Beautiful Mistakes~ A Rick Grimes Love Story

*| 33 |*

When we make our way into the barn, but we cautiously enter to check for any people or walkers.

"Stay close to my side." Rick says.
"Always." I respond, giving him a reassuring smile.

Our guns and flashlights are raised, in case we run into trouble. It was clear. There was only one walker in the barn, but Maggie handled it. We decided to stay there until the storm passed. We made a small fire, since we were cold from the rain. I fall asleep with Judith in my arms. Carl and Sage snuggle up against me, keep each other warm.

"She's going to be okay." Carol says, as she notices Rick looking at me. "She's strong... stronger than any of us."

"I know... I just hope we can find a place before the baby comes. But, maybe this is easier." he says.

"This isn't the world. This isn't it. We can find a place, for her, for all of us." Michonne says. Riley nods and wraps Michonne in his arms.

"It might be." Glenn says. "It might."

"That's giving up." Michonne says.
"We ain't ones to give up, either." Riley says.

"It's reality." Glenn says.

"Until we see otherwise, this is what we have to live with." Rick says. "I just hope... she can make it. Carl and Sage, too. It's easy to get lost and caught up in this world."

"Luna, Carl, and Sage are strong. It might not be the way you both imagined them growing up, but they are strong because of you. Because of Luna. And because of the love you have for them." Riley says.

With that, I wake up. "There she is." Rick says, smiling.

"How long was I out?" I ask.

"About an hour." he says. I rest Judith in my arms and bring her closer to the fire to stay warm. Rick wraps his arm around me, pulling me in. Mmm... he was so warm.

"So are we telling ghost stories?" I ask.

Everyone laughs. "Something like that... When I was a kid, I asked my grandpa once if he ever killed any Germans in the war... he wouldn't answer. He said they was grown-up stuff, so... so I asked if the Germans ever tried to kill him. But he got real quiet. He said he was dead the minute he stepped into enemy territory. Every day he woke up and told himself, "Rest in peace. Now get up and go to war." And then after a few years of pretending he was dead... he made it out alive. That's the trick of it, I think. We do what we need to do and then we get to live. But no matter what we find in DC, I know we'll be okay. All of us. Because this is how we survive." he says, looking at me.

"We tell ourselves... that we are the walking dead." Rick says.

"We ain't them." Daryl says.

"We're not them. Hey. We're not." Rick says, trying to we assure Daryl.

Daryl stands up and says again, "We ain't them."

"You never told me that story before." I say, running my fingers through his damp curly hair.

"I'll tell you more... once we find that place." he says.

"It's okay if we don't." I tell him, resting my palm on his cheek, and using my thumb to wipe away some dirt.

"What?" he asks.

"It's okay we don't find that place. Rick, my home is with you. It's not behind some place with walls.
It's right next to you." I say, gently kissing his lips.

"I love you." he whispers.

"I love you t—." I start to stay, until we notice Maggie, Daryl, and Sasha putting all their strength on the barn door. Walkers were trying to get inside.