Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

83

When they got back to Alexandria, Rick was already waiting, Aaron having gone and gotten him when he saw them coming up the road. "What took so long? I thought it was only gonna be a day or two." Rick asked, pulling Kit into an embrace, kissing her hard, the days of worry from the lack of information their oldest and merle had briefly given him when they were here last. Lydia looked between the two and then at Daryl, confused until henry leaned over and filled her in. It still confused her how that even worked, but she didn't exactly have a healthy example she could compare the trio to. 

"We'll fill you in," Daryl said, squeezing Ricks's shoulder.

"Laura, will you take Henry to Siddiq?" Kit asked the blonde woman who stood off to the side by the gate.

"Sure. let's go, kid." She nodded, handing her gun off to Aaron for when she comes back for her watch shift.

"What happened." Rick asked as he watched henry limp away, his eyes just catching Lydia standing off to the side anxiously playing with her sleeves. "who's-"

"Lydia. We uh Sort of relinquished her mother from her parenting rights." Kit said, looking anywhere but at Rick.

"Okay, but why bring her here? Where did she come from?" He asked, looking to Daryl, who was also looking away. "She's from that group, isn't she?" He asked, turning to merle, who was beside Connie.

"Yup. Lucky it weren't another Pete situation." He answered, nodding towards Kit from behind her. Kit scoffed and crossed her arms. 

Rick sighed, rubbing his face. "Your sister is inside somewhere with carl" Rick nodded to Connie. She read his lips as he spoke and then took off to find where she was, merle following like a lost puppy. Ricks's eyes followed him, confused for a moment, then turned back to Kit and Daryl. "We are going to talk about this. And her group, but right now, you need to prepare yourself."

"Why? What did you do?" Kit asked, her mind running with all sorts of scenarios. 

"When uh Negan came back. We had a chat."

"Bout?" Daryl asked squinting

"We're putting him to work," Rick said, lightening fast, partially hoping they didn't hear.

Kit's eyes narrowed. "Elaborate."

"Building, Gardening, anything."

"Man-" Daryl scoffed, starting to pace.

"He's under around-the-clock guard the whole time." Aaron quickly added, he wasn't happy at all when Rick first made the decision, but it gave him slight satisfaction to see him slaving away.

"I would hit you if I didn't love you, you know that right." Kit scoffed, taking her eyes off Aaron and back to Rick.

"I know, I know you're a saint." Rick cooed his face pleading for them to compromise. 

Aaron laughed out loud before he muffled it; Kit playfully glared at him, half tempted to tease him about Jesus again but ultimately decided against it. "Kids with Gracie?" 

"Yeah, they were trying to teach Tj how to ride a bike." 

"Good. Let's go talk then. Lydia." Kit nodded for the girl to follow.

They had to pass by the garden where Negan was unfortunately working and spotted her immediately from his place down by the tomato plants. He gave her a wide smile when he saw she quickly find him too. "Welcome home." He lazily waved 

"How is it after all these years, you still look like a preening peacock?" Kit offhandedly commented as she continued to walk, turning her head to face their house down the road.