Love Is Kind (Sequel to "Love Is Patient")

Chapter 32 - Try

"We gather here today to mourn the losses of our own, Noah and Aiden." Gabriel preaches, "They were too young...too innocent. They didn't deserve this. But, they are in the arms of our Lord now. They no longer have to endure the suffering this world brings. They are in a much better place in the house of God."

As Gabriel talks, everyone takes turns shoveling dirt into the graves. The shovel gets passed to me, and I put some in Noah's grave. Tears blur my vision as we mourn the death of yet another one of our own. Everyone files out of the small cemetery in silence, leaving Deanna and Rick.

We found out about Noah and Aiden's deaths last night when the crew came back from their run. Tara is in the infirmary and hasn't woken up. There was some sort of explosion and she hit her head. Deanna hasn't said a word since she found out about the death of Aiden, her son.

~~~~

That afternoon, after I walked Makena to the school, I went to the building Deanna assigned to me for my job. I open the door to the small building and flip on the lights.

There is a large wooden desk in the center of the room with two chairs seated in front of it. A bookshelf sits against the wall behind it, filled with numerous hard cover text books. I walk over to the desk, my fingers brushing over the smooth texture. Writing utensils sit on the surface along with stacks of notebooks and sticky notes. I pull back the chair behind the desk and sit down in it, my body relaxing at the comfort. I grab a marker and piece of paper and write 'OPEN' on it.

Only a few Alexandria members came in today. Their problems were either about how they are having a hard time making friends or about their traumatic event of running out of baking soda. All in all, it was a boring day. When night finally rolled around, I took the sign off the door and headed to the house.

I trudged up the front porch steps and into the house, immediately smelling food cooking. I round the corner to the kitchen to find Natalie serving Merle, Makena, and Cody something fresh off the stove.

"What's for dinner?" I asked, startling them.

Makena's face lights up, "Mac and cheese."

I smile and take a seat next to her, "Sounds wonderful."

Natalie got me a bowl and scooped some in it. I thanked her and began eating. After a long day, this was nice. I had my family around me while we ate a nice meal together. We were just missing Daryl...but I try not to think about it.

I haven't seen Cody or Natalie in a while. They've been at their jobs the majority of the time we've been here, anxious to fit in. Natalie works in the food pantry with Jessie, and Cody and Merle are on gate patrol. The dinner table was silent as we all finished up our food, all exhausted from today's events.

Makena and I help Natalie do the dishes while the men go to bed. Once we finish, Natalie stays downstairs to read for a while. I take Makena up to her bedroom and tell her goodnight. I go down to the end of the hall to my and Daryl's bedroom. I strip out of my clothes and slip on one of Daryl's shirts, climbing into the bed and snuggling into the pillow he uses.

Something in my stomach jolts, causing me to shoot up and gasp. It happens again, and it hits me right in the bladder. I hold my stomach and realize what's happening. I feel one of the babies foot press against my stomach and my heart flutters. I let out a breathy laugh as I ravish in the feeling of my children kicking for the first time.

Realization hits me as I remember I'm alone in my bed. He should be here for this. I want him here for this. He should be able to feel our babies kicking for the first time. I hope he's safe. I don't know what I would do without my husband.

~~~~

The next afternoon, my work day was going by more slower than yesterday. All morning, I just sat at the desk, listening to that dreaded clock tick with each second that passed. The silence left me to my thoughts, which were mostly me obsessing over where Daryl was and if he was okay. Not a single person has come in yet, I'm grateful and disappointed at the same time.

Commotion outside draws my attention to the window. I see Rick and Pete rolling around on the ground, broken glass scattered around them.

"Son of a bitch." I curse before rushing outside.

I join the people surrounding them and watch in horror as they fight each other. Jessie desperately tries to pull her husband off of Rick, but Pete back hands her and she flies to the ground. I quickly go to her, helping her up. She cries into my shoulder as I keep a comforting arm around her.

Rick kicks Pete in the gut and rolls on top of him, keeping his hands around Pete's neck. Carl runs to pull Rick off, but Rick pushes Carl back. Rick keeps Pete in a chokehold, causing Jessie to cry harder.

"Stop it!" Deanna orders, running over, "Stop it right now!"

"You touch them again and I'll kill you." Rick spits at Pete.

"Damn it, Rick! I said stop." Deanna repeats.

Nicholas and Tobin step forward to pull Rick away, but Rick quickly gets off of Pete and has a gun pointed at them.

"Or what? You gonna kick me out?" Rick exclaims.

"Put that gun down, Rick." Deanna says calmly.

"You still don't get it." Rick lowers his gun, "None of you do! We know what needs to be done and we do it. We're the ones who live. You, you just sit and plan and hesitate. You pretend like you know what you don't. You wish things weren't what they are. Well, you want to live? You want this place to stay standing? Your way of doing things is done. Things don't get better because you--you want them to. Starting right now, we have to live in the real world. We have to control who lives here." Rick motions to an unconscious Pete.

"That's never been more clear to me that it is right now." Deanna declares.

"Me? Me? You," he laughs, "you mean--you mean me? Your way is gonna destroy this place. It's gonna get people killed. It's already gotten people killed! And I'm not gonna stand by and just let it happen. If you don't fight, you die. I'm not gonna stand by and--"

Rick is cut off when Michonne comes in and knocks him out. She breathes heavily and slowly brings her head up to look at everyone's wide eyes.