(Temp hiatus) Observe (the walking dead)

Taking a walk

    "Hey," Beth slid into the commons room tables, across from Ava. She slides the brunette a bowl of some kind of meat that Daryl had caught and cooked. "You'll need your stren'th"

It had been a few days since Ava arrived. The group was warming up to her, but very slowly. The only ones who didn't take much time were Glenn, Maggie, and Beth. Today, Rick was going to meet with the governor to discuss terms, a meeting that Ava had heard Andrea set up.

Everyone was getting prepared, in case they had to storm up to Woodbury's doors guns ablaze, including Ava. She didn't know how to shoot, she barely knew how to use the weapons she did have, but they've forced her into this group and she would rather not die so she would do what she has to.

Rick, Hershel, and Daryl leave for the meeting and everyone waits tensely for their return. Some holding their weapons in preparation and some wearing riot gear for protection, but the two teen girls sit patiently in Beth's cell.

"Do you think they'll work something out?" Ava questions, interrupting the silence.

Beth doesn't answer for a minute, thinking over all the possibilities. "I hope so," was her conclusion. "I don't know if they will, but I hope they do."

Ava looks to the floor and nods. "Yeah, me too."

"Would you fight for us?" Beth questions.

"What?"

"I mean, who are we to you? Would you be willing to fight for us to stay alive?" Beth tilts her head.

Ava thinks about it for a moment. Would she fight for them? She would fight for herself, she's too scared to die. Too scared to become what she's fought so long to keep away. But would she protect these people?

"I'd fight for you and your sister. And Glenn. Those are my priorities. It's not like I wouldn't fight for the others, I don't want to see any of you die, I would just like to make sure you three are good before I help anyone else." Ava answers after a while, making Beth nod.

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

Rick and the others come back, gathering everyone around. "I met with this governor." Rick starts.

"Just the two of ya?" Daryl's brother, Merle, questions.

"Yeah. Just us." Rick nods, looking at the ground.

"Should have gone when we had the chance, bro." Merle says, brushing past Glenn.

"We sat down, had a talk. He wants the prison. He wants us gone, dead." He pauses, "he wants us dead for what we did to Woodbury. We're going to war."

Ava listens intently from her spot beside Beth, feeling like there's more to it than what he's letting on. She can read people, it's all she's ever done. It's hard not to pick up on things when all you do is watch from afar.

The crowd eventually disperses, everyone heading to their respective cells. It's late, but Ava decides to try and talk to Rick before she gets locked in.

"Rick?" She pokes her head around the corner of his cell. He opens his eyes and looks up.

"Hey, Ava. What's wrong?" He sits up, looking at the teen.

"Can we take a walk?" This had become a known thing that Ava asks, but she's never asked Rick before. She's only ever asked Glenn and Maggie to escort her on her walks.

"Right now? It's late," He tilts his head. "And with me?" He squints at her.

"Well Glenn and Maggie are sleeping.." she trails off, getting nervous from potentially being shot down.

Rick sighs but stands up. "Okay, can't sleep anyways," he brushes past her, nodding for her to follow.

Ava smiles softly and follows closely behind Rick. Once they get outside, they begin walking the inner fence, since the courtyard is still full of walkers.

"What was he like?" She asks, matching Rick's speed. He looks at her questioningly. "The governor, what was he like."

Rick sighs, "he was manipulative. Conniving. He tried making me think this was all my fault. I'm sure you've heard the stories, and I'm sure you know it was far from being my fault."

"I've heard. I think what you did was justified." She looks at the ground.

"Good. I'm glad you don't think I'm evil." He laughs lightly.

"This would be a lot more awkward if I did," she pauses, "more awkward than it already is."

Rick chuckles softly. "Yeah... I guess you're right." He says, as they reach the end of the fence and begin walking back.

"Did he really not give you any other option?" She questions, thinking about how she noticed something off about the way Rick was talking about it before.

Rick stays quiet for a minute as they walk, thinking about it. "He did. But I'm not sure it's something I can do, any of us can do."

"What was it?"

"He wants... he wants me to turn one of our people over, a specific person. But I think I know what he would do if I did, and I'm not sure I could live with myself if I let that happen." Rick explains, sighing and looking at the sky as if that would tell him what he should do.

"Oh... well of course you can't do that." Ava shrugs.

"You think so?"

"No, I know so. People are important. Valuable. This is a good group, one you can depend on, lean on. You can't just give that up. If you do, it may be giving up many of your people." She explains, eyebrows furrowed. "They'll think you'd be willing to trade any of their lives for your own peace, and they'll leave on their own before you can."

Rick thinks about it but doesn't say anything as Ava opens the door to the prison, Rick following. They get to her cell and she gets in, closing the door and holding it shut so Rick can lock it.

Instead, he pushes her hands off of the door and cracks it open. "No. No need," he smiles, "goodnight, Ava."

"Oh. Night, Rick." She says with wide eyes, watching the man retreat down the stairs.