Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Going Home

Negan decided to visit Alexandria a few days early, and when Parker realized she was going home, she couldn't help but get excited. She would see her family again. Rick, Carl, Judith, Michonne... she would see them all again. It hadn't even been a week, yet it had felt like an eternity. Not being used to being alone and then being ripped away from everyone she knew in a matter of seconds had taken a toll on her. They loaded her into a van with Negan behind the wheel, and though she ignored him, she was too busy looking at the photos on her lap to even bother speaking to him. After seeing Daryl, Parker had gone back to her room, feeling the comforting presence of her photographs in her pocket, and safe knowing she had a weapon. 

When she stepped into her room and found it clean and tidy, as if she had never had her crisis, she was surprised to see some clean clothes folded on the bed. On top of them was a photograph, and when Parker picked it up, there was a note attached. 'I thought you'd like to have this, I didn't want it to get torn apart - Sherry' Parker smiled as she looked at the small image, remembering the day it was taken. She and Daryl had gotten a well-deserved rest and spent the day together, fast asleep on the couch, in each other's arms. Parker was lying in front of Daryl, who was behind her with an arm around her waist and a hand on her belly. Carl had taken the photo with Aaron's camera and given the copy to Parker the same day. She smiled sadly at the memory, turning the photograph over to see a hastily scribbled note on the back, written in Daryl's familiar handwriting.

'You gave me one, and I thought you'd want one too. Remember, I will always find you - Daryl.' She never even knew it was there so she was glad that Sherry had found it before it had gotten ruined. It had to of fallen out somewhere seeing how she'd been in the same outfit for days. Parker had the picture on her lap, along with the other two she had kept, and when Negan looked at her, his eyes followed her gaze to the frozen memories.

"Well, I didn't expect you to be so sentimental. Someone as tough as you.. It's not the first thing that comes to mind."

"Fuck off," She muttered, the cool metal of the pocket knife pressing into her side a constant reminder that if she did anything stupid, someone else would pay the price. That was the only exchange they shared until they reached Alexandria, at which point Negan turned to Parker and told her to stay in the truck. Parker wanted to go out but reluctantly stayed inside until she was told to do otherwise, fearing the repercussions that would undoubtedly affect Daryl more than her. Negan knocked Lucille against the metal bars of the gate, but Parker didn't hear what he said, instead, she watched with bated breath as Spencer drew back the mesh screen. After a brief conversation, Rick appeared at the gate and shared an exchange with Negan before opening it fully. 

Parker's heart rate quickened when she saw her brother, watching as Negan killed the walker approaching Alexandria's gates before turning to Rick with a smile and handing him Lucille. Parker couldn't wait much longer, she got out of the truck and her eyes landed on Daryl, who she hadn't realized was also being brought along. Before Negan had the chance to say anything else she ran to the gate, pushing past him and launching herself straight into Rick's arms.

"Thank God!" Parker gasped as Rick held her unsurely, in disbelief at the fact that she was in front of him.

"Are you okay?" Rick asked, concern evident in his voice. Parker nodded into his shoulder.

"It's good to see you. I missed you. How- how is Maggie? And the others?" Rick pulled out of the hug, looking away. "No. No, what? Who now? Rick, who died?" She panicked, seeing how quickly he'd shut down.

"Everyone's okay," Rick told her quietly, finally meeting her gaze. "Maggie...Maggie's gone. She didn't- we tried. After you were gone.. we tried." Hearing that felt like a punch to the gut, and Parker stumbled back slightly and felt Rick's hands on her arms, steadying her as she looked at him.