New Beginnings (Sequel to 'Torn Apart')

Chapter 16

Cat's P.O.V

I sit in the backroom of the RV on the bed, attempting to feed Amelia as best as possible. However with every bump, she unlatches herself from me and she has begun to grow extremely frustrated. I try to calm her down as best I can, attempting to make her feed but she won't have a bar of it. I groan in frustration and put my clothes back in order.

"How's she doing?"

I look up and see Daryl standing in the doorway of the room and I sigh, looking down at our frustrating daughter, "Every time she begins to feed we hit a bump in the road and she lets go. I swear Abraham is purposely trying to hit every bump he can." I mutter angrily.

Daryl walks in and takes a seat beside me on the bed, "Did she eat much?" He asks, gently brushing at the small tuft of fine hair on her head.

"She fed for around fifteen minutes before the real bumping began so I suppose it's better than nothing. I'm just going to have to try and feed her when we stop next." I say, feeling myself let out a yawn.

Daryl looks up at me, "You look exhausted." He says.

I take in the dark circles under his eyes and I give him a weak smile, "Right back at you." I say quietly.

I shuffle over on the bed against the RV's wall and he manoeuvres himself until he is propped up beside me. I look down at our daughter who whimpers frustratedly and I sigh, "I'm going to try to get her to sleep. Who knows? Maybe she'll sleep most of the way to wherever the hell it is we are going." I say.

I shift Amelia into the crook of my arm and hold her tightly against my chest, gently patting her back in a rhythm. She cries at the new position and I shush her, gently rocking her from side to side to get her to go to sleep. I look down at my girl as I speak to Daryl, "How're you feeling about this place?" I ask.

He's quiet after my question and I look up at him to see him looking down at Amelia, his unreadable expression back in place, "What're you thinking?" I ask, still rocking gently.

He's quiet for a moment before speaking, "I just want this place to be real."

I sigh and nod my head as I look back down at Amelia, "I know what you mean. We've had a rough five months, especially these last few weeks. Everyone's exhausted, hungry and weak. Few more weeks of that and we will have wasted away to nothing."

He's quiet and l look up at see him looking at me, a look of sadness on his face, "Hey, what's wrong?" I ask.

He shakes his head and I reach my hand up to cup his cheek, "Daryl, tell me."

He looks into my eyes and sighs, "I have always wanted what's best for you and Amelia, sometimes I've haven't made the best judgement calls but I have. You both are everything to me, I love you both so much. If I lost you both, I couldn't love through that." He states and my heart pounds within my chest.

"Watching you taking care of her these past few weeks, I realise how much of a strong person you are. You've been through so much, before and after the world went to shit. Yet you've always been so strong. You give me strength Cat and without you, I wouldn't be standing here today." He explains.

"I want this place to work for us. For the both of you to be safe and for us all to finally get a chance at peace in this God forsaken world." He mutters.

I nod my head in agreement, "I know, I want this badly. And not just for us. Judith and Beth both deserve somewhere to live out their lives safely, without fear of walkers around every turn. We all deserve this, we've all been through so much. Lost so much along the way that this almost seems as if this is something we don't deserve."