(Temp hiatus) Observe (the walking dead)

Reunited (and it feels pretty good)

Ava couldn't believe her eyes when a cabin came into view, Tyreese on the front porch holding a baby, Judith. Judith was alive, and she was right there.

She stops dead in her tracks, grasping the people standing next to her for stability. She's not even sure who she grabbed, but Ava felt like her knees would cave any moment now. She had been under the impression for so long that Judith was gone, dead. And here she was, in Tyreese's arms, safe.

Ava always was a softie, she was also very sensitive. It was just who she was. She hadn't spent much time with Judith, only holding her and feeding her when she needed to. Which is what made her have so much regret when she thought the baby girl was gone. But now she knew that no matter what, she would always make time for her now. Judith was a beacon of light in horrible times, she was a miracle.

Ava was pulled from her thoughts by Tara and Roman, who she now realized was who she was using for stability. She apologized and shook her thoughts away as she ran up to Rick, who was now holding his daughter, Carl close by.

Ava grazed the soft cheek of the baby and kissed her forehead before looking up at Rick and smiling through her tears, giving him a nod. Roman grabs her and pulls her off to the side.

"Carol did it, didn't she?" He questioned. Ava looked down at the ground, as if she was the guilty one, before nodding.

Ava looked back up when Roman said nothing. "Roman?" She questioned, hoping he'd remove his hands from his face. She couldn't read him this way.

   When he did nothing, she knew he was trying to recollect himself. He was trying to even himself before reacting. Ava moved closer and put her arms around his waist, hugging him with her head to his chest. "I'm sorry, I should have told you. I thought she was dead, and that it wouldn't matter."

   Roman sighed and shakily put his arms around Ava, "it's not your fault. I wouldn't have even known if you hadn't  not hugged her when she found us. Thank you for being honest." Is what Ava wished he had said.

   "Hold me so I don't kill her," is what he actually said. "Do not let me go, Octavia. I don't know what I'll do."

   Ava wasn't scared of him, but she was scared of what he could do to Carol. Tyreese had seemingly forgiven her, assuming he knew. But Roman wasn't Tyreese, he wasn't as 'zen' as him. He was temperamental and already going through a rough patch.

   Ava nodded and didn't let go, even when Rick announced that they needed to move, she still wrapped her arms around one of his as they walked. She noted that the boy was still shaking.

~

   The group stopped somewhere in the woods to rest up after a bit, Ava made sure not to leave Roman's side for a single second, as well as giving Carol warning glances whenever she could. She didn't want to see either of them hurt, and she honestly wasn't sure who would come out on top if it came to it.

   "Why'd she do it?" He questioned, looking at the ground as he moved a small stone with the toe of his boot.

   "Well, my guess is that she did it so it wouldn't spread. Which obviously didn't work, and it was wrong of her to take into her own hands," Ava mumbled, rubbing his arm comfortingly.

   Roman looked like he was about to say something before Maggie stepped up to them. "Come on, Ava. Let's get you cleaned up," she smiles softly.

"Oh, no— I'm okay—" Ava tries to convince Maggie, but the woman simply gave the girl a look and she was shut right up.

Ava looked to Roman, silently asking him if he would be okay long enough for her to wash up. He looked uneasy, which Maggie quickly clocked. "How about you just do a wipe down?"

Roman seemed okay with the efficiency of it, but his nod was reluctant still yet. With this answer, Maggie quickly whisked her daughter away.

Ava had just finished when Maggie offered to brush through her hair, which Ava was more than happy to comply with. She always loved her hair being messed with, it was like a mini massage.

"So what's going on with you and Roman?" Maggie questions Ava, pulling all her hair back.

"What?" Ava tilts her head to look at her mother figure, confused at the question. "He's my best friend, everyone knows that."

"I see the way he looks at you. I also see the way you look at him." Maggie smiles, shaking her head at the girl.

"What? There— no, there is no "way," he's just my best friend," Ava defends, using air quotes around 'way'.

"Oh come on. You don't see it?"

"No, because there's nothing to see."

Maggie chuckles softly, "there is. You're both just oblivious. In due time, you'll know I was right," she shrugs, smiling.

Ava rolls her eyes and crosses her arms, having had enough of these accusations. There was nothing going on between her and Roman. They were best friends, that's it. They do all the things best friends do.

"Does he know?" Maggie speaks up, after a bit.

"About Carol? Yeah, he knows." Ava sighs.

"Well, he went into the woods with her and Tyreese a few minutes ago." Maggie says, causing the younger girl to stand up urgently, alarmed.

"Which way?" She shouts, already panting in stress.

"Ava-"

"Maggie, which way?!" Ava shouts again, panicking more and more every second.

Maggie sighs and points in a direction, and Ava is quick to run that way. She hears the panic and rustling from behind her of the rest of the group but she doesn't bother explaining, she knows Maggie will. Ava just had to get to the three. She had to make sure everyone was okay.

Ava found them sitting peacefully next to one another, filling their water bottles. "Roman?" Ava calls out, cautiously.

All three heads turn to see Ava, and Roman looks between Carol and Ava. "I'm okay, Aves. Really, I am."

"Are you— are you sure?" Ava looks between all three of them rapidly, her eyes darting around. She feels her chest getting heavier.

"Yeah. We talked about it. I'm still upset, obviously, but... I get it."

Ava sighs, smiling and nodding softly. "Thank god, I thought I'd have to break up a fight."

Carol and Roman laugh dryly, shaking their heads. Carol was on edge, Roman was coming to acceptance. Ava mentally applauded his strength, she knew that she would be furious if someone caused one of her family members to die, let alone killed them.