𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗕𝗜𝗔- rick grimes

THIRTY FOUR

THIRTY FOUR

ARIA AND RICK MADE THEIR WAY back inside the barn. The woman had to fight the smile that wanted to remain on her face after what happened in the woods between the two moments prior. It was a slight surprise to see her mood lighten up, her head raised an inch higher than it had been in the past three weeks. Greyson sat down with raised eyebrows, curious as to what could've happened in the thirty minutes they had been gone.

Aria was handed Judith by a relieved Carl, the boy didn't mind watching his sister but was grateful someone else wanted to watch her for the time being. Aria didn't mind as she placed Judith on the floor, sitting down in front of her, the baby holding her finger in her tiny hand. The woman's eyes met Rick's, a smile etching onto her face as he sat next to her, leaning his back against one of the pillars that held the barn up.

"I can already tell she'll be the toughest little girl ever." Aria smiled brightly at Judith, the young girl smiling back as she looked to the woman. It made Aria's heart swell at the sight, seeing the child so full of life and not having a clue what monsters lurked behind the shadows of every corner. " She'll give you the hardest time about teaching her how to shoot or hopefully how to grow food from a garden if it comes to that."

"Us." Rick reworded for the woman. Aria turning her head towards him to see the grin on his face as his eyes filled with so much warmth at the sight beside him. "She'll give us a hard time."

Aria couldn't help but to grow her smile, it fully reaching her eyes this time around at his words. It indicated what she hoped for in the future, a family, a life better than what was being handed to them now. It gave her hope for the future, for them. She thought about what it'd be like to grow old with him, Carl and Greyson teaching Judith how to catch a football or what their favorite pass time happen to be. It was the first time she fully let herself see what could potentially be her new future, a built community they started together.

A house right next to Maggie and Glenn, so Aria and Maggie could enjoy their morning coffee together before the girls young kids woke up and she had to help deal with them. She could only vision Beth living with Maggie until she was older, her and Grey moving into a house of their own down the street, sadly that was the most imaginative part of her make believe plan.

Daryl across the street, returning home from helping Greyson practice shooting his crossbow. Michonne has a family of her own, one that she so desperately deserved and them coming over every so often for dinners. The idea seemed far fetched, too good to be true. But it didn't make Aria's vision any less appealing than the way they lived now.

Her beautiful, tranquil, thoughts were interrupted by the barn doors opening and Maggie and Sasha entering in with an unknown person. The guy had his hands out in surrender, a sign that he came in peace. "This is Aaron."

Everyone quickly stood up, guns cocking just in case. Daryl walked past them, looking back in forth outside before turning around, patting Aaron down roughly. "We met him outside. He's by himself. We took his weapons and we took his gear."

The group just watched him, Aria slightly behind Rick who stood holding Judith in his arms. Aria had her bow in hand, down by her side but accessible in case she needed to use it. Aaron looked at the group nervously, swallowing harshly. "Hi." After he spoke Judith started crying, Rick passing her over to Carl for now so he could handle the new person that was standing there.