Cherokee Rose (Walking Dead fanfiction)

Fear

  Raven bounced along with the bus, pulling her little girl sleeping on her lap closer. She watched as the older man walked up and down the aisles, making sure nobody was trying to start trouble. Arching her back she sighed...they had to be driving for at least 8 hours now and the further they went the more her heart ached. Watching the "Welcome to Georgia" sign appear she felt her heart fall to her feet. Even if she did get them free, how would they ever get home? How would Daryl ever know to look for them this far away? Feeling a little hand on her cheek, she looked down into her daughter's beautiful little cherub face.

"Mommy...I want to go home and see Daddy and D"

Raven couldn't help it as a tear slid down her cheek. Quickly wiping it away she smiled at her baby and said

"I know sweetheart, I do too. But daddy would want us to be brave and strong and to be good girls so for now, that's what we're going to do"

Raven stared into her big blue eyes watching her nod her head. She looked just like her with her dark hair and bronze skin.....everything except her eyes. If you looked at only her eyes, you would swear you were looking at Daryl. Hunter looked exactly like him and he had his eyes too, but Cheri's were different because they reflected the same intensity and fierceness of her father.

Raven looked up as the man stopped and looked at Cheri. He had a quizzical look on his face that almost seemed amused but trying to remember something. Panicking Raven tried to shield her little girl best she could, but as usual Cheri wouldn't hear of it and began to protest being held too close by her mother. Raven's heart beat hard in her chest as the older man knelt down.

"Well aren't you a pretty little thing...what's your name?"

Raven started to cover Cheri's mouth but it was too late.

"Cheri.... Cherokee Rose Dixon!" She said proudly

The man looked like he had been slapped. He stood back up staring at Cheri and then at Raven for a few minutes and walked away looking a little unsteady. Raven was glad he was gone but looking at him more closely she couldn't help but have the feeling that she knew him, or had seen him before. Maybe he was one of Negan's guys that disbanded after his death? She couldn't place it but it began to bother her, especially how he had looked at Cheri and then at her.

Raven began to look around the bus at the other people and realized it was all women and a few children. Some of them she recognized from Alexandria but others she didn't. She looked around for Michonne, or Sasha or the girls but they were nowhere to be found thankfully for them.

As the bus slowed, Raven looked out and could see a large iron gate that blocked their path, open slowly. Pulling around a long curving driveway a large brick building came into view. The first thing that popped in Raven's mind was that it was some sort of sanatorium or perhaps an old school? Whatever it was, it was large and intimidating and Raven couldn't help as her fear began to grip her heart. They were quickly ushered off the bus and Raven held tightly on to Cheri as she walked past men screaming at each other about the bus leaking oil or something. Cheri must have felt her fear, or perhaps upset with the men fighting, she hid her face in her mother's chest holding on for dear life as she carried her.

The men grouped all of them and she couldn't help feeling like she was a piece of meat in a herd of cattle...the men walked around them leering and pinching, making crude remarks. One especially disgusting man strode up to Raven, grabbing her arm so tightly it hurt.

"I be takin' this un" grinned the giant toothless mountain man.

A deep voice sounded behind him and the man that was on the bus stepped closer.

"No Tiny, those two are claimed. You have to choose another"

The large man looked at him confused.

"What der ya mean claimed? I don't see no signs on em that der claimed?" he said with a laugh.

The other man spoke again.

"I said they're claimed."

The gnarly man began to get impatient but wasn't sure quite what to do. He continued to press his luck.

"Well, who claims em den? I didn't see nobody claim...."

In mid sentence the other man pulled out a gun and shot the disgusting man in the head.

Silence was all around them. The gray haired man spoke.

"Anyone else have a problem with me claiming these two?" he said in a commanding voice.

Raven heard the men all mutter "Na Big D" all around. She tried to feel relief that they wouldn't be going with the other man but she knew this one was just as dangerous. Nodding to her he muttered

"Follow me"

Not knowing what else to do, she followed him through the doors of the giant brick building.

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Daryl scooped us his crying son and ran for his bike. Placing him on between his legs he roared up the street to Rick's. Daryl pulled to a stop in front of his house with a very solemn Rick coming out the door. Picking up Hunter he met him half way. Looking at his face he knew something was terribly wrong.


"Michonne?" he said softly.

Daryl could see his jaw clench.

"She's injured pretty bad. Doc thinks she'll pull through but I don't know. She fought them hard and the girls are here safe but I almost lost her Daryl" Rick said with tears in his eyes.

Daryl nodded, he knew the feeling well.

"Raven? Cheri?" Rick whispered.

Daryl shook his head and felt his voice crack as he spoke

"No, they're gone. She was able to get Hunter out and hidden but Cheri wouldn't go so she stayed with her."

Rick shook his head and they stood in silence for a few minutes as Daryl put Hunter down feeling his legs grow weak with worry and fear.

"I have to go look for them Rick..."

Rick nodded.

"I know you do, but Daryl nobody has been able to find these guys for months. You know I would help you brother, you know that. But I can't...Michonne she's....I can't go. I have the girls now and...."

Daryl stopped him.

"Rick, you know I work better alone anyway. Just please...look after my boy for me.."

Rick nodded

"You know I'd protect him with my life brother"

Daryl nodded looking over at his son that was standing by the gate staring at the pavement with a peculiar look.

"C'mere little D" he called.

Hunter's head jerked up like he had been deep in thought and walked over to his dad.

"Listen son" Daryl said softly "I have to go look for mommy and Cheri. You're going to stay with Rick while we're gone and help him out around here."

Daryl was stunned when he saw a defiant look come across his son's face.

"No dad, you need me. I can't stay, you need me with you. I can track and I can help you"
Daryl ran his fingers through his hair trying to figure out a way to let him down gently. It wasn't like his son to argue or say no...that was Cheri's department...but he had to keep him safe.

"Hunter, son I need..."

"No dad, and if you leave me, I'll just run away and come looking for you. Please dad, don't leave me. I have to help find them. You left me in charge and I failed you. I let them take Cheri and mommy and so I have to help you find them now"

Daryl's heart broke as he stared into his little boy's tear filled eyes. He hadn't thought about him thinking he was responsible.

"Besides...I have to show you something. I think I found something that might be a trail"

Curious, Daryl walked over with Hunter as he pointed where he had been staring before.

"Look dad, there's oil and it leads out of the gate. Our old truck leaves oil like this all the time. Maybe whatever they were driving was leaking like our old truck does. Maybe we can follow it."

Daryl stared at his son. He knew he was a good tracker, especially for his age. There wasn't much he missed in the woods and loved to compete with his dad who could track a squirrel first. He was so torn...he did not want his son out there with the dead and with bad guys but he knew if he left him, the chances of him being just as headstrong about this as he or his mother would be, there was a good chance he would indeed come looking for him. Another part of him did not want to leave him for one second and felt the only way to keep him safe was if he was with him.

"Good catch lil' D...alright, let's go get our camping gear we use to hunt.....you can go with me."
Rick looked at him with questions but let it go, knowing Daryl must have his reasons.

Getting back on the bike and riding back to their house, Daryl and Hunter worked quickly packing their stuff. Hunter watched as his dad strapped everything to the back of the bike. Turning to him Daryl became serious.

"Hunter, I'm glad you're coming with me, but there are two rules and there's no arguing. First you have to wear a helmet, second, I'm going to put this belt around us so that you stay attached to me. I'd take the truck, but as you said it's leaking oil and I don't know if it would be able to make the trip and I don't want to get caught out there with you and no transportation.

"When did you get me a helmet daddy?"

Daryl sighed and looked at his son.

"Well, just in case we don't make it back before your birthday next week, mommy and daddy got you a dirt bike for your birthday. Mommy said OK as long as you had a helmet so one of daddy's friends was able to get one for you and do a customized paint job...here"

Daryl pulled a shiny black kid sized helmet out of his saddle bag handing it to Hunter. Hunter turned it over in his hands looking at the intricate silver designs painted on it. Turning it to the back Daryl heard him take a sharp intake of breath seeing the angel wings on the back. Daryl looked at his son's huge eyes and knew he wanted to be really happy about it but couldn't because of the circumstances.

"Thank you daddy" he whispered

Daryl hugged his son choking back some tears.

"Alright...let's go get your mom and sister back"

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Raven and Cheri were led to a small room with two twin beds and little table in between. Sitting on the bed, pulling Cheri in her lap, they watched as the man paced a bit sometimes looking at Cheri then at Raven. Raven didn't know what "claimed" meant but she was sure it wasn't good. She looked for anything to defend Cheri or herself with if he decided to make a move on them. She watched as the man ran his fingers through his hair, pausing looking at Raven then left the room. She wasn't sure what was going on but she was glad he was gone.

Little while later Raven stared as he brought in a bag of old clothes for her and a few things for Cheri. He had two trays of food, sitting them down on the opposite bed he looked at them like he wanted to say something but would decide last minute not to and would turn and leave. After food and some playing Cheri blessedly finally fell asleep and Raven sat staring at her sweet angel then looked out the window at the night sky as tears began to fall down her cheeks as she spoke to him.

"Daryl, I have no idea how you're going to find us this time...I know better than to doubt you but baby, this is bad. I'll be strong and keep her safe and try to think of a way out of this and try to get back to you. I love you, give Hunter a kiss for me"

Easing herself into the bed she snuggled with Cheri while holding her small belly with her other hand. She knew she had to be strong for Cheri and her unborn son...she just didn't know how she would be able to find the strength.

The next morning after breakfast, Raven sat watching Cheri color in an old coloring book and crayons the man had brought her the day before. Hearing the door handle turn, Raven stood up getting in between Cheri and whoever was coming in. Raven had expected the man but instead was a woman. It was obvious this woman had lived a very hard life. Her bleach blonde hair was all but straw and thick makeup tried to hide the dark circles under her eyes. She smelled like cheap whiskey and cigarettes and Raven disliked her immediately.

"So you're the ones he claimed" she slurred

Raven stared at her not saying a word.

"Don't see why...you ain't nuthin to look at. A skinny twig with babe in her belly and a brat hangin' on her arm. What's so great about that?" she bit out.

Raven still stared at her waiting for her to try something. She was drunk so it wouldn't be hard to fight her off unless she had a weapon. The a man's voice came up behind her.

"What are you doing here Lurlene? I thought I told you to leave them be?"

Lurlene looked up at the man, trying to smile and be charming

"Oh come now D, I ain't doin' no harm. Just wanted to see how they were doin' is all"

Raven watched as he smacked her across the face and began to whisper in a menacing voice in her ear. Grabbing her cheek, Lurlene turned and left immediately. Raven was petrified. He wasn't an overly large man, but he was mean...meaner than anyone she had ever seen including Gregory. Gregory had to chain you up to beat you because he was such a coward, this guy would put a bullet in your head if you talked back to him. Staring at him, she still tried to stay in between him and Cheri. Finally he spoke.

"I'm going to ask you a question and I'd like an honest answer. If you do then I'll leave you be. Keep in mind, I already know the answer, especially after seeing that little girl and knowing yer all's last name so if you lie to me, there will be consequences and you won't like my consequences, not at all. I'm not above teaching women and children lessons they need to learn..."

Raven slowly nodded.

"What's her daddy's name?"

Raven didn't know what to say or do. She knew he would not leave without an answer and if she gave him the wrong one and he found out...would he take it out on Cheri? Resigning to her fear, she answered.

"Daryl"

He looked at her stone faced...she could not tell what he was thinking. Finally he spoke again.

"Daryl Dixon?"

Raven nodded.

"Is he still alive?"

Raven looked at him and regained some of her courage.

"Yes...and when he finds us...and he will find us, he will kill you for taking us. He's killed before for because someone took me, I can't imagine what he'll do now that you have his children" placing her hand on her belly.

The man stared at her then began to laugh.

"Yeah...I don't think Daryl will kill me, matter of fact, I know he won't kill me"

Raven glared at him and asked

"Why's that?"

The man stared at her for awhile then finally answered.

"because he's my son."

Turning and walking away.

Raven's world was spinning...how was it even possible that Daryl's father was alive? She tried to think back if Daryl said that he was dead...he hadn't. He had talked about his mother dying in that horrible fire in bed but he never did about his dad. He had said his brother had come back for him when he was about 16 and they took off and never looked back. He probably assumed he was dead whether from alcohol or the apocalypse. Truth be told his father was probably better suited for the apocalypse better than most people. He was meaner than a hornet and ruthless as he could be...how did he guess that they belonged to Daryl though being that far away? Then she remembered how he had stared at Cheri the first time and how she had told him her name. Plus her eyes, there was no denying she had Daryl's eyes through and through. Then it hit her, why he had looked so familiar. He looked a lot like Daryl. Older, and with silver hair...he had blue eyes that looked a little like Daryl's because they were blue but unlike Daryl's they looked dead, void of any emotion and that was not like Daryl's at all.

Raven then began to feel sick...when Daryl finds out...this just might break him. Break him far worse than his father had before. For him to know that the very man that had beat and tortured him as a young boy would be the same one that would take the ones that had finally brought him love and peace?...Raven physically shuddered. She knew she had to find a way out of here, not only for her and Cheri's sake, but for Daryl's as well.