Cherokee Rose (Walking Dead fanfiction)

Vows

  The buzz was louder in Raven's ears as flashes of Daryl, Gregory, Daryl and Kaitlyn, Daryl and the blonde bimbo, Daryl screaming at her, Gregory whipping her, Gregory trying to rape her, Caroline's dead body, Daryl warning her about Negan, images ran continuously through her mind over and over again. A loud crack thundered in her head then everything was gone. It was quiet. She was no longer sad, she was no longer afraid. She wasn't happy, she wasn't angry. Nothing mattered anymore.

"Well aren't you just an odd little bird?" mused Negan.

Raven let him take her bike and walk her to one of their trucks. He asked her a few questions and she answered but she still didn't feel anything. She liked this.

Daryl watched in horror as the tall dark stranger walked Raven to one of the trucks. He wanted to shoot one of them or make some sort of distraction so she could run but the men he was with had a tight grasp on him and he wasn't able to do anything but watch. As the lights went out and the trucks turned and left, the men finally relaxed their grip. They had insisted on going with him when he took off after Raven.

"Who was that?" Daryl asked hoarsely

The men looked at each other, pausing before answering.

"That's Negan"

Daryl's heart fell. This was entirely his fault. Why did he think she would stay put? He knew her better than that, he knew she would find some way to come after him. If he would have done what he told her he was going to do, she would be here with him and not freaking out over something that really wasn't what it looked like.

True he had been drinking and true after having a few too many he started wondering if this thing with Raven was for real or was it just because she was there for him and not a lot of other women around... So he let Tonya flirt with him shamelessly and he had flirted back. It had been a total dick move and it was something Merle would have done. He knew just how stupid it was, but he wanted to know if he could be attracted to someone else besides her...the answer had been no. He was having a good time, but he hadn't felt anything for the girl and had no desire to let it go any further. It was his dumb luck that Raven would just so happened to show up the exact time he had come to this conclusion.

Pushing the girl off his lap and excusing himself, he had turned in time to see her black hair flying through the door. He started after her but Tonya had jumped on his back like it was a game and after he told her to get the hell off, it had held him up just long enough so that she got away. He bolted for the jeep but was met with a couple of the guys he had become friends with and had insisted on going with him. They spotted her and had almost caught up with her until they saw the lights and knew she had been found by somebody else first.

"Well let's go after them" he shouted

"C'mon Daryl you know better than that. There are three of us and like 20 of them. That's not an option"

Daryl was in a full panic. He had never met Negan but he had heard stories and they were nasty was putting it mildly. Dammit! Why couldn't she stay put?! He thought.

"So when can we go?"

"C'mon man, I know that was your old lady but you know we're at least 2 weeks out before we can start this. We have people coming to help but it's going to take some time. You do something stupid like go on your own, you'll get yourself and that girl killed. Just leave it be for now. He likes women, someone said he has like 9 wives or something so she'll be alright until we can invade them."

Telling this to Daryl did not help matters at all. He knew all Negan had to do was look at her and would want her for himself. Wife number 10. He felt so sick inside knowing how scared and upset she must be right now. Punching the dash of the jeep, he had never felt so helpless.

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Raven lay on her cot staring at the wall, hearing her name being whispered. They had brought her to this room in an old abandoned factory and it looked like it housed close to 30 beds. Raven looked noticing it was all women. Soon after she was shown to her cot and had been here ever since. Still hearing the whisper she ignored it. She didn't care who it was but then a hand touched her shoulder shaking it slightly.

"Raven"

Raven sighed and turned. Michonne.

Michonne smiled and went to hug her but Raven turned back over.

"Raven?"

"What" Raven said, void of any emotion.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine"

There was silence for a moment then Michonne began her questions again.

"Was Daryl captured with you?"

"No"

"Where is Daryl?"

"The Kingdom"

"What's the Kingdom?"

Silence.

"Were you there with him?"

Raven hesitated then answered "briefly"

Michonne was quiet for awhile staring at Raven's back. What was going on? It was obvious something had gone very, very wrong.

"OK then....you seem tired, we can talk later."

Raven stayed silent as Michonne tiptoed away, still staring at Raven wondering.
The next day Michonne woke up and looked over at Raven. It looked like she hadn't even moved. She began to worry. Walking outside, she spied Rick and Sasha chopping logs that would be made into spears. Sneaking over she began voicing her concerns to Rick.

"Rick, Raven is here."

Rick's head snapped up looking at her.

"So Daryl found her. Is Daryl here?"

Michonne shook her head

"No, I don't think he was captured. She said he was someplace called 'The Kingdom'?"
Rick thought but then shook his head not knowing either.

"Rick, there's something really wrong with her."

A look of concern was clearly on Rick's face.

"She injured?"

Michonne shook her head.

"No....but I don't know. I think it's mental. It's like she's completely shut down inside. Her eyes are completely dead. When I first saw them I thought for sure she had lost Daryl but I don't know...it's bad though"

Rick thought a moment.

"What if you brought Katie and Molly to see her? Maybe that would bring her around?"

Michonne looked at him and thought.

"Maybe, but if she doesn't respond to them it's going to hurt them and they've been through enough."

Rick nodded agreeing with her.

"OK well.... keep trying. Maybe once she realizes we're all here and we'll keep her safe she'll come out of it."

Around noon Michonne went in to check on her and she was the same. She tried to think of anything that would break whatever spell that surrounded her. Dinner time she went back and demanded she get up.

"Listen Raven, you have to eat dinner or they'll come for you and you don't want that to happen. Just come with me and get some food."

Raven rolled over and stood up. Michonne began walking and Raven followed. "Well..." she thought..."It's a start" but she spoke too soon. As they sat at the table eating she looked at Raven and became even more concerned. She was totally blank. No emotion, no thought, nothing. Michonne wasn't sure if it was shock or what and was really worried at what kind of trauma had happened for her to completely shut down like this.
Sitting across from her at dinner Michonne tried again.

"So, Daryl was able to find you? Who had you captured?"

"Gregory"

Michonne swore under her breath...Daryl had been right all along.

"Is he dead?"

"Yes"

"Did Daryl kill him?"

"No"

"Who did?"

"I did"

Michonne was silent for awhile. That had to be some bad stuff she had been through, she knew what a psychopath Gregory was and couldn't imagine what he had put her through and even though he deserved it, Raven didn't seem the type of person that was OK with killing someone. She guessed it might have something to do with her breakdown.

"Did you guys make it back to Alexandria?"

"Yes"

"You saw all the damage...people that were killed?"

"Yes"

"Did you see Caroline?"

"Yes"

Michonne thought again...Gregory then have Caroline added to that...she was beginning to understand.

"So where did you guys go after?"

"Hilltop"

Michonne nodded, that's what she had figured.

"So then you and Daryl went to this Kingdom place after?"

"No, just Daryl"

She looked at her quizzically "I thought you said you were there"

"I followed him after"

"Oh, so he left you at Hilltop and you went after him"

Raven nodded.

"So then you were with him at the kingdom."

"No, he was with someone else"

Oh Shit... soon as I see Daryl I'm going to kick his ass. Michonne thought.

"Raven?"

The two women looked up to see a grizzly bearded man standing next to them. Raven nodded.

"Negan requests an audience with you"

Michonne's heart sank. She had hoped with Raven being so out of it she would have flown under Negan's radar but she should have known better. He likes them pretty and Raven would be right up his alley. Raven showed nothing walking away with the man.

"Hello little bird" Negan smiled motioning for Raven to sit across from him. Raven sat down staring at him.

"So...are you the same Raven that Gregory was obsessing about?"

"Yes"

"Where is Gregory?"

"Dead"

"Did you kill him?"

"Yes"

Negan placed his fingers like a steeple under his chin and thought for a moment.

"There were two men with him, are they dead too?"

"Yes"

"Did you kill them?"

Raven hesitated but only for a moment.

"Yes"

She didn't know why she had just protected him, but then she did know why. She hoped Negan would kill her.

"My my, you are a dangerous little bird aren't you?"

"Oh hell no Negan!"

Raven turned, recognizing the voice.

Kaitlyn.

She felt a spark of something but it was quickly gone.

"Are you kidding me with this bitch?" Kaitlyn stood there demanding.

Negan looked amused.

"Hmmmm so you don't like her?" he teased.

"Hell no! She's the one that stole my boyfriend, then sucker punched me in the nose then got me kicked out of Alexandria!" Kaitlyn screamed.

Negan looked extremely amused.

"My my my, what to do now? It's obvious you don't like each other...I know, kiss and make up" he grinned.

"Negan that's gross, I'm not touching that..." Kaitlyn went flying with a smack of Negan's backhand.

"See what you made me do? You know better than to talk back and overstep your bounds like that Kaitlyn. Lovely, you're bleeding now. Go clean yourself and wait for the rest of your punishment. Go. Now."

Negan turned back to Raven still trying to figure her out. Raven stared back, feeling nothing.

"You're not afraid of me are you?" Negan grinned.

Raven didn't answer, she didn't have to. He knew she wasn't.

"Well, you're either very brave or very damaged. Either way, I like that. We shall see each other again...soon." he smiled.

"Mike! Come escort this young lady back please"

The bearded man came back and grabbed her by the arm lifting her out of the chair.

"Bye for now little bird."

Michonne watched as the guy shoved Raven through the door and leave. Raven then walked to her cot with the same vacant expression, lay down to stare at the wall. She wanted to go talk to her, to comfort her so badly but she knew it would be of no use.

Things went on like this for the next few weeks. They had given Raven a job in the kitchen and she did that with the same amount of emotion she had came in with. Molly and Katie did come to see Raven and were so happy to see her. Michonne thought she saw a flicker of something when the girls hugged her but it was gone after they left. Later they were called to the yard for an announcement from Negan, couldn't wait to see what this was about. As they all stood there, Michonne looked over seeing where Raven was. She didn't see her...she was going to catch hell for missing this.

"My friends" Negan started "I'd like to invite you to a celebration tomorrow. I will be taking a new wife"
Michonne watched as Negan's minions applauded. "Be here tomorrow evening to witness our vows. Let me now introduce you to my bride to be"

Then Raven was shoved out onto Negan's makeshift stage. Raven had the same unemotional expression but Michonne thought she was going to be sick. Out of one monster's hands and into another was all she could think.

Michonne found Raven laying on her cot again.

"Raven, we need to get you out of here"

Raven didn't turn, didn't say a word.

"Raven please" Michonne begged.

Raven turned and looked at her and said

"It doesn't matter, none of this matters. If you want to get someone out, get yourselves out."

Michonne began to cry. Raven was so far gone she didn't know if she would ever be back.
The next evening everyone gathered as they watched Negan and Raven take center stage. Negan looked like a hungry tiger and Raven looked like she didn't even know she was there.

Negan began.

"I Negan, take you Raven to be my..."

Negan stopped and fell to the ground as an arrow had found its way between his eyes. Then all hell broke loose. As a truck smashed the gate, gunfire began from all directions. Michonne ran with Rick for cover.

"Michonne, grab Raven and head out the gate, Sasha help me get Katie and Molly...go!"

Michonne ran to Raven who was still staring at the trees and reached for her hand, pulling her off the stage. Running for all she was worth dragging Raven behind her. Going through the gate they were greeted by men who directed them to a safe spot. Waiting, soon Rick appeared with Sasha and the girls. They had made it, they all had made it.

Hearing someone scream Raven's name, they turned to see Daryl barreling towards them. Picking her up, hugging and kissing her with everything he had, he suddenly stopped. Setting back down he looked at her with complete confusion and turned to Rick and Michonne while Raven walked away.

While Raven road in a different vehicle, Michonne explained Raven's breakdown to Daryl on their way back to the kingdom. Michonne could see the guilt eat him up but she still couldn't help giving him a lecture.

"What in the hell were you thinking Daryl, leaving her in less than a week after you found her? Do you not get that she spent almost two months with a monster that did God knows what to her?"

Daryl didn't say anything, he just stared out the window.

"Then when she does go after you, like you knew she would, she finds you with someone else?"

Daryl's head whipped around "I wasn't with her. I know what it looked like, but I wasn't. I couldn't"

"Well then you better explain that to her"

Daryl nodded staring back out the window.

Once back at the kingdom, the people there let Daryl borrow a vehicle to get back to Hilltop. Driving Daryl couldn't help staring in the rear view mirror at her while she slept with Katie and Molly sleeping up against her on either side. He had forgotten she had been the one to find Caroline. She had felt like stone when he hugged her and she had looked right past him when he tried looking into her eyes. First thing he thought was what had Negan done to her, but as it turned out, it was him, not Negan that had broke her. Making a decision, he knew what he had to do. Once he got her back to Hilltop, he would go someplace else so he couldn't hurt her anymore.

Once back at Hilltop he watched as Michonne and Maggie escorted her into the big house and turned to Rick.

"I'm not staying Rick"

"You going back to The Kingdom?"

Daryl shook his head "Nah, I'm not sure where I'm going, but I'll keep in touch, I'll stop by now and then."

"Daryl, you don't have to leave, this can be worked out"

"Yeah, I gotta."

And with that disappeared through the gates of Hilltop.

The next days that followed there wasn't much change with Raven. Michonne and Maggie sat and talked to her and Maggie would bring her newborn daughter in, hoping it would bring her around. One morning Maggie walked in to Raven getting sick...she looked horrible. Walking her over to see the doctor, Maggie left and closed the door.

"How are you feeling Raven?" asked the doctor.

Raven shrugged "OK, but I think I might have the flu"

The doctor nodded checking her vitals asking her other generic questions. There's one more thing I'd like to check, lay back for me please"

After about 20 minutes in the doctors office, Raven unexpectedly came tearing out of there screaming for Rick. Totally stunned to find her doing a complete 180° in a matter of minutes, he tried to stop and calm her down.

"Where's Daryl?" she demanded

"Raven, let's calm down"

"Where is he?!". she was near hysterics.

"Did he go back to the kingdom?"

Rick shook his head "No, he said he wasn't. He said he would be around from time to time but I don't know where he was going"

Raven looked terrified.

"Rick please, you have to find him and bring him back...it's an emergency. Just tell him it's an emergency"

Rick stared at her as she left, heading towards the barn. Watching Michonne approach she asked

"what was that all about?"

Rick kissed her softly replying "looks like I'm going on a road trip"

Entering the barn, Raven took one look at Sid and burst into tears. She had been so wrapped up in herself, she hadn't even bothered to come see him. Hugging him and stroking his mane, she felt him lay his muzzle on her shoulder for comfort.


"Oh Sid, what am I going to do? She cried. "I can't take care of you or myself properly...
...let alone a baby"