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Safe Haven in the Chaos	By : IdrilsSecret Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 6517 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the walking dead or any of the characters. No money is being made from the writing of these stories

Chapter List
- 69
- 70
- 71
Chapter 71 To Follow or Break the Rules

Aaron woke with the sun, as it rose over the Hilltop. Today he would go home. He didn’t want to go because of two people. One he would have a hard time saying goodbye to, and the other would be difficult to leave. Paul and Daryl were both at Hilltop, and Aaron felt like he needed to stay there too. When he left for Alexandria, he wouldn’t have Paul's grave to visit, to feel close to, to tell all of his concerns to. Daryl was a different story. They were finally talking and getting along fairly well. He wanted nothing more than to grow a friendship and new trust with him, but Daryl was preoccupied with the girl prisoner and Henry. Aaron knew he was needed back in Alexandria. Michonne would be wondering when he’d return. She probably already had several council meetings by now, all of which he missed and didn’t get to vote on. The latest concern was attending the trade fair at the Kingdom.

Paul had pushed Aaron to talk Michonne into allowing Alexandria to attend the fair. Aaron was all for it at the time. He thought it was important to keep communications open, and the fair was a good way for everyone to reestablish relationships with old friends. However, his opinion changed after Paul was killed. It was much too dangerous for anyone to travel, especially the long distance it took to get to the Kingdom. Paul and Aaron had spent a lot of time outside of their communities. They didn’t know the dangers that were already so close to them. At any time they could have both been murdered, in their sleep even. How many nights had they spent in their secret spot, oblivious to what lurked in the dark.

Eugene and Rosita barely made it out with their lives, and they had been trying to erect towers to boost a signal for the radio in Alexandria. They were totally unaware of the dangerous people who lived with the dead.

And now Hilltop captured one of their people, the daughter of their leader no less. Hilltop was extremely vulnerable right now. Did Aaron really want to be here? Did he want to put his own life in danger knowing he had a little girl waiting for him at home? He thought about that a moment. How devastated Gracie would have been if it had been Aaron who died in that cemetary. All this time he didn’t think he was doing anything except disobeying Michonne’s order to stay within a certain boundary, when he had actually been playing with his own existence. It scared him to give it much thought. He knew without another doubt that he needed to get home.

Aaron made his way to the stables, and alerted the stable hand to prepare his horse. In the meantime, he decided to go to the cemetary to visit Paul's grave one last time. On his way there, he heard the cellar doors slam shut. When he stepped around the corner he saw Daryl marching toward the great house with Henry in tow. Something happened, and Aaron thought he should probably go and see if he could help. He rushed over just in time to hear part of an argument between Daryl and Henry.

“You shouldn’t have been listening,” Daryl berated the boy.

“Just because her people are bad doesn’t mean Lydia is,” Henry countered.

Aaron was impressed that the youth could stand up to Daryl, especially when he was enraged as he was now. Even Aaron knew better than to poke at an angry bear. “What’s going on?” he asked cautiously.

Daryl glared at him as if he didn’t belong. “The girl is too far gone. She’s messed up. This has all been a waste of time.”

“What’s going to happen to her,” Henry asked desperately, continuing their argument.

“That’s Tara’s problem now,” Daryl replied. He turned his back on the others and started up the steps.

“Daryl, wait!” Henry called out, only to be ignored.

As Henry chased after Daryl, Aaron caught him by the arm to stop him. “Let me talk to him. Just wait out here.”

Aaron rushed up the steps and followed Daryl into the house. Once inside, he reached out and laid a gentle hand on Daryl’s shoulder. “Hey, wait a minute. Tell me what happened with the girl.”

Daryl didn’t like being stopped. He paced back and forth a few times before halting in front of Aaron. “She’s playing games, acting like she’s sorry and shit, and then tried to attack me with a rusty nail. I’m done. I didn’t sign up for this shit anyway. Let Tara figure out what they want to do with her.”

“I know you, Daryl Dixon. You don’t give up just because someone tried to scratch you. What’s really going on? What did she do to get under your skin?”

Daryl’s stance was tense as his hands tightened into fists. He looked left and then right before answering honestly. “The whole story she originally told me about her father abusing her, and her mother killing him to protect her was a lie. It was her father who tried to keep her safe from her mother. The girl’s got bruises and welts all up and down her arms. Her mother’s been using a switch on her. Lydia says it’s for her own good, like she deserves to get beat. I thought I had her attention. I told her it wasn’t her fault, and that some people are just bad no matter what. I really thought she was coming around, and then she attacked me. She’s feral, and who knows what else her mom’s taught her to do. I don’t trust her, and I’m beginning to worry what her mother might do once she finds out where she’s being held prisoner. The Hilltop isn’t safe as long as she’s here.”

“And you’re sure about the beatings?” Aaron clarified.

“Seen the marks myself, and I know a thing or two on the subject. This girl is totally brainwashed.” Daryl stopped, looked at the floor and slowly shook his head back and forth. “She got to me, started asking questions about my past. She knows I was beat as a kid. I guess there’s a universal language or something. I don’t open up to anyone much about that. I don’t owe her anything. She doesn’t know me.”

“No, she doesn’t know you, but I do. I know you know what it’s like to be thrashed by a parent. I know how important it is to keep it to yourself. But I am surprised to hear you say she’s too far gone. When I met you, I thought you were a loose wire. You were very standoffish, and anyone you came across you acted like you were about to slam them into a wall. But that’s all it was … an act. It wasn’t until you learned to trust that you started to open up, especially to me. Maybe it’s the same for Lydia. She’s scared right now.”

“Yeah, and that’s what makes her dangerous. You saw it. She was leading Henry on to get information from him. You know she’s just going to take that right back to her people.”

“So you’re saying she’s a lost cause and what? Should Tara string her up? Or maybe cut her tongue out before sending her back to her people?” Aaron was getting heated.

“It’s not my call to make.”

“Would you listen to yourself? You used to tell me stories about growing up in an abusive house. There were times you were beat within an inch of your life. And then the … rape. You went through a lot of tragedy as a boy, but not once were you ever too far gone. You came back from it all. I know because I was there to witness some of your healing. You know better than anyone that it’s not something that happens overnight, so why do you think Lydia’s situation is any different? You were given a second chance. Maybe it’s time you paid it forward.”

Daryl heard what Aaron had to say, but he didn’t trust the girl. Maybe he didn’t trust himself. He definitely didn’t like having her asking him questions about his upbringing, and figuring out his secret without saying anything. That’s why he left the room. That’s why he was ready to give up, and let Tara figure out what to do with her. Lydia reminded Daryl of himself, and it brought back a lot of the painful memories he had spent years trying to forget.

“I can’t be the one to help her. I’m too close to it.” Daryl looked back at the door that led outside. “But maybe Henry can be to her what you were to me.”

“What are you saying?” Aaron asked.

“I used to have some really bad days, and you were always there to talk me down and set me straight. I don’t know, it was just easier knowing you were there for me. You didn’t come from a cesspool of shit like I did, and that made a difference. It helped me to trust you. So, maybe Henry can be that for Lydia. He’s a good kid, comes from a good background. He can teach her to trust.”

“So does this mean you aren’t going to Tara?” Aaron asked.

Daryl shook his head. “I got an idea. I just need Henry to think it’s his idea.” Daryl was ready to go back outside and confront Henry, but Aaron wanted a few more minutes alone with him.

“Hey, before you go, I just want you to know that I’m leaving soon. Today actually. I gotta get back home.”

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be traveling right now. Those people are out there. I … I don’t want anything to happen to you,” Daryl said honestly.

“I’ll be careful. Something tells me these whisperers are preoccupied at the moment.”

“They already have Luke and Alden, and who knows what they’ve done to them.” Daryl was worried, and it warmed Aaron’s heart.

“I’ll be all right.” Aaron said and smiled. “You really mean what you said about me helping you back then?”

“Of course I do. We made a good team long ago.” Daryl dared to let the corner of his mouth curl into a smile.

“Maybe we can get back to that,” Aaron said, and realized what it sounded like. “I mean, the team part, not the … other stuff. N-Not unless … never mind.”

“I know what you mean, and I think there’s hope for us … the team part, of course,” Daryl said after Aaron’s stammering to correct himself. “Just be careful going back.”

“I will. I promise,” Aaron said. For a brief moment, their eyes connected. Aaron looked away first.

“Maybe when all this bullshit is straightened out, I’ll visit Alexandria,” Daryl said.

“I’d like that. And so would everyone else,” Aaron added. He didn’t want to give any false vibes. He didn’t want any in return either. “I was just on my way to the cemetary one last time, and then I’ll be on my way. You be careful too. Things don’t feel right at the moment.”

“You know me. I’m on top of it.”

“I do know you. I guess I always will.” Aaron finished with a smile and a solid grasp onto Daryl’s shoulder. He left the great house to go to the cemetary. Before he went around the corner, he looked back, and saw Daryl talking peacefully with Henry. It was good to see how Daryl had changed, how he was taking more responsibility. Hell, it was just good to see Daryl.

>>------->

Aaron walked up to the newly dug dirt and had a seat on the ground beside Paul's grave. Paul had never been a religious person, which was funny since he went by the nickname ‘Jesus’, and so his grave wasn’t marked with a cross, but with a simple nameplate on a piece of wood. Aaron thought it was too simple for someone so remarkable.

“God, I miss you so much,” Aaron started out. “I tell people I don’t have any regrets, but that’s not completely true. I should have been more honest with you … with myself actually. It’s true that I loved you. That was never something I had to second guess. It was about marrying you. That’s where I found myself at a standstill. And I know you had only just asked me. I thought I couldn’t give you an answer because I was in shock by your proposal. I thought it was because I had a lot to think about, whether I would go to Hilltop or you would come to Alexandria. In truth, we could have worked those details out easily. I ignored the real reason I couldn’t say yes, and that’s because I still held love in my heart for Daryl. I thought I was over him. I really did. You helped me move on, and it was so wonderful. I loved being with you every minute we had together. And Gracie, how she adored you. You were so good with her too. I can still see you and her playing ball. You would have made a perfect father to her, and I know we would have been the happiest family to survive the apocalypse.

”I hope you know I never would have left you to go back to him. Absolutely not. I would have done anything to make sure we stayed happy together, and it wouldn’t have taken much because we were happy. We were challenged too, but somehow we still managed to look forward to a future together. When you proposed, it threw me for a loop. If someone would have asked me what I would have done before you popped the question, I would have told them I’d say yes to you. It seemed only natural. But actually having you propose to me out of the blue like that, I got scared. I knew to say yes would have meant to completely put everything about Daryl and me into a box and sink it to the bottom of a lake. I don’t know why that scared me, but it did. It made me wonder what I was still holding on to. I’m sure I would have eventually said yes, but I would have needed to see Daryl one last time to close all those doors that were still slightly opened.

“And now I must be completely honest with you. Seeing Daryl again, especially lately, I … I’m not so sure I could have sealed him off. I know this is a terrible thing to say, and you’re not here to counter anything I’m telling you. I feel horrible about it, and yet, a part of me swoons at the thought of becoming friends again. Out of respect for you, I shouldn’t even be weighing my options. And for all I know, Daryl doesn’t want anything to do with me. I’m a terrible person, aren’t I? Here I am admitting that I still have feelings for Daryl to the only man who ever asked me to marry him. I know you’d want me to move on. That’s what I’d want for you too had our roles been reversed. I think what I’m asking for isn’t just permission to move on, but to move on with Daryl, if that’s what the fates allow. Would you hate me from beyond if I pursued this? I mean, I don’t really know if there’s anything to pursue, but if there was . . . You know what? I’m being ridiculous and selfish. I’m sorry I ever brought it up. I hope you’re not here listening to me right now. But maybe you can look in on me from time to time, when I really need you to.” Aaron stood and looked down at the grave. “Well, it’s time for me to go home. I miss you so much, and I love you, Paul. I’ll always love you.” A tear fell from the corner of his eye. It took all he had to keep from crying like he had yesterday. He didn’t want to leave like that. He wanted to be strong, and that’s what he did. Aaron wiped the tear from his cheek, smiled down at Paul's marker one more time, and readied himself for his journey back home.

He entered the yard and made his way to the stables, got his horse, and prepared to ride out. He saw Daryl standing off to the side with Henry, talking, not yelling or flailing his arms around. They looked like they were having a decent conversation. Just then, a bright blue butterfly fluttered around Aaron’s head. It came out of nowhere, and it caught his attention. It was late in the season for butterflies with the weather turning colder. The shimmering blue of its wings matched the amazing shade of Paul's eyes. He knew because he’d stared into those blue jewels many times.

A breeze moved through, picked up the butterfly, and carried it across the yard where it fluttered very close to Daryl. Only Aaron saw it, and it struck him like a sign from Paul himself. It was as though Paul was giving his permission, as though he’d heard Aaron talking to him about his guilt and fears. Aaron smiled and looked up at the sky above. “Thank you, Paul. Thank you for that.”

>>------->

He was finally home. Aaron rode in through Alexandria’s gate, and gave a sigh for an uneventful journey. Residents stopped and waved at him as he rode by on his way to the stables. When he was done, he walked up the street, and took in the feel of safety. Alexandria was an amazing place. To think back on the things he’d done, he wondered why he would have wanted to leave. It was a self-sustaining fortress. Inside these walls, he could forget about the awful things that laid in wait out there. He had been a fool to defy Michonne and her rules. He had been a bad father to not put Gracie first.

He passed the park, an open area that they decided not to develop, a place where the children could run and play. There was a group of children there now. Aaron scanned the area and spotted Sarah. Word spread of his return quicker than his pace through the community. As if on cue, Sarah looked up and toward the road. She saw Aaron and smiled, waving both arms in the air. Aaron waved back and stopped when he saw her lean down and say something to Gracie. His little girl stood on a park bench so she could look over the heads of a group of children playing hopscotch. Aaron’s heart soared when he saw the smile spread from cheek to cheek, and she jumped up and down. Sarah put her hands out to keep her from accidently falling from the bench. Gracie climbed down and started to run right at him.

“Daddy,” she called as her feet hit the sidewalk, the name drawn out long.

Aaron got down on one knee and put his arm out. Gracie came the rest of the way across the street, and ran into him so fast that she almost knocked him backward. She buried her face in his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her to hold her tight. Her hair was soft and it smelled like lavender.

“Daddy, I missed you, I missed you, I missed you,” she said three times fast.

“Aw honey, I missed you too. More than you’ll ever know.” He felt a tear threaten his eye.

“I don’t like it when you’re gone so long,” she said.

“I don’t like it either, but I’m here now, and that’s what matters. Right?”

“Yes,” she said, and she backed up so she could see his face. Gracie patted his thick beard with both hands. “It’s gotten bushy.”

“I don’t know. I kind of like it.”

She scrunched up her face. “I think you should cut it.”

“Well, you know best,” he teased. He hugged her again. “I’m sorry I can’t be here more often.”

“It’s okay, Daddy. Miss Sarah said you have an important job, and that’s why you have to go away.”

“Yes, that’s true, but I hope that will change soon. Part of the reason I go away is so that one day I won’t have to,” he explained.

“I hope that day comes soon.” She sounded a little sad as she spoke. Something else was on her mind.

“What is it honey?” he asked in a soft voice.

“I heard some of the grownups talking, and I know that Paul died. He was your friend.”

Aaron didn’t expect her to know. He thought he would tell her later when he was settled in. “Yes, he died, and he was more than my friend.”

“Did you love him?” she asked innocently.

“Very much so.”

“I loved him too,” Gracie said, her little voice cracking with sadness. A tear rolled down her cheek.

Aaron wasn’t sure how much Gracie remembered of Paul. She hadn’t seen him in a few years. Obviously she remembered enough. “I told him all about you every time I saw him. He even had a picture of you that I’d given him to keep. Now he’ll keep watch over us from above. And as long as you carry him in your heart, he’ll never be far.”

“You should do the same thing, Daddy.”

Aaron smiled at her. “I do, sweetie. He’s always right here.” Aaron tapped his chest over his heart using his fist.

Sarah was standing off to the side, waiting for them to finish their heart to heart conversation. When they were done, she approached and hugged Aaron. “It’s so nice to have you home.”

“It’s good to be here.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Sarah whispered in his ear. “He was a good man.”

“Thank you. He was,” Aaron answered.

Sarah released him and stood back to look at both of them. “Well, I heard you’d be returning soon, so I had your kitchen stocked. Will you be home for a while?”

“I hope so, but you never know especially with the way things are right now.”

Sarah patted his arm. “I’m going to go and let you two have the rest of the day together. Oh, and just a heads up, Michonne is calling for a council meeting in the morning. She held off until you came back. I think it’s about the trade fair again.”

“Thanks, Sarah. I’ll be ready for it.”

Just as she suggested, Aaron spent the rest of the day with Gracie. They played at the park, and she showed him how she could somersault. At home, she showed him all of her paintings she’d done. Aaron was impressed with her artwork. It seemed advanced for a six year old, and he realized that she had a talent for it. He’d never been able to draw anything more than a stick figure. When he told her that, she laughed and said she would teach him how to draw. That night, they made a tent in the living room out of the kitchen stools and some bedsheets. They played games, sang songs, and told stories until Gracie couldn’t keep her eyes open. Aaron laid down next to her, but when she was fast asleep, he moved to the couch, which was better for his back than the floor. He missed sleeping in his own bed, and had looked forward to it, but what was one more night if it mean Gracie’s joy to camp out with her daddy.

All was right with the world, at least for now. It was further proof of the kind of place they had turned Alexandria into. This was what Michonne had worked so hard to keep safe, and he understood better why she made the hard decisions she had. Since losing Paul, he was beginning to see her reasoning for the extreme changes, and her decision to keep Alexandria independent and safe. Maybe they didn’t need more people. The people they had were just fine. He thought he needed to show his support at the meeting in the morning, and prepared for how he would do that.

>>------->

Morning came and Aaron was at the council’s meeting place in the community building. Gabriel, Siddiq and Laura were there also. Michonne walked in and greeted everyone. She got right to the subject at hand.

“I’d like to know why no one informed me about the radio relay system that Eugene and Rosita were out there risking their lives for,” she started off.

Gabriel did most of the talking to begin the meeting. “We didn’t see it as a security issue, and since you are head of security–”

“Who else knew about this,” Michonne interrupted. Aaron could see Gabriel was off put by her sternness.

“Only Eugene and Rosita knew. They simply wanted to install some equipment that would boost a signal. If they had found someone on the radio, you would have been notified right away,” Gabriel explained calmly.

“And I assumed they have been testing this theory for a while, testing the radio and such. Someone could have been listening. Maybe this new group was listening. Perhaps that’s what drew them closer to our territory.” Michonne’s argument was a good one.

“They told me they thought of that, and I can assure you they weren’t being careless with it,” Gabriel answered.

“Is that so? Because the way I see it, Eugene and Rosita were injured and almost died because of it. Jesus did die because of it. Negan got out while you were distracted … because of it. Maybe if I had been informed, I could have kept some or all of this from happening, but I can’t do my job if you keep me in the dark.” Michonne’s temper was flaring.

“And maybe we would include you if we didn’t know you were going to veto everything that came across the table, whether it was a matter of security, which you are in charge of, or not,” Gabriel shot back.

“Going out there is a matter of security, and we shouldn’t if we don’t have to.”

“And that has cut us off from the other communities, which is dangerous. That’s why we went forward with the radio relay system. If you don’t want us going outside, at least we could still keep in touch with Hilltop, and maybe even the Kingdom. We should be helping each other, not shutting each other out. What if they need help? What if we need theirs? We can’t be so worried about finding enemies that we lose our friends.”

Aaron had heard enough, and the comment struck him right in the heart. “We did lose a friend … and I lost someone very close to me.” Everyone’s attention went to Aaron, and he stepped to the front of the group to speak his mind. “We don’t know what would have happened if we made different decisions. For me, I don’t regret a single moment I spent out there with Jesus. I wish we didn’t have to meet under the current circumstances, but neither of us was in a position where we could leave our communities to be with each other, and that was true with or without Michonne’s rules.” Aaron turned to Michonne. “And what happened to Paul might have happened anyway. It very well could have been us instead of Eugene and Rosita.” He looked back at the rest of the council. “What’s done is done. What’s important now is there’s a new enemy, and they’re exactly what Michonne was afraid she’d find. We know what’s out there now, and we can’t ignore it. We can’t pretend otherwise. Now it’s a matter for security, and we put Michonne in charge of that for a reason. Her judgement has saved us time and again.”

“Yes, but at what cost,” Siddiq put in, coming forward to address the group. “I saw Carol at Hilltop,” he said turning to Michonne. “She told me she asked you for help with the fair again, and once more you turned her down.”

“You made a decision on Alexandria’s behalf without consulting the council first?” Gabriel accused.

“This business about the fair is old, and not what we’re gathered here to discuss today,” Michonne said to shut down the argument before it opened back up.

“Yes, we’ve been over it many times before,” Siddiq said. “But we have new information that affects all of the communities. The fair would be the perfect opportunity to discuss this new threat with everyone so that no one is vulnerable. It starts in two days. It’s not too late to reconsider.” When Siddiq saw that Michonne wasn’t budging on this, he thought to play on her emotions. “Carol told me that the conditions at the Kingdom are much worse than Ezekiel leads on in his letters. They’re running low on food and supplies, and their infrastructure is beginning to fail them. They need the trade that the fair could bring. They need all of us to come together to make this work.” Siddiq looked around the room and thought he had some of their sympathy on the subject. “I move for another vote on the fair.”

“It won’t do any good. Michonne will only veto it,” Gabriel said skeptically.

“He’s right,” Michonne said. “The roads leading to the Kingdom are broken and dangerous, not to mention there’s a group out there dressed up like the dead who are trying to kill us. As far as Carol’s letter, I read it and she talked about their deteriorated state, but what Siddiq failed to mention was the part where Ezekiel, even as poor as the conditions seem to be, isn’t ready to give up on the Kingdom. And I’m not ready to put Alexandrian lives in jeopardy over this.”

Siddiq spoke in a smooth calm voice. “I understand that you just want what’s best for us, but what does it mean for Alexandria to survive if the Kingdom falls?”

“It means Alexandria survives,” Michonne answered with confidence. And with that statement, the meeting was over, the council dismissed, and everyone went on with their day.

>>------->

Aaron was home preparing lunch for Gracie and himself when someone knocked on his door.

“I’ll answer it,” Gracie announced, already running to the door. A moment later she called to him. “Daddy. It’s Michonne.”

Aaron was in the middle of making peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwiches using a loaf of fresh baked bread he picked up after the morning meeting. He stopped what he was doing and licked a little jam from his finger as he walked to the door. “Gracie, would you finish up those sandwiches? I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Okay Daddy,” Gracie smiled. She ran back into the house.

Michonne was smiling. “She’s such a sweet girl.”

“That she is,” Aaron said. “So what’s going on?” he asked curiously.

“I just wanted to thank you for your support at the meeting this morning. I know it wasn’t easy for you to go against the rest, and to be honest, I thought you’d be on their side over this.”

“Well, I was on their side before . . .” He paused. “Before Paul died. But today, it was easy. I’ve had time to think about it. The fact is, we all agreed to the rules. We agreed that we would live by them to keep safe, but I guess after a while, it was easy to forget why they were in place to begin with. I know for me and my situation with Paul, it was more important to see him and spend time together. We were embarking on something new and exciting, and we lost focus on what really mattered. Losing Paul, finding out about these skin people, it made me remember why we had those rules in the first place. I was wrong to go against you, and for that I’m sorry.”

“I appreciate that, Aaron. I really do. And that’s why I wanted to come to you first. I’ve decided that if the council holds another vote to send a delegation to the fair, I won’t veto it.”

Aaron was completely taken aback. After all the arguments, and as hard as Michonne fought to enforce her rules, why would she back down now? “But what about the ones with the skin? If our people come across them, they’ll be risking their lives.”

“I know, and I still think it’s a horrible idea, but the people can weigh the risk and choose for themselves. That’s their right. That’s part of the charter we agreed upon when we first established the new Alexandria. I went against the very thing I was supposed to protect, and I took away their right to choose what they want to do and where they want to go. This isn’t a prison, and after becoming aware of it, I’ve noticed how different everyone acts. I can keep strangers from entering the community, but I’m not supposed to keep our people from leaving. Besides, it’s not just for them. It’s for the Kingdom, for Carol and Ezekiel.”

Aaron nodded, though he still disagreed with her. It was her call. “I hope we don’t regret this.”

“Yeah, me too,” Michonne replied.

Later, another vote was held, and the people were overwhelmingly in favor of attending the fair. They wasted no time and got to work gathering supplies and loading carts full of fruits, vegetables, canned goods, jars of honey (which Alexandria was well known for), and handmade items. There were less than two days before the fair began, and they would need to leave first thing in the morning. Some decided to leave that same day, hoping to get there early and help with last minute preparations. Everyone was happy and excited. The town was a buzz of activity.

Aaron watched from the sidelines. He decided he would stay behind. It was too big of a risk to take Gracie so far from home. He wondered if Daryl would be there, but even seeing him again wasn’t enough to make Aaron change his mind about leaving his home. Besides, someone had to stay behind and keep an eye on the town.

He had seen Michonne after the vote. She enjoyed seeing her people happy, but she was second guessing her decision. It was still dangerous on the road, and she was afraid the people wouldn’t know what signs to look for to keep away from danger. All she could do now was hope she made the right choice.

>>------->

Aaron got up early the next day to see the people off on their journey to the Kingdom. He went around making sure they had everything they needed, and fetched things they didn’t. While he was getting an extra blanket for someone, Michonne approached him and pulled him to the side. She had a note in her hand.

“I just got word from Hilltop. Alden and Luke are back home safe and sound,” she said.

“That’s great news. How did it happen?” Aaron asked excitedly.

“The new group, who call themselves the Whispers, came up to the gate. Their leader, a woman named Alpha and mother to Lydia, demanded a trade, the girl for the two men.”

Aaron thought about Daryl and his plan to get Henry to tame Lydia. He was pretty adamant about not sending the girl back to her abusive mother. “And Daryl agreed to that?”

“He had no choice really. They would have killed Alden and Luke otherwise. He gave up the girl. Hilltop got their men back. Everyone got what they wanted. There was almost a confrontation, but in the end it was a peaceful trade.”

“Things rarely end that way,” Aaron noted. “And what about these whisperers? Are they done harassing Hilltop? Are they going to leave somewhere else?”

Michonne shrugged. “No one can be sure. I’m not convinced they’re gone. They could still be dangerous, but for now, all ended well.”

“Good. That’s good. What about Daryl? Does the letter say whether he’s going to stay at Hilltop or go to the Kingdom?” Aaron asked, trying not to sound overly concerned.

Michonne shook her head. “There’s no mention of his plans. Tara is going, from what I heard recently. I would assume since most of Hilltop will be going to the fair, he’ll stay behind to keep an eye on things there.”

“You’re probably right. That seems like something he would do.” Aaron walked along with a blanket in hand, and Michonne walked with him. “You know,” he said. “Not to bring up another subject, but we could have known about this sooner if you would let us use the radio. Eugene said, despite all the trouble, he was able to connect the new antenna. We only need to inform Hilltop and tell them what frequency to use. I’m sure all that happened in the letter happened yesterday, and we’re just now hearing about it.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. If we start transmitting back and forth, it would be easy for someone else to pick up on the signal and hear our conversations.”

“We would have to be careful, of course. Maybe even make up some sort of code. But if there’s trouble for either community, the other would know right away so they could come to their aide,” Aaron said.

“And you would know where Daryl was right now,” Michonne added at a whisper.

“Well, there’s that too.” He shrunk away as he said it.

“It’s okay to still care. I know it’s soon, and you miss Paul terribly.”

“The thing is, I’ve always cared. I’ve never stopped. But I need some time before I approach him on anything like that, if you know what I mean. I’m not ready yet.” Aaron handed the blanket to the woman who asked for it, and waited for the caravan to leave.

“It’s been six, almost seven years for me, and I’m still not to that point. Sometimes I don’t think I’ll ever be ready. No one could fill Rick’s shoes.”

“That’s the truest statement I’ve ever heard. And just for the record, I still miss him too. Great man. Best of the best.”

Michonne gave Aaron a hug. “Well, I’m going back home. I’ve got some things to do.”

“I think I’m going to tend the gate for a little bit. I need to keep busy.”

Aaron and Michonne went their separate ways. He was glad to know everything worked out, but it just seemed too easy. Nothing worked so smoothly. It seemed too good to be true, which was a bad thing. He wondered how Daryl was dealing with sending Lydia back to her mother. It must have been weighing heavily on him, especially knowing what he was sending her back to. It was times like this when Aaron wished he could be there to support Daryl.

A little while later, when Aaron was done with gate duty, he was about to climb down the ladder when something caught his eye. Off in the distance, he saw movement. He could just make out a group of people, or were they walkers or whisperers. He moved back to the front of the platform and waited until they got closer. The other guards stood next to him, and everyone waited anxiously.

“My God, it’s Daryl,” Aaron said quietly when he recognized him.

“He’s not alone,” said the other guard.

Aaron recognized Henry, and he could see he was limping badly. Connie, one of the newest members of Hilltop was there also. But what concerned Aaron the most was Lydia. In the letter from Hilltop, it was written that she was traded for Alden and Luke. Why was she with Daryl and the others? What about the two Hilltop men? What had happened?”

The group came up to the wall and they looked up at Aaron and the guards. Aaron wanted nothing more than to let them in and ask Daryl a thousand questions, but the problem was Lydia. She might not be the enemy, but she was the daughter of the woman who led them.

“Can you open the gate?” Daryl called up. He sounded exhausted.

“I wish I could, but I’m going to have to get Michonne first. You know why,” Aaron stated sympathetically.

“Yeah, I know,” said Daryl.

“Want me to go?” asked the guard.

“No, I’ll go,” said Aaron, quickly climbing down the ladder. He headed straight to Michonne’s house.

She had been in her townhome, looking out the window and saw Aaron coming to her door. She opened it before he had a chance to knock. “What is it?” she asked.

“Daryl’s back,” he told her.

“Why didn’t you let him in?”

“He’s not alone.”

Michonne and Aaron hurried back to the gate. They climbed to the top of the wall and saw the group.

“I wouldn’t have come, but Henry’s hurt and Alexandria was the closest place. Will you let us in?” Daryl asked.

Michonne looked over the faces, a critical eye falling on Lydia. “What about her?” she said.

Henry spoke up first. “She’s with us.”

Michonne’s eyes narrowed on him before they turned to Daryl. Daryl gave a nod of approval, but Michonne didn’t speak.

“We’ll keep her under guard,” Aaron whispered in Michonne’s ear.

“I don’t trust her,” Michonne said.

“But I trust Daryl, and I know you too,” Aaron told her to make a point.

After a long moment, Michonne called down to the gate keepers. “Open it.” Before climbing down, she gave Aaron an order. “Keep someone on her at all times until she leaves.”

Aaron followed Michonne down the ladder and saw Laura close by. “I need you to watch the girl. Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“You got it,” Laura agreed, suspicion already prominent in her eyes.

The group, along with Michonne, Aaron and Laura, went to the infirmary. Siddiq started right away, cleaning up Henry’s leg wound, and Lydia sat next to him to encourage him through the painful process of stitching up the wound. Michonne pulled Daryl to the side, and Aaron stayed close enough to hear.

“We just need some time to let Henry heal, and we’ll be out of your hair,” Daryl said.

“Where will you go?” she asked.

“The Kingdom. Carol needs to know what’s happened.”

“What about Lydia,” Aaron asked.

“I’ll figure that out along the way, but I’m hoping Ezekiel and Carol will let her stay.”

When Siddiq was finished, Henry and Lydia walked to the door. Daryl called out to them. “Don’t you all go far.”

“We’re just going to sit on the steps,” Henry said.

“I’ll watch them,” Laura said and she followed them outside.

Michonne could speak more freely with Lydia gone. “How did this happen? Why is the girl with you? We just received a letter that said you gave her back to her mother.”

“Well, we did. And we got Alden and Luke back. Everyone’s safe so don’t worry about them. Henry, though, he took off in the middle of the night. Someone found a note in his room. Said he was going to look for Lydia. I had no choice but to go and find him. Connie went with me and we found him with Alpha’s people. We got him back.”

“You got the girl too,” Aaron stated.

“Last minute decision. Henry wouldn’t go without her,” Daryl said, and he didn’t seem too happy about the outcome either.

“This changes things,” Michonne said worriedly. “The deal was that the girl went with her people. There’s going to be a retaliation. It puts Hilltop in danger.”

“I know. That’s why I need to get Henry to the Kingdom so I can get back to Hilltop. They’ve boosted security. Tara’s on top of things, but with most of their people at the Kingdom for the fair, it leaves the rest at the community vulnerable.”

Aaron stepped forward. “I’ll come with you when you leave.”

Daryl gazed at him a moment. “No,” he finally said.

“What?” Aaron was surprised he was turned down. “The Hilltop needs–”

“You’re needed here. Alexandria has people at the fair too. Michonne needs the help. And you need to be here for your little girl,” Daryl told him, and there was no room for an argument.

“I’m going to go talk to the girl,” Michonne stated.

Daryl stepped in front of her to keep her from leaving. “What are you going to say to her?” He seemed very protective of Lydia, but then, she didn’t have any friends except for him and Henry.

“I’m just going to suggest she choose the right thing to do by everyone.” She looked Daryl square in the eyes, and after a slightly tense few seconds, Daryl stepped out of her way so she could leave.

Alexandria’s infirmary was a house converted into a hospital, so there were some open rooms toward the back, one which used to be a den. Daryl went that way, walking down the hall. There was a couch in the room, and he just wanted to lay down a moment before it was time to leave again. He glanced back at Aaron. “You can come with me if you want.”

Aaron followed, hoping they could talk. Daryl fell onto the couch, one leg stretched out on the seat, the other hanging over the edge. He gave a huge sigh and closed his eyes. “I’ve never been so glad to lay down.”

“What happened out there?” Aaron asked. “What really happened?”

Daryl opened one eye to look at Aaron. Then he slowly and reluctantly sat up and patted the seat next to him. Aaron went over and sat down. Daryl opened up to him. “My plan with Henry worked. Lydia was more trusting and told me the truth about her and her people. She’s a good kid, but she’s had it rough for a long time. I didn’t want to give her back, and I wasn’t going to until they produced Alden and Luke. I had no other choice. I hope you understand that.” He didn’t want Aaron to think he was a heartless asshole.

“Of course. I would have done the same thing,” Aaron assured him.

“So, I sent her back.” Daryl shook his head at a memory. “That bitch, Alpha. She smacked Lydia right in front of everyone, but it felt more personal, like a message directed at me. You know. ‘This is my kid and I’ll do what I please to her’. I know the type. That woman,” Daryl said, looking at Aaron. “She ain’t right. But I did the only thing I could do, and I was prepared to live with another difficult decision.”

“And then Henry took off after her,” Aaron said.

Daryl nodded. “Connie and I tracked him down. He’d caught up to them, and then they captured him. There were too many of them to confront, and they were keeping a close watch over Henry. We used a nearby herd to distract the group. While they were fighting off walkers, Connie and I swooped in and got Henry out. But Lydia was with him, and he wouldn’t go without her. I brought her along, knowing I’d figure out what to do with her later.”

“What are you going to do with her?” Aaron wondered.

“I’m not giving her back again. That’s for damn sure.”

Aaron smiled at him. “Good. That’s good.”

Daryl watched the stretch of his lips, and looked away. “Been a long time since I’ve seen you smile.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve had anything to smile about. But I’m glad to see you standing up for Lydia and taking her under your wing. I just worry about Alpha retaliating. This is her daughter after all. Her flesh and blood. She’s not going to let this go unanswered.”

Daryl leaned his head back on the couch and slumped down. “I know. I think about it every second I’m out there with her. I’m just exhausted right now. I need to recharge, get my thoughts together.”

Aaron scooted to the end of the couch. “Here, use me as your pillow.”

Daryl watched him a moment, and then he stretched out on the couch, using Aaron’s lap to rest his head. His eyes closed and he relished the feel of their closeness. “This reminds me of way back when we’d come home from a scouting mission.”

Aaron smiled and remembered too. “We’d always take at least a day for ourselves, lounge around the house and do nothing.”

“I think back to better times, and I miss it,” Daryl admitted.

Aaron wanted nothing more than to run his fingers through Daryl’s hair, comfort him like he used to do. “I think about it too … but–”

“Don’t say anything more. I know those days are long gone, and you’ve changed and moved on. I don’t want to–”

“It’s all right to remember. I’m just … well … it’s too soon.”

“I’m sorry,” Daryl said sincerely. He allowed some silence to pass between them before speaking again. “How have you been since … you know?”

“It’s been difficult, but you know what they say. One day at a time.”

“Paul was a good man, and no matter what you might think, I’m glad he was there for you.”

“He was there as often as he could afford. It wasn’t the ideal relationship, but we made it work.”

“And you … y-you loved him?” Daryl dared to ask.

“Do you really want to know the answer to that question?” Aaron asked. It seemed so unlike Daryl to ask such personal questions, especially about the man that replaced him.

“Mmph,” Daryl grunted. “I guess I just want to know you were happy.”

“I was,” Aaron confessed. “And . . .” Should he dare say it? “I will be again.” He looked down at Daryl, and his eyes were already closed, but his mouth carried the slightest sign of a smile. He waited until Daryl was sound asleep, and then slipped a pillow under his head to replace Aaron’s lap. He left to see to Henry and Lydia, and find out what Michonne said to her.

>>------->

Daryl wasn’t sure how long he was asleep, but he was sad to find Aaron gone when he woke up. His words rang through his mind, and hope pumped at the edges of his heart. But he would give Aaron time, as long as he needed if it meant he would one day take Daryl back. On the other hand, he wondered if they could really go back to what they once were, especially after all the pain Daryl caused him.

As he walked along the town, Daryl noticed Judith sitting by the lake. A boardwalk ran along the edge now, with waterwheels moving water. For what, Daryl wasn’t sure. For power? Clean water? He couldn’t say. It wasn’t anything he’d seen before.

Judith had been looking for him earlier. Michonne told him that she asked about him constantly, and that she missed him. Daryl was proud to know this. He’d been one of the first ones to hold her as a newborn. He gave her her first bottle, rocked her in his arms, and had always been able to calm her whenever she cried. When he left after Rick’s death, he missed her. He’d see her from time to time, but those were long spans. He missed out seeing her grow, and though she was only ten, she was much wiser than her age.

Daryl sat down next to her, still wearing her father’s sheriff hat, handed down from her brother as he fought to resist the poison that ran through his veins after sustaining a walker bite. Judith looked over at him, and then back to the water.

“Is Hilltop in danger?” she asked.

“It might be, but I hope not,” he answered.

“And you helped Lydia anyway,” she commented.

“I went to help Henry, but Lydia came along with us. Henry wanted her with him.”

“But you brought her here. That means you want to help her too.”

“Up until now, I’ve been helping Henry, but … I guess you could say I’m helping Lydia too. At least I am now.” Daryl wasn’t sure what she was getting at.

“I wanted to help those people that I found,” she said.

“I know you did, but your mother had a very good reason for sending them to Hilltop.”

“Will you stay if my mom says it’s okay?” she asked, looking up at him and squinting against the bright sky.

Daryl took a moment to answer. He wished he could stay. He wished he could go back to the couch with Aaron and just talk and reminisce. But there were more important things to take care of. “No,” he finally answered. “I have to keep moving.” Judith didn’t seem to like that answer, so Daryl expanded. “Your mother sent those people away for a reason. She wants nothing more than to keep you and your brother R.J. safe. And the people of Alexandria, too. That’s what’s important.”

Judith’s attention went back to the sun sparkling on the lake. “No it’s not. Not just us. That’s not how it’s supposed to be.” She looked up at Daryl again. “I’ve heard the stories of how everyone came together to fight against the Saviors and won. They won because they helped each other. I think we can do that again.”

Daryl’s thoughts turned to darker memories, of the day Judith was kidnapped and the horrible things him and Michonne had to do to save Alexandria’s children from Jocelyn. “You haven’t heard all the stories,” he said with a sullen expression.

“What do you think my dad would have done?” she asked, cornering him and bringing his thought back to the light.

Daryl knew exactly what Rick would do with the situation they were in at the moment, and it was the opposite of what Michonne wanted for Alexandria. He couldn’t say it aloud. He couldn’t tell Judith that either, and she knew it.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” she said, calling him out. It was apparent that for as young as Judith had been at the time, her father played a big part in her life. The girl was smart beyond her short years.

“Come on. Let’s get back to the others,” he said standing.

Judith followed him and they went back to the busy part of town.

>>------->

The sun had set hours ago. It was nighttime, but Daryl wasn’t sleeping. He’d been here and there around the town, seeing the new construction, checking in on some of the people he knew that were still up. He walked past Aaron’s house a few times, but he didn’t stop. He noticed a light on upstairs in the bedroom that they used to share. If he allowed it, his mind would have easily went back to those days of bliss, before all the trouble came and broke their world apart. Daryl decided it wasn’t progressive to dwell on it. What he really wanted to do was spend some more time with Aaron. Their short visit earlier wasn’t enough.

Daryl circled the block a couple more times, but with nothing to do and nowhere else to go, he found himself back at Aaron’s house. The lights were out now, and he wouldn’t disturb him. Instead, he climbed the steps to the front porch and laid down on the wicker loveseat between the two front windows. The house looked a little different, but Daryl remembered Aaron saying that the front took some damage from the Negan war. The windows and the door weren’t the same, and they weren’t a match to the rest of the house. There used to be one big window with black frame. Now there were two smaller ones with bigger panes of glass.

He had just laid down when he heard the door lock click open. Daryl sat up and watched Aaron come out of the house. He was wearing a white t-shirt and dark blue checkered pajama bottoms. Aaron had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders.

“Hey. What are you doing out here?” Aaron asked. “It’s cold.”

“The cold don’t bother me much,” Daryl said.

“Do you want to come in?”

Daryl shook his head. “Naw. I don’t want to wake your kid or nothin’.”

“She sleeps like a rock. Always has,” Aaron said as he took a seat next to Daryl. “Can’t sleep?”

“You know me. I never sleep when I got things on my mind.”

“What kind of things? Want to talk about it?” Aaron hoped he wouldn’t chase him off with questions.

“Just trying to work out what’s going to happen next. There’s too many possibilities right now.”

“Well, you’re taking Henry and Lydia back to the Kingdom, and the fair will be starting by then. You’ll probably stay for that.”

“What if Carol and Ezekiel won’t let her stay?” Daryl seemed concerned. “Michonne doesn’t want her here, and Tara doesn’t want her at Hilltop. The only thing left is to take her with me and stay on the move.”

“That’s not a very good option. And besides, you don’t know that Carol will say no. Henry can be persuasive too.”

“Don’t I know it. That’s why the girl is with us in the first place. I just can’t think too far ahead with this one, and that bothers me. It feels like playing a game of hot potato, and no one want to be caught with Lydia under their watch. We don’t know anything about these Whisperers so we don’t know how to fight them if they come at us.”

“That’s the part that bothers me too. I don’t know. I’ve been opt to side with Michonne lately about staying independent from the others. Alexandria can protect itself as long as we’re in here.”

Daryl was surprised to hear Aaron say this. He had always been about helping those in need. “Well, I’ll figure it out as we go along. I usually do.”

“Maybe you could take her to Oceanside. You can’t stay, but Rachael might allow Lydia to. And then … maybe … I don’t know … you could come back … here,” Aaron dared to suggest.

Daryl caught Aaron watching him out of the corner of his eye. “I would, but I thought Hilltop might be a better fit right now. They could use the help.”

Aaron bowed his head. He was disappointed, but he understood. “Yeah, when Paul died it left a big position needing to be filled. I can think of no one better.” He looked up and gave Daryl a forced smile.

“You don’t want me around here anyway. I’d be bumping heads with Michonne and her rules. I can’t just stay in one place like that. All three communities are in need of something, and I can still help out wherever I’m needed.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

Daryl leaned over and bumped shoulders. “I appreciate the offer though. Really.”

“Consider it an open invitation.” Aaron smiled. “Now come on in the house. You can take the couch. At least get some good solid sleep before you head out in the morning.”

Daryl nodded and followed Aaron inside. He made up the couch with blankets and a pillow. Daryl got comfortable after Aaron went to bed. He slept light, and dreamed of better days.

>>------->

Early morning. The sun wasn’t even up yet, but Daryl and Connie were anxious to get on the road. They had a long way to go to the Kingdom. Michonne and Aaron walked with the group to the gate. Henry and Lydia walked side by side. Connie walked with Michonne. Daryl’s dog was off to the side sniffing the wall. Daryl and Aaron walked at the back of the group and watched the exchange happening between Henry and Lydia.

“He really likes her, doesn’t he?” Aaron said about Henry when he noticed how his hand purposely brushed against Lydia’s.

“I got my hands full with those two,” Daryl said.

Aaron laughed quietly to himself. “Remember way back when we were still building the bridge, and I told you you’d make a great father? Well, you got to skip the whole diapers and terrible two’s stage, but I was right.”

“Henry has a father … and a mother,” Daryl pointed out.

“Yeah, but what you’re doing for Lydia? That’s parent level shit. She’s lucky she’s got you.” Aaron nudged Daryl’s shoulder playfully, making Daryl give up a brief smile.

When they reached the gate, they stopped to say their goodbyes. Daryl went to Michonne first. “You sure you won’t come with us? We could use another set of eyes and ears for the road.”

“I’m where I need to be,” Michonne said.

They caught movement off to the side and saw Judith watching them. She waved to Daryl, and he waved back.

“She’s still mad at me for not helping,” Michonne said.

“She doesn’t know the whole story about that day. You should tell her. She’ll understand better,” Daryl advised.

Michonne shook her head slowly back and forth. “She’s not ready to know, and I’m not ready to tell her. As soon as I do, it will change her. She’s still a kid, and I want to keep her that way for as long as possible.”

“But she’s not. Judith’s not just a little kid. She’s stronger and smarter than you give her credit for. But hey, all in good time,” Daryl said to lighten the moment. “Stay safe.” He hugged Michonne one more time.

While the others were saying their goodbyes, Daryl took Aaron to the side. “Thanks for letting me crash at your place.”

“I’m glad you did. And I’m glad we’re friends again. I missed this,” Aaron admitted.

“So did I,” Daryl said, looking into Aaron’s eyes. He knew it was too soon and bad timing, but he wished he could kiss him. He wouldn’t, of course, but he could wish it. Instead, he put his hand out offering to shake.

Aaron took his hand, but instead of a shake, he pulled Daryl into his chest, forcing Daryl to put an arm around him for a hug. “Please be careful out there. I don’t know what I’d do if anything happened to you,” he whispered into Daryl’s ear.

Neither man moved. Instead, they closed their eyes and reveled in the feel of being close again. Daryl moved his head so his lips were close to Aaron’s ear. “I promise to stay safe. You’ll see me again.”

Daryl’s warm breath sent a vibration up Aaron’s spine. He wished Daryl would initiate a kiss, but he knew it wasn’t the right time. Daryl was being respectful of Aaron’s grieving, especially so soon after losing Paul. Perhaps another day, he told himself to head off the disappointment.

They stepped away from each other and gave one last smile. Daryl turned to his group. “Let’s go.” The gate opened and they walked through. Daryl whistled for his dog. The gate shut, and they were on their way to the Kingdom.

Aaron was still staring at the gate when Michonne approached him. “Come on. Let’s get this day started.” She put her arm around his shoulder, and they walked back toward the center of town.
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Safe Haven in the Chaos