Safe haven | Rick Grimes

080. THE DAISIES GUARD YOU FROM EVERY HARM

Chapter eighty

"The daisies guard you from every harm."

Scarlett held little Gracie cradled securely in her arms, gently tilting the bottle as the baby fed. "You know, you might just have to come join our family when this is all over," she murmured softly.

Gracie reached up, her tiny fingers wrapping tightly around Scarlett's hand. A fierce, protective warmth settled over Scarlett. "Because I've got a plan... Mama's got a plan. Mama's got a plan," she whispered against the baby's soft hair.

From the doorway, Rick stood silently, watching the scene unfold.

Scarlett turned and set the empty bottle down on the nightstand. Keeping Gracie tucked close to her chest, she began humming the familiar, soothing lullaby she used to sing to Carl. She carried the baby over to her crib, gently lowering her onto the mattress and pulling the small blanket up to her chest. Before Scarlett could pull away, Gracie reached up and caught her hand one last time.

Scarlett smiled down at her, waiting a moment before gently easing her hand away. When she finally turned around, she found Rick standing just a few feet away, his eyes locked on her.

"You've got a plan?" Rick asked quietly.

Scarlett nodded, her gaze steady. "My own," she whispered.

Rick closed the distance between them. He reached out, framing her face gently with both hands. "Your plan is my plan," he whispered, looking deeply into her eyes.

"You don't even know what it is," Scarlett whispered back, a faint touch of awe in her voice.

"I know," Rick replied softly.

He leaned down and kissed her, and Scarlett kissed him back, finding a brief moment of absolute certainty and comfort in his arms before the storm.

They walked outside to meet up with Rosita, Daryl, Maggie, Carol, and Michonne, who were all gathered around the map Gregory had brought from Dwight outlining Negan's tactical movements.

"We'll stick to this road, keep to the trees, and we'll get there quicker," Daryl said, tracing a path with his finger. "Plus, we can keep an eye on the main road that way."

"Yeah. If they're planning anything, we'll see it coming," Rosita agreed.

Michonne crossed her arms, looking skeptical. "Do you think we can actually trust Gregory? Can we trust what he told us?"

"I locked him up inside the coop," Maggie answered coldly. "He knew I wouldn't let him walk around free anymore, and he knew what he was coming back to. Gregory doesn't believe in anything except himself. He'd have to believe in the Saviors a whole lot to deliberately send us into a trap and think it would somehow work out well for him."

"Unless Dwight didn't tell him the truth," Daryl muttered, his grip tightening on his crossbow. "That asshole could be setting all of us up."

Before the argument could escalate, Rick reached down, grabbed the map, and folded it up tightly. Carol turned on her heel to check on Morgan, and Scarlett quickly followed her. Just as they did, the front gates groaned open. The group tense up, but it was just Alden and the cooperative Saviors returning.

Nearby, Henry suddenly rushed forward to stop a heavily distressed Morgan from marching out. Seeing Morgan snap and raise his staff toward the boy, Scarlett sprinted into action. She shoved Henry safely behind her back and swung her machete upward, the metal clanging sharply as she blocked Morgan's staff mid-air. With a swift, defensive kick, she struck Morgan's chest, sending him crashing to the dirt. Henry clung tightly to the back of her jacket, trembling.