Dead Man Walking

cvii.

 They gave Hunter and Rosita jobs as stormtroopers. They were staying in an apartment a shitty one but enough room for all of them. So far, Judith and RJ were loving this place. And Hunter loved seeing the smiles on their faces when they would ask if they could go to the movies, or go to the store.

It was weird how everything was back to how it was. It was weird that he had to work to make money again. Everything was weird, not having to sleep next to a weapon just in case something happened in the middle of the night. Having a kitchen and actually being able to use it. There was food. It was safe. Hunter didn't exactly trust these people but he was willing to see how it goes.

Hunter sat on the floor, with Coco in his lap. She gurgled and cooed, reaching out with her tiny hands to grab at the toys in front of her. Hunter laughed and gently guided her hand to a brightly coloured plush ball, watching as she grasped it tightly.

He tickled her belly and she let out a burst of laughter, her whole body wriggling with delight. Hunter felt his heart swell with love as he looked into her big hazel eyes. He took out a small set of keys and jingled them in front of her, her eyes following the movement intently.

She reached out for the keys, her tiny fingers wrapping around one of them. Hunter grinned as she brought the key to her mouth, gumming it with her toothless gums. He appreciated that they gave them a bunch of toys. He leaned in and kissed the top of her head.

"Where's Judith and RJ?" Rosita asks as she walks into the living room.

"Believe it or not, they are at the haunted house with Daryl," Hunter replies as he lifts Coco into the air, "Is it time to go?"

"Yeah."

Hunter buckled Coco into the stroller before looking up at Rosita. He cupped her face and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her lips. As they pulled away, Hunter wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Can you believe it? We have a house full of kids, two of them have gone out to see the haunted house, we're taking this little one to Gabriel and then we have to go to work," Hunter says as he smiles down at her, "Tell me how crazy I sound right now."

"You sound insane, all of this is insane."

Hunter chuckles, "Yeah, I hate it here. And if I didn't have these little Grimes, I would be back in Alexandria."

"I want a nicer place, this is shit."

Hunter shrugs, "Well, we just got here. Did I tell you they want me to see a therapist. I don't need to see a therapist. I'm fine."

She smiles with a nod, "Oh, yeah, you're good. You're fine."

Hunter furrowed his brows, hearing the sarcasm in her voice, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

_____

After dropping Coco off with Gabriel, the two made their way to the training yards for work. Where they bumped into Daryl.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"How's the place? Getting any better?" Daryl wonders.

"Hell, no. I think this place is literally made of paper," Rosita replies, "You sleeping?"

"Nah. No, no."

They walked down the stairs away from the roof that was protecting them from the rain, "Well, when basic's over we get new apartments."

"Worrying about money again is so weird," Rosita says.

"It's not forever," Daryl says.

They got to the training yards and saw a few other people there. Hunter wondered when this was all done if he would have to wear the stormtrooper gear. He didn't want to. It was probably heavy and it would just slow him down.