𝗕𝗟𝗨𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 , the walking dead

[47] say your goodbyes

SAY YOUR GOODBYES
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MAEVE IS LEANING AGAINST THE RV, watching as Rick is approaching. The second he is close enough, Maeve steps away from the RV and into Rick's line of sight while also blocking his path. Now that she has his attention, Maeve says to him with her arms crossed, "There is no way in hell that I am not going with you, i've followed all your orders. I stayed here and didn't go out looking for Daryl or Glenn, but if you're letting my brother go I am coming or I swear to—"

"Maeve," Rick puts a hand up, stopping her and her little speech that she obviously had prepared, "I was on my way to ask you to come with, I need fighters in case something happens. I also have a job for you, in case we run into Saviours."

Maeve nodded her head, not expecting Rick to say yes to quickly. She had given herself a whole pep talk, ready to finally stand up to him and demand he allow her to come on the journey to Hilltop. Maggie was sick, something was wrong with her or the baby and they only knew of a doctor at hilltop that would be able to help.

"I was going to anyway." Maeve told him, but then gave him a firm nod as her way of saying thank you without having to say it.

At that moment, Louis and Rory are standing with them. Rick looks at the boy, and raises his brows as he asks, "You ready?"

Louis nods his head, and turns to Rory who seemed to be surprised to hear about him leaving—he hadn't told her, there wasn't much time.

"Wait—why are you going?" Rory asked, as she rocked Judith in her arms a little to keep her calm.

"Maggie's hurt and I've been reading up on pregnancy illnesses. We're hoping I can help her till we get to Hilltop," Louis explained, seeing Rory's face tense up. She obviously admired that Louis was helping Maggie but at the same time she didn't want the love of her life going out there. Louis could read this on her face, that's why he brought his hands up and cupped her face, "I'll be back, I promise. I love you."

"I love you too," Rory breathed out for his ears only, Louis smiled as he leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips. They're lips lingered together for a moment longer, something in them knowing that this was a risky and dangerous journey. "Come back, okay?"

"Always." He whispered to her, letting his hand rest on her cheek a little longer. They looked into each other eye's and were remembering every detail they could as Louis's hand trailed down from her face to the braid in her hair. Rory gave a tiny smile at him, before Louis then gave Judith a smile and a little head pat before he steps towards his own sister and out of the way for Rick.

Rick steps forward and plant a kiss on the top of his oldest daughter's head, saying his goodbye to her and then doing the same to Judith.

While Rick is saying goodbye to Rory, Maeve grabs her brother's arm and pulls him to the side--stopping him from entering the RV. She looks at him, her hand still on his wrist as she tells him, "I don't want you going, I know—I know it's for Maggie, but after last time. I mean, you lost an ear Lou. I don't want you losing anything else."

Louis shook his head slightly, a sad look on his face as the memories he's been trying to push down have resurfaced so easily. Still so fresh in his mind, then Louis told her honestly, "You think I want to go? I haven't been able to stop looking over my shoulder just waiting for another gun to go out, take out the other ear—but Maggie was there, she got my through it and she's our family now. I won't let her go alone just because I'm so scared to, so you can't stop me."