What's Next

Chapter Thirty Nine 🦋

 Val's POV:

I walked into the makeshift armoury/pantry only to see Eugene on the floor while Carter stood pointing a gun to his head. "what the hell do you think you're doing?" I scolded, as I stood at the doorway with Rick, Daryl, and Morgan all behind me. Carter looked at us, I could see the fear that was written in his eyes when he made eye contact with me. "Taking this place back from you." He stated, staring straight at my brother.

"That's what you were talking about in here?" Rick questioned, stepping towards whoever else was in here. "That's what he was talking about." Spencer stated.

"See I would have... I would have set up some lookouts." Rick states.

"That would have been the smart thing to do." I scoffed, getting closer towards Carter. "You know if someone would happen to..." I began before I lunged at Carter taking the gun out of his hands. Kicking his feet out from underneath him, knocking him to the ground. I was now pointing the gun at him. I heard everyone gasp around. Even Rick and Daryl. "You really think you're going to take this community from us? You need to do better than that." I scoffed.

"Rick isn't the one to be afraid of. I am."

"I am a hormonal pregnant woman, at any point I could have this baby and to hell with anyone if you think you can take this place from us. You have no idea what the hell you're doing and you're sure as hell messing with the wrong woman." I scowled.

"If you're gonna kill me just do it already." Carter pleaded. I just laughed. I laughed his foolishness. I uncocked the gun, handing it straight Rick. Pulling one of my knives out of my boot. I got down to his level, holding the knife to his throat. Digging it slightly in. "If I wanted to kill you I would, but I won't have to. Sooner or later you'll be dead anyways." I sneered. Pulling away and walking off. Knowing I would have cut him just the slightest.

I knew I left everyone there speechless. That only meant I would have to answer questions later.

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I sat on the porch, twiddling my knife in my hand. Spotting a little bit of blood on the tip of the knife. I haven't been that way in years. I just couldn't stop myself. I was pissed. I wanted to kill him I really did. But I didn't. The more I thought about it the more I knew that he was just better off being left to the walkers. I mean that's what is going to happen anyways, might as well let it happen. "what was that all about?" I heard Daryl question, grabbing my attention. This was the first time he spoke to me since he got angry with me, and I threw that water in his face. "oh so we're talking now?" I muttered, annoyed.

"Answer my damn question Valentina." He growled.

"Wow Valentina... you rarely call me that. Unless you're pissed with me. What have I done now Daryl huh? What now?" I scoffed.

"I don't know what ye expect Val... I've been shitting myself ever since ya told me ye might be having twins. Fuck Val what the hell am I meant to do with that information."

"I don't know how about talk to me! I've been more than open with you, why can't you just open up with me?"

"open up? There is plenty that ye haven't even told me!"

"is that what this is really about? That shit that Vanessa said! Are you kidding me!"

"well since its clear I don't know the woman I am with, what do ya expect huh?"

"Really what's next huh? It's not your baby or something! I can't believe this!" I yelled, growing angry. I stood up from my spot on the porch throwing my knife down beside me. He stood there in front of me completely dumbfounded. I watched as the frustration he approached me with soon started to drain away as he observed each and every action I made. "I can't believe you Daryl. I have told you so many times that I've done so terrible shit when I was younger, but I've also said that I'm not like that anymore!" I could feel the tears well up, starting to threaten me that they will fall.

"What happened sunshine? Please just for once tell me." He pleaded, soft with his tone. I sighed. How the hell was I supposed to explain to him the things I never wanted to relive. "My mom and I fought a lot. So I used to run away. The arguments only got worse when I first got pregnant. She was ashamed of me, and she never failed to tell me that..." I began as I took in a deep breath.

"so like always I ran away. Only this time had been different. I was a pregnant teen, I was terrified. It was still early in the pregnancy, I wasn't even showing yet."

"I was just walking down the street. I was just minding my business. Before I knew it my vision had been blurred, everything went dark. I remember being taken, tied up and shoved into what I could only assume was a van of sorts."

"When I could finally see my surroundings, the first thing I saw was my ex boyfriend's face, Emerson's dad. He refused to believe the baby was his, meanwhile he had been the only guy I had ever been with. Especially after what he did to me. No matter how much I told him she was his, he just refused it."

"apparently his dad and him refused to allow in their words a slut be the mother of his father's first grandchild. I begged and pleaded. But no one listened." My breath started to become heavier the more I recounted.

"I was innocent once Dare, but after him. I was just angry all the time. After they threw me back on the streets, I went to vanessa's for help, her mom was a nurse. I told them what happened, and they promised that no police would be involved, as that is what I wanted. I was terrified."

"So I familiarised myself with knives, guns, how to do some real damage with a whip even. I promised myself that the next time someone was to try and harm me they wouldn't succeed. I kept throwing knives on me at all times after that. To protect myself, when no one else would. Rick was too busy making our parents proud to know what really happened. And I never told him either."

"What about that girl that Vanessa talked about? What was that about?" He questioned becoming curious, after I haven't mentioned anything about that encounter yet. "She was my ex's new girlfriend. I was still very much pregnant, so I was becoming further along, and it started to show. She was someone who was picture perfect, with how skinny and tall she was she could've been mistaken for a model. She looked like she could be on the cover of a magazine."

"she never liked me. Always bullied me. Just this time she made a mistake. She stood there, in front of ness and I, she was calling me fat just like she used to, saying that my family must be so proud of their slut they call their daughter. Without thinking I grabbed my knife out of my boot and pounced on her. Tackling her to the ground, holding my knife to her throat just like I did with Carter. I wanted to kill her, but Vanessa stopped me."

"honestly I was glad she did. If only she stopped me from making every other choice I made after that."

"I ran with some bad people, getting into some of the worse things that only fuelled my anger more. I even got arrested a few times. In the midst of all of it Shane and I started to be on and off. I used to think he was my knight in shining armour. Fuck I almost had his baby when I was 19 and even then I still hadn't changed my ways. Honestly the miscarriage was the best thing to had happen. 19 year old me definitely wasn't meant to be a mom and she definitely would not have been a good one. It wasn't until I was 24, and Rick had told me that him and Lori were expecting Carl."

"Carl was the reason I cleaned up my act. I kept any weapon I owned locked away, hidden so I could never be reminded of the girl I once was. I never wanted my nephew to ever know how I truly was. I vowed to myself that I would never let myself get that way again. What I did to Carter that was the real me. The real Val." The tears that were threatening to fall were doing just that. Falling. Right down my cheeks. I closed my eyes not wanting to know what expression was only Daryl's face. I felt his hands on my face, his fingers wiping my tears away. He pulled me in for a hug. "I'm sorry sunshine. I never meant to get mad at ye, not even frustrated. It's just after hearing ye say that we might be havin' twins and then on top of that I kept rememberin' all the things Vanessa was trying to tell me. I didn' know what to think anymore." Daryl apologised, finally admitting to me all that was on his mind. "It's okay Dare. It's okay." I muttered, reassuringly.

"Just next time Dare, come to me with what's on your mind. Please promise me that baby. Please."

"I promise sunshine." He whispered in my ear. Relief overtaking me instantly.

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