Cowboy

64) Aaron

Alicia and Aaron walked through the woods, his arm supporting her. She was a little light headed from the blood loss and she was still in shock.

"So this community..." She started. "It's safe?"

He nodded. "We have walls, a leader, food. It's about as safe as it can be these days."

She bit her lip, considering whether she should ask or not. "I have a question... I just don't know if you'd be willing to help."

He looked at her, smiling slightly. "I'm sure whatever it is, we can help."

She nodded, sighing. "I had a group... we were at an old prison and then someone came and tried to take it away from us. He's dead now... but we were all separated. I have a husband and a daughter. I need to find."

He was quiet for a moment. "You want us to help you find them." She nodded. "We're always looking for new people. I'll talk to our leader. I'm sure we can work something out."

"Thank you." She said, looking up at him. "Seriously."

"You're welcome." He smiled. "How old is your daughter?"

Alicia smiled. "She's not even a month old yet." She sighed. "She was born about a week ago. I hope she's with her father."

Aaron's eyes widened. "Oh my God. You've been out here alone... and you're still recovering from having a baby." He chuckled. "Damn you're tough."

Alicia laughed. "I wasn't alone until you found me. I was with my brother and a friend. My brother passed out and another group came by and gave us a ride. When he woke up we were gonna leave them and go find his wife and my family. They wouldn't let us though so I ran."

He stopped walking, looking at her. "You ran... after all that shit you were finally safe and you ran away from it to find your family? That's..."

"That's all I could do." She said. "If I don't have Daryl and Jordan then I have nothing."

He nodded, continuing walking. "You're strong." Aaron seemed to hesitate. "You remind me of my boyfriend."

Alicia grinned, sensing he was nervous to tell her that. "He must be awesome then."

He seemed to relax slightly. "He is." He looked down at her. "Most people seem repulsed when I tell them I have a boyfriend."

Alicia shrugged. "You're gay... so what? There are dead people walking around, you being with another man is the last thing I'm worried about."

Aaron laughed. "I wish more people saw it that way. They act uncomfortable around me."

She scoffed. "My father was homophobic. I never understood why." She said. "You're just another person. You just play for the same team I do." She nudged his shoulder. "I don't blame you... men are hot."

He laughed. "Yes they are."
—————
Daryl sat on a log, Jordan sleeping in his arms. Beth was sitting in front of him, writing in her diary. She looked up, seeing how he was chewing on his lip.

"She's ok." Beth said. "I know she is."

Daryl grunted. "Naw you don't." He rolled his eyes. "I shoulda stopped her from going to find Glenn."

Beth rolled her eyes. "Even if you had tried you wouldn't have stopped her. You should have seen the look on her face."

He snorted. "She is stubborn." Jordan began to wake up, making small noises. "Shh, shh." Daryl rocked her. "You're alright." She snuggled into her father touch. "There you go."

Beth watched him, smiling. "You're good at that."

"Good at what?"

"Taking care of her." She smiled. "She's lucky to have you for a dad."

Daryl shook his head. "Naw, she's lucky to have Ali, for a mom. That girl... she's the best woman I've met."

Beth stood up, walking to sit beside him. "So stop worrying about her. If you don't find her, she'll find you."

"How do you know that?" He asked.

Beth sighed. "I don't. But I do know that nothing stops a mother from seeing her baby. As long as Alicia has any hope that Jordan's still here... she'll come back to us."

Daryl nodded, sniffing a little. "Yeah."