Miss Jones - ON HOLD

Conquer

The next day, it wasn't the plan but I had to take care of Judith. Rick was in holding after he and Pete had their brawl, so I volunteered to take her.

I wore a simple outfit, hair in s bun, and a rag on my shoulder.

Walking on the street and heading to the hang out, I sighed as I realized even if I wanted to go out they probably wouldn't let me because of the incident.

"Hey if you're smoking in there put it out and come outside. I have Judith with me." I said softly and I heard a bit of rustling, both Dennis and Parker walked out.

"Ooh I haven't had a chance to hold her yet, can I?" Dennis asked like nothing was going on in the community, like nothing happened. "Yes be gentle, support her head." I said softly and handed her over before looking at Parker. "I'm sorry we can't go out today. I'm on Jude duty as you can see. But even if I wasn't Rick kind of ruined the chances of your people trusting us to go out with one of you." I said with a bit of a sigh.

"We can do it another day, after everything is settled... There's gonna be a meeting, about Rick I think. It should be about my dad though. I could tell, it wasn't Rick who started the fight. And if he did it was for good reason." Parker said and looked down at the ground until he noticed Judith next to him, reaching out for him and whining.

"Dude she really likes you," Dennis laughed and gently handed her to Parker. "Dennis how long will Aaron be out with Daryl? Do they have a time frame?" I asked softly and he shrugged a bit. "Normally a week is the sign they need help or won't be back. I think they should be back in a day or two. That's how long we're normally out there." He said as honestly as he could.

Parker held Jude close and she started tugging on his clothes, messing with his buttons. "So are you guys going to the meeting? Are you allowed to?" Dennis asked and put an arm on my shoulders making me smile slightly. "Yeah I am, maybe I can help convince Diana." I said softly and Parker shrugged. "I think I have to be there, my dad is at least partially apart of the meeting topic so..." He said soft enough it wouldn't bother Jude.

"I'll go too, I want you guys to stay." Dennis said finally sounding serious and not his usual stoner, teenage tone. "I'm glad." I smiled softly and gave him a small side hug. After a few seconds I pulled away but put my arms out so I could hold Judith. I didn't want him to feel like I didn't like his showing of affection but the elongated time period of physical touch made me uncomfortable.

We walked around the park for awhile, talking about how life was before all the good things st least. We talked about what we missed and just let ourselves feel our age. At one point we stopped to sit down; Parker had Judith in his lap and she stood up, she was playing with his hair. It was cute how he closed his eyes, and was so patient with her even as she tugged his hair.

Once it got a bit later in the day I took Judith so I could head home for dinner before the meeting. "See you boys at the party later," I joked as I walked off.

After I ate and readied myself for anything that could happen that night, I walked with the others to the meetings spot. It was dark out but they had a fire going for light. It was odd seeing the community hold a meeting like that when it seemed like they'd have a town hall. Maybe they weren't delusional, or maybe we were helping them fix their delusions.

I had sat myself between Sam and Parker, Dennis sat on Parker's other side. We were still waiting on some of our people when Diana started the meeting.

It worried me knowing Glenn wasn't here yet, it wasn't like him to walk off but I trusted he'd be back and be okay.

A few of our people talked about how it is outside, trying our best to give real reasoning why Rick needs to stay here. Some of it might sound scary what they said, what we said, but they needed to hear it.

I was finally asked to stand and gove reasoning for Rick. I stood slowly, "I don't think what Rick did was the right way to handle the situation. Not unless it came down to it, but we won't know until we hear his side of things. Rick saved me, and others from so much. He's gotten some of us back from being kidnapped, and he saved others from being eaten. He might be scary but that doesn't mean he's bad." I said all what I could before I sat back down, getting a pat on the knee from Sam and a small nod from Parker.

After we talked Diana spoke herself, she brought up Father Gabriel. How he didn't trust us and thought we weren't good people. She said how Rick demonstrated all his reasoning but Maggie and even Jessie herself argued against it.

As Tobin talked about possibly exiling Rick, for the safety of our community, he was interuppted by Rick himself. He was silent as he walked up to us, covered in blood as he dropped a walker in front of us making us all stand and take a step back.

He explained how the gate was open, Spencer said how Gabriel was meant to close it, the walker got in. The walkers were gonna get in, one way or another, thsts why we need things like guards and people to watch the perimeter. People would get in too. That's why we need to have people have the jobs Diana and her community didn't want.

Rick even admitted he thought about killing some of them, just to save them. He said how they need to be ready because their kuck would run out.

Suddenly as he stopped talking Pete came from the opening, a sword in hand.

"You're not one of us, you're not one of us!" He seethed and walked up closer, being stopped by Diana's husband. He repeated his words and when he wasn't able to pass he slit Reg's throat making him walk back and fall. We all gasped and I put my hand on my pocket, readying myself to grab my knife and fight if I had to.

Rick got him down to the ground as he fought back and Diana finally told him to do it. Rick shot him, killing him.

After the shot rang through a voice was heard from the opening. "Rick?" I heard the familiar voice, one I would never forget. I took a step, Rick blocked my view but once I moved and saw him. I knew he was real.

"Dad?" I choked and sped walk over to him. I hugged him tight without thinking. I didn't remember how Rick told me he lost it, when he found him during our Prison days. All I saw was the man who raised me. I held him tight and just wouldn't let go.

"She's adopted" Parker could be heard whispering to himself, confused and a bit astonished.

"Tamara? Mara? You're alive." He mumbled, keeping his arms to his sides before he realized I was really real. He hugged me back tight until we had to pull apart and address our problems.

Family always wins

Or does it?