Fighting for our Future {TWD Daryl Dixon}

99: Crazy Child Stealer

One Year Later.

Nora's POV:

Daryl didn't take the news about Merle leaving well. Not that I would expect him to, Merle is his brother after all. We did send a search party out to look for the eldest redneck, but after two months we called off the search when we couldn't find him. 

I hated having to be the one to call off the search. I love Merle too, but we can't put all of our resources into finding him. Especially when he chose to leave. He didn't have to, but he did. It hurts me not knowing where he is and if he's okay, but I have my kids and this community to care about. If he decided to leave and not be a member of Alexandria anymore, that's on him. I just never thought he would leave Daryl.

After I called off the search, Daryl continued looking. He comes back home every once in a while to see me and the kids, but not often. I see him less now than when I lived at Hilltop and he was at the Sanctuary.

I miss him. And the kids are so young that I can see them starting to forget their father, that is until the day that he visits us. But then he's always gone again by the end of the weekend to search for his brother. 

Sometimes I go out into the woods to visit him, but his camp is constantly moving as he searches different areas for Merle, so It's never easy to find him. I just want him to come home. I want him to find Merle, but it's been so long that I don't know if he ever will.

There's also been another development that has happened in the past year, but this one isn't sad and depressing like the tale I just told. No, this one is a happy development. Michonne's pregnant. Actually right now she's more than pregnant. She's close to going in labor. So I guess I'm going to have another sibling.

Currently I'm at Dad and Michonne's house eating lunch with them as the twins, Judith, and Maisie all play in the living room. I was watching them all play, and I saw the girls all playing together, but Theo was by himself. He didn't seem too bothered by it though.

I looked at Michonne who was happily eating her sandwich and spoke. "I hope you're having a boy." I laughed. "I'm tired of seeing Theo over there all by his lonesome while the girls play together."

"Well, maybe he's a loner just like his dad." Michonne commented and laughed. I get that it was supposed to be a joke but it stung a little. I frowned while staring at my baby boy sitting all alone, and thinking of Daryl, and how he's not here. "Oh, Nora. I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that." 

"It's fine." I shook my head. "What you said is true. He's alone all the time now. Barely comes to visit me and the kids."

"He'll come back when he finds Merle." Dad stated while trying his best to give me a reassuring smile, it wasn't working though.

"If he even finds Merle." I sighed.

"Don't say that." Dad shook his head.

"Why not?" I asked. "It's true. He may never find him. But I know he'll never give up. I don't expect him to. I just-" I cut myself off before taking a deep breath and leaning back in my chair. "I didn't expect him to leave us."

"He didn't leave you." Michonne tried to comfort me. "He still visits."

"Whoopty doodle doo." I groaned. "Should I give him a medal for visiting his kids? He should be visiting them. I just wish he was with us more. It's starting to feel like I'm not even married anymore."

"Maybe the next time Daryl's here," My father started speaking in a calm tone. "Try talking to him."

"I don't think talking about it will do any good." I admitted. "At the end of the day, Merle is still his brother. And he will stop at nothing until he's found. I know he also feels guilty about Merle leaving. He feels like he could have stopped him."