Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Thirteen.

He's not alone.

Iris sits on the porch of her old house, leaning her back against the door, she stares up at the stars, waiting for the sun to rise. She lets out a quiet sigh and stands up, leaving her things on the porch and walking towards the gate, she lets out a whistle and watches as the guards open the gates.

She walks through the woods and stops outside the old farmhouse, she walks through the overgrown grass and walks up the broken steps, she pushes the front door open, Iris walks into the living room and throws her body on the broken sofa, she watches how the sun shines through the dirty windows.

She pulls out her pre rolled cigarette and sits it between her lips, pulling out a small box of matches and holding the flame to the end of her cigarette, leaning back as she lets the smoke escape her lungs, she thinks back to the day she left, sitting in the same spot.

"Hey, where'd you go?" Michonne asks, walking over to Iris as she walks through the gates, "for a walk" Iris says, "you okay?" Michonne asks "i'm good"

.............

Iris sits against a tree, looking up at the sky and watching the stars, she listens to the sounds of the night, the crickets talking to each other throughout the woods, she slowly closes her eyes and sleep takes over her body.

When she wakes again the sun shines in her eyes, she stands up and walks back to Alexandria, going back to working on her bike as she watches Judith, RJ and Gracie play, "Judith, stay with your brother." Iris looks up to Michonne rushing out of the house, she drops her tools on the floor and starts walking with Michonne and Aaron "What is it?" she asks.

"Daryl's at the gate." Aaron says "And you didn't let him in?" Michonne asks "He's not alone." Aaron says, Iris quickly makes her way up to the watchtower, she looks down at Daryl, Connie, Henry and Lydia, "Henry's hurt. You were closest. I wouldn't have come. We had no other choice." Daryl explains "What about her?" Michonne asks.

"She's with us." Henry says, Iris climbs down the ladder and stops in front of the gate waiting for them to open "Open it!" Michonne orders, when the gates open Daryl and Iris walk to each other, meeting in the middle and wrapping their arms around each other, the pair pull away and they take Henry to the infirmary.

Everyone waits on the porch, Laura keeping an eye on Lydia as she sits with Henry while Siddiq stitches him up "So, where to now? Straight to the Kingdom?" Michonne asks, "Well, probably not straight, but, yeah... Carol should know." Daryl says, washing the blood from his hands in the bucket of water, Iris looks up when she hears the horses coming back into Alexandria.

"What're you doin' here?" Daryl asks, drying his hands, "I told Michonne I would be back soon, I was gonna leave for Hilltop tomorrow morning" Iris explains, "i'm glad you brought her back here" Iris adds, looking back to Lydia sat with Henry.

...........

Daryl and Judith sit by the water, Iris stands back when she hears them talking "Is Hilltop in danger?" Judith asks, "I don't know. Might be." Daryl says "But you helped Lydia, anyways." the girl says "No, I went to get Henry. Lydia just kind of tagged along." Daryl says "You brought her here. That means you want to help. I want to help, too." Judith says "I know you do." Daryl says.

"Would you stay if my mom says it's okay?" Judith asks "Nah. I should keep movin'. Your mom's right. Keeping you and RJ safe. This place. That's... That's what's important." Daryl says "No, it isn't. I mean, not just us. I've heard the stories, how everyone fought the Saviors and won. We can do that again." Judith says "You haven't heard all the stories." Daryl mumbles "What would my dad do?" the girl asks, "Yeah, that's what I thought." she says when Daryl doesnt answer her.

.............

Iris steps on the porch, picking up her backpack and her bow and quiver, sitting them on her back before walking down the road. Iris catches up to the others, walking next to Daryl and Aaron "Remember way back when I told you you'd make a great father? You got to skip the exploding diapers part, but I was right." Aaron says.

"A lot's changed. Back then, we were still building bridges." Dasryl says, Michonne opens the gate and Aaron pulls Iris into a hug, "do you mind keeping my bike safe a little longer" Iris asks, pulling away from the man "of course" he says. Iris turns and wraps her arms around Michonne "take care" Iris says, "you too"

"I'll visit soon" Iris says, pulling away from the hug she turns and looks at Judith standing away, the small girl waves goodbye, Iris waves back before walking away. "Dog!" Daryl shouts, letting out a whistle, Iris watches the dog run over to them, "you ready?" Daryll asks, looking down at her, "yeah, you?" Iris asks "yeah".

.............

Daryl looks down at Iris, watching her face and noticing something off about her, "you good?" he asks, "yeah" Iris mumbles, looking down at the floor, she lets out a sigh and looks up at the man next to her, she watches as he looks around their surroundings, "what?" Daryl asks, looking at the woman staring at him, "what you said to Judith, about keepin' moving" Iris mumbles, looking at the floor nervously, "yeah?" Daryl says

"Are you doing it on your own?" Iris asks, Daryl stays quiet, looking down at the floor, Iris lets out a quiet sigh before walking away, Daryl watches as she moves ahead, disappointed in himself for not saying anything and letting her walk away again. Iris focuses on the floor, trying not to let this upset her. You've been gone for six years. Everyone has moved on. You can't expect to come back and everything goes back to how it was.

Iris looks up when she sees Connie walking next to her, she watches the woman scribble some words down in her notebook, 'are you okay?' Iris nods but Connie notices she isn't telling the truth, Connie tilts her head and squints at Iris, "I think I made a mistake coming back here" Iris says, looking at the woman so she can read her lips.

'Why?' "i dont know... i think im gonna ruin everything here" Iris says quietly, 'he cares about you' Iris looks back at the man 'he told me about you. I can see how much he loves you' Iris stares at the words on the paper "i hurt him once, i dont want to hurt him again" Iris says, she forces a smile before walking away from everyone and circling around them, making sure it's clear and taking a moment to be alone.

Iris follows behind the group as they walk through the woods towards the road, they stop and look up at Michonne and Judith, "anyone headed to Kingdom?" Judith asks, everyone climbs into the trailer, Iris pulls the girls hat down, smiling at her before climbing into the trailer. Daryl watches Iris as she stares down at her feet.