to grab her and the kids and make a run for it, but he knew it wasn't possible.
Rick and the others watched on and felt terrible that due to the circumstances, the event of Delilah meeting the twins could not be embraced with full happiness.
Delilah ignored the fact that he just called her "honey" and prayed that Rick didn't hear it, because she knew it would upset him. "I know, I'm sorry. This is all still really fresh and surreal to me." She sniffled and wiped her eyes, her voice cracking as she spoke, not noticing Christine rolling her eyes in the corner.
Still an actress that has to get attention.
Billy nodded. "I know, I understand." He took a step next to Delilah so she could see the baby was happy to see her and gently placed him in her arms.
Michonne looked away, watching Delilah with the baby made her think of the first time she held her son, Andre Anthony, when he was a baby. No matter how much time had passed or how strong she had become, the pain of losing her child would still remain as fresh as the day it happened. Children should be burying their parents instead of parents burying their children. If only I had been there to stop it…
Delilah's sad tears now turned to happy ones as she held out the baby. He was the perfect weight, and he really did look exactly like Billy now that she saw him up close. She felt her face turning up into a grin. "Hey there, little guy. I'm your Aunt Delilah." The words sounded a little weird coming from her mouth, but it felt good to have that title, in an odd way. Delilah looked over at Billy. "Jennifer's right, he's like your Mini-Me."
They both cracked an awkward laugh and smile. "I know, he is, and I'm going to make sure he doesn't make the same stupid mistake Daddy did." He gave her a serious look and she knew that he still had feelings for her, but she quickly brushed it off. Luckily, Santino's cooing over Judith interrupted their little moment, making Delilah giggle and turn around as she pointed at Judith.
"Santino, this is Judith."
Beth walked over with a smile on her face as Delilah turned back to Billy. "Can I set him down?"
He nodded. "Yeah, go ahead."
Delilah set Santino down, who started doing some kind of Frankenstein walk with his arms stretched out before choosing to scoot over to her. Once the two babies were face to face, they stared at one another like "Hey, who are you?". Rick joined Delilah by her side, taking her hand in his as everybody but Christine watched the interaction. Judith and Santino both started babbling to each other and moving their heads, trying to get a better look at the new face in front of them. Santino leaned forward and kind of threw himself at Judith, his head landing on her shoulder, making her giggle, before they both started touching each other's faces with one hand whilst giggling and cooing. The sight made everybody laugh and crack a smile.
"Looks like somebody's got a little crush." Delilah elbowed Rick, who smirked.
"Something like that." He wasn't too thrilled about all of this, but things were definitely a bit more peaceful now.
Delilah turned around and walked back over to the stroller, bending down to Serena's level. "Hey, Serena. I'm your Aunt Delilah." She scratched the baby's belly with a small smile.
Serena looked at her curiously and wrapped her little hand around Delilah's finger, only to burst into tears seconds later. Everybody looked away from the two babies playing and looked over at the crying baby.
"Oh, no! Please don't cry, Serena!" Delilah tried to calm her down, but Serena just kept wailing.
Christine slightly pushed her out of the way to sweep the baby up in her arms. She looked down at the crying baby and pointed her finger at her. "No! No! No, no, noooo!"
Delilah gave her sister a disgusted look, and everybody else was shocked at the display as well. "Really? That's how you calm down your crying baby? She's a child, not a dog."
Christine looked over at her. "Butt out. I'm doing the Authoritarian Parenting style."
"That's like the worst style there is!"
"No, it's not! I know children very well, I was a psych major."
"You were not, stop lying! You took one class, Christine. I was the one that took child psychology and child behavior!"
"Whatever, Oprah. You're going to tell me how to parent my daughter? I'll raise my children my way, you raise yours how you want. Oh, wait, you don't have any." She smirked as Delilah grimaced at her. All Delilah wanted to do was knock her older sister on her fat ass.
Billy rushed up and pried Serena out of Christine's arms. "Christine, stop this, and it's Authoritative, not Authoritarian." He tried to calm Serena down. "Shh, it's ok, sweetheart. Daddy's here, don't cry." Delilah had to grab Rick's hand and bite into her fist to prevent from crying as she watched him with the babies. Billy walked over, setting her down with Santino and Judith, but all Serena did was cry harder. Judith pushed the Ariel doll she was holding towards Serena, but she didn't seem to notice and just kept crying.
"I don't know why she's crying. She's on schedule with eating and sleeping, and her diaper was changed not too long ago."
She's crying because she doesn't like Delilah. Christine laughed to herself as Delilah looked on, watching the baby cry and the others not knowing how to calm her down. Then, an idea occurred to her.
"Ok, ok, I think I got it." Delilah stood across from the babies and paused before humming a familiar tune. When that didn't work, she sounded it out.
"Da dun dun dun dun dun da da
Da dun dun dun dun dun da da.
So no one told you life was gonna be this way."
Delilah clapped her hands four times without stopping. By now, everybody knew the song, and they couldn't help but grin a little grin. The babies were all looking up at her from the clapping sound.
"Your job's a joke, you're broke, your love life's D.O.A."
Billy chuckled and cracked a smile as he watched her pump her fists in the air. Delilah was on a roll and planned to act out all of the individual dances from the opening sequence of FRIENDS, starting with Rachel.
"It's like you're always stuck in second gear."
Delilah started waving her arms vertically back and forth, just like in the beginning intro when the credits rolled, before shimming, giggling as she imagined having an actual turkey on her head like Monica did.
"When it hasn't been your day, your week, your month, or even your year, but."
"Oh, motherfucker." Christine mumbled under her breath as Delilah waved her arm over her head, pretending she had a jacket like Phoebe had in the fountain, as she sang before going into the chorus.
"I'll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)."
Delilah pointed at the babies before making her fingers wiggle as her hands descend downwards to resemble rainfall as she went into bending her arms and bopping them back and forth in sync with her head bopping, combining both of Joey's movements.
"I'll be there for you
(Like I've been there before)."
Straightening her arms out, she made them go in shorter vertical lines. Chandler Bing had always been her, her mom's, and Jennifer's favorite character on the show, with Rachel or Phoebe coming in a close second.
"I'll be there for you
('Cause you're there for me too)."
Delilah bent her arms again, doing a slow motion "Running Man" movement with them minus the look that Ross had on his face when he did it. She pointed back at the babies and leaned forward, bringing her arms in like she had massive muscles and how the cast finished the opening sequence, one by one.
Delilah's little song and dance had definitely worked, Serena had stopped crying, and the babies had been giggling and cooing the whole time. Judith started saying "La-La! La-La!" and patting her little hands on the floor. The calmness was continuing to spread throughout everyone. Delilah exchanged a grin with Rick and Carl.
"Jennifer used to sing that to them, also. You both always loved that show, even when it was long off the air." Billy stepped in.
Delilah smiled a little. "Well, great minds think alike."
"Yeah, it was annoying with her, and it's annoying now." Christine rolled her eyes, making Delilah's smile fade.
"Really? If I recall, you were the one that sang that song to me whenever I was upset. Remember?"
"Whatever, that was back when you were cute."
"Same with you."
"So, now what?" Dr. Scott interjected.
Delilah didn't even have to ask to know what he was talking about. They were all wondering what was going to happen, if Delilah was going to allow their acceptance into Jellbany or tell them to hit the road. She looked over at him, Avery, and Carol. "I've thought about it and you can stay. All of you." Delilah glanced over at Billy and Christine.
Rick and the others were baffled upon hearing her words, then slightly panicked, even Billy and Christine were surprised. Her verdict had rendered them all speechless.
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Forever Rising Phoenix