FALLING APART daryl dixon

FIFTY ONE - ECHOES OF WHAT COULD NEVER BE

When Alycia finally returned from the trip with Rick, Carl, and Michonne, Bellamy could barely contain his excitement. His mood shifted the moment he saw her step through the prison gates, safe and sound. He felt the tension that had been weighing on him since her departure melt away in an instant. It wasn't just her return that brought relief, though—the mountains of guns and ammo they had brought back were enough to give everyone a glimmer of hope in their fight against the Governor and his forces.
As Alycia and Bellamy walked together into the prison, each carrying a duffel bag brimming with weapons, Bellamy glanced at her, his concern still lingering beneath his smile.

- How was the trip? - He asked, his voice soft but curious, trying to gauge if everything had gone smoothly.

- It was good - Alycia replied, her gaze distant for a moment. - We didn't get to see my old house, though—someone burned it down - She hesitated before pulling out an old, worn photo frame from her bag. - But I found this.

Bellamy looked at the photograph of Alycia and her family, his brows furrowing slightly as he took it in.

- Look at you... - He whispered, his voice trailing off. The moment was bittersweet, a connection to a past that felt like another lifetime. He knew how much that picture must mean to her, especially now, with so much of the world lost to chaos.

As they passed through the halls of the prison, Alycia could feel Daryl's eyes on her—watching her every move with Bellamy. His gaze burned with intensity, and though Alycia did her best to ignore it, she knew exactly what it meant. If looks could kill, Bellamy would be dead ten times over. Daryl, standing off to the side, looked like he was unraveling inside. The sight of Bellamy next to Alycia stirred a rage and jealousy that Daryl could barely contain. He didn't trust the Governor's son, not around her. But more than that, he couldn't stand seeing Alycia so close to someone else.

But Alycia wasn't going to make it easy for Daryl. She was waiting for him to come to her, to apologize for leaving her behind when she needed him the most. He was the one who had walked away, after all, and she wasn't about to chase after him. That was his job, now.

As Rick entered the room, the others followed behind, their arms full of duffel bags packed with guns. The group gathered around the table, staring at the sheer number of weapons laid out in front of them. It had been so long since they had felt this secure—since the early days of the prison, when they had stumbled upon caches of food and medical supplies. Now, for the first time in months, it felt like they stood a real chance.

- As you can all see, we found a few bags of guns and ammo, thanks to an old friend - Rick announced, his voice commanding the attention of the room. - This should be enough to defend ourselves - His words rang out, but Daryl barely heard them. His focus remained fixed on Alycia, and the way Bellamy was standing so close to her, always just a little too close for Daryl's comfort.

Bellamy, meanwhile, couldn't shake the anxiety that came with the looming threat of the Governor. A war was coming—everyone knew it. Andrea had arranged a meeting between Rick, Alycia, and the Governor in the coming week. Hershel and Daryl would be allowed to attend, but Bellamy had been explicitly asked to stay behind. The decision made sense. After all, no one was sure how the Governor would react to seeing his estranged son after all these years, especially not when Bellamy had chosen to stand by Alycia's side instead of his father's.

Bellamy wanted to be there. He wanted to look the Governor in the eye, to face the man who had terrorized him for so long. But deep down, he understood why it was better for him to stay. His presence would only complicate things, and the last thing they needed was for emotions to get in the way of what could potentially save all of their lives.