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Plans
"I know you have to go, but that doesn't mean I want you to," Katie sighed, curling into Rick's side.
"We'll be back before you know it," Rick promised, kissing the top of her head.
"You say that every time," Katie sighed.
"And every time I come back before you know it," Rick said teasingly. Katie groaned loudly, flipping onto her other side.
"Come on, I'll walk you to the car," Katie sighed.
"You gonna get dressed first?" Rick asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Maybe not-- it feels like you need an incentive to come home," Katie teased.
"Fine. When I come back, I expect you to be right here, in this bed, totally naked. Deal?" Rick asked, chuckling.
"Deal," Katie said, shaking her head as she laughed slightly. She got out of the bed, pulling on her jeans and one of Rick's button ups. She stayed close to his side as they walked, waiting until the last possible moment to separate from him.
"Be careful out there," Katie said, trying to mask her worried face.
"Hey, don't worry about me," Rick said, chuckling. He could read her like a book. He knew she was freaking out and it was adorable.
"Too damn late, sheriff. Too damn late," Katie scoffed, leaning in for a quick kiss before having to wave goodbye as she watched him and Michonne drive through the gates.
Katie was walking back towards her house when she heard Rosita and Tara arguing on the porch. She hung back, not wanting to interfere. But she sure as hell listened in. Rosita stormed off the porch, pushing past Tara. Katie walked up the steps, sitting down in the rocking chair next to Tara, who had just sat down in frustration.
"You guys sound like an old married couple," Katie sighed, looking over at Tara.
"She's gonna do something stupid. I can feel it," Tara sighed, shaking her head.
"I'll look after her," Katie promised. Tara nodded silently.
"Hey, would you mind looking after Judith today? I've just got to get some things done around here today and I don't want to bore the poor thing," Katie asked. Tara smiled and nodded.
"You're the best. Thank you," Katie said, squeezing Tara's hand and walking down the steps.
"And T, Rosita's gonna be fine. If anyone can handle herself, it's Rosita," Katie said, looking back over her shoulder. Tara scoffed quietly, a small smile on her face.
Hours later, Katie was restocking the pantry shelves with the cans and jars that the trash people had given back. Since Olivia wasn't around to do it anymore, Katie took it upon herself to make sure that things were running smoothly.
"I'm gonna kill him," Rosita said, walking into the pantry.
"Not if I kill him first," Katie shrugged, turning around to face her.
"We're going to war, Katie. But there's no guarantee that Negan dies," Rosita continued. Katie nodded slowly, taking in what she was saying.
"What are you saying, Rosie?" Katie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I want to go in and kill him," Rosita sighed angrily.
"You know what that means--" Katie said quickly.
"Yeah. I do. And I need your help-- I know what I'm asking, but I need you," Rosita said, cutting her off. Katie leaned against the shelves in shock. She knew what going after Negan meant. She knew it was a suicide mission.
"Rosie, I--" Katie started.
"Just think about it. This is how we make a future for your kid. For Maggie's kid," Rosita interjected quickly before walking out of the pantry, leaving Katie alone with her thoughts.
Katie walked home in thoughtful silence, every possible scenario running through her head. The chances of her making it out of that mission were slim. But a part of her knew that it was the right thing to do.
She knocked on Carl's door, opening it and leaning against the door frame.
"We never fixed this lock, did we?" Katie sighed, chuckling softly. Carl scoffed, shaking his head.
"Carl, can I ask you something?" Katie asked, sitting down on the bed next to Carl.
"What's up, Mom?" Carl asked, concern flashing through his eyes.
"Do you think things would be different-- better if Negan was dead?" Katie asked, looking over at him.
"Yeah. I do," Carl said, not even hesitating. And with those three words, he made her decision for her.
"Are you okay?" Carl asked gently.
"Yeah. I just love you. And I'm so proud of you," Katie said, smiling at him sadly. She pulled him into a tight hug.
"You sure you're okay?" Carl asked, pulling away from the hug.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine," Katie lied.
"I love you, too," Carl said, climbing under his blanket.
Katie lay in her bed that night, trying to figure out how she was going to explain this to Rick. And she came to the one conclusion she wished she didn't: she couldn't tell him. She didn't want to do the same thing that almost tore them apart, but she had to. She didn't sleep. She just laid there, wide awake, tears streaming down her face in silence. She got out of bed, slipping silently out of the house and walking to Rosita's place. She burst into Rosita's bedroom, jolting her awake.
"I'm in," Katie said quietly, still crying.
"You don't look in--" Rosita said groggily.
"Damn it, Rosita. I'm in. I would die for my family-- and that's exactly what I'll do," Katie said quickly.
A couple days later, the soft sound of an engine rumbling as it rolled through the gates, caught Katie's attention. She ran out of the house, sprinting straight for Michonne and Rick's car. Rick hadn't even fully climbed out of the car before Katie had leapt into his arms, her hands entangling themselves in his curls as she crashed her lips onto his.
"Someone's eager," Rick mumbled teasingly against her lips.
"It's been a long couple of days," Katie said vaguely. She wanted to treat every kiss like it was their last, because it very well could be.
• • •
a/n: I didn't plan on publishing today, but here I am with another update. I guess I'm just trying to make it up to you guys for being on hiatus so long.
