Days Go Bye | Rick Grimes

Hey, Jude.

Chapter Nine

I woke up to her crying that night, immediately going to her, and going and getting a bottle, I knew babies usually eat every 3 hours so it didn't shock me, nor was I even sleeping soundly anyway, terrified I wouldn't wake for her if she needed me, Carl was sleeping in my bunk too on the top, and I had the door closed again for fear of our safety, now if Rick was here with me, I would feel way safer then I did right now.

I sat on the stairs as I fed her, hearing a whisper behind me, I looked up and saw Daryl, he patted beside him so I got up, going to him, he held his arms for her, and took her from me, as I sat beside him. "Lean on me." He whispered and I did. "Carol would have loved her." He whispered and I smiled nodding.

"Were you two..."

"Were you and Rick?" He asked and I stared at him.

"No," I mumbled and he nodded.

"Me too." He said and I hummed. "You're doing good at this mom shit." He said and I smiled at his words. "What did she tell you before..."

"She told me to raise them like they were mine... because they are now," I muttered looking at my fingertips. "They will know her... especially her," I pointed at the baby in his arms. "I will tell her all of her mom's stories, and all of her favourite things... she will know her," I whispered and he nodded looking at me. "You're doing a good job too Daryl," I said and he nodded smiling. She finished drinking and he held her up to burp her, I watched him smiling and then he handed her to me. "Back to bed now, Ass-Kicker." He said and I smiled.

Right now she was sleeping inside a tote, filled with towels for cushions and blankets for warmth, we didn't have the numbers to get her a crib yet. She slept right next to me in the cell, I put her down in the makeshift bed and I closed the door again behind me. Carl shot up suddenly.

"Aunty!" I jumped, he was looking for me and almost fell off the bed. I grabbed him stopping him from falling off.

"I'm here." I grabbed his hand and he looked at me, blinking in a cold sweat. He nodded.

"Stay-"

"I am... I'm just below you, remember?" I asked and he nodded again, I kissed his head, and he curled up slowly falling back to sleep. "Goodnight..." I whispered and he smiled at me. I went down to my bunk and fell asleep the best I could until the light came through the bars, I got up and carried her tote downstairs with me as she slept in it, I made everyone food, while the others woke up.

"Have you eaten?" Hershel asked as I placed his bowl in front of him.

"Yeah." I nodded and he nodded at me. I lied. I wasn't hungry. Not right now.

"Everybody okay?" I heard Rick suddenly ask and I turned to look.

"Yeah, we are," I said and he nodded at me rubbing my back as he walked up. "Where were you?" I asked.

"I cleared out the boiling unit." He said and I turned upon hearing that, that was where she was... I walked over to the baby and picked her up as she whined.

"How many were there?" Daryl asked.

"I don't know, dozen, two dozen." He muttered and I rolled my eyes. "I need to get back, just came to check on Carl and Y/N." He said and Glenn stood up.

"Rick, we can take care of the bodies-"

"No, I do." He said before walking to Daryl. "Everyone has knives and guns?"

"Yeah, we're running low on ammo though?"

"Maggie and me were planning on making a run today, found a phone book, with some places we can hit for ammo and formula," Glenn said. Rick ran out after the mention of Axel fixing the generator, but I think it was the mention of the formula that set him off, he didn't even look at me once I picked her up. I sighed and fed her again, swaying, I started humming the first song that came to my head, I couldn't remember the words but I could remember the melody.