Left Behind (sequel to Not Alone)

Ch. 13 - Back With The Group

Anna

It was nightfall when we got to wherever Daryl and the others had been staying. At one point, Daryl gave me the poncho he had been wearing to keep me and Diamond warm until we reached our destination. I watched as we pulled up to a prison of some sorts and up by the gate, I noticed two men I didn’t know. “Who are they,” I asked to Maggie because I knew she’d be able to hear me over the motorcycle better than Daryl could. “Axel and Oscar,” she said, “prisoners from this prison. Don’t worry, they’re alright.” I looked back at her concerned even after she said not to worry. I looked up to the tower when someone shot one of the walkers and noticed Glenn as we drove by.

The look on his face, you’d swear up and down he saw a ghost. But I’m sure he was thinking that when he seen me. I’ve been gone since the farm and no one thought they’d see me again, but here I am. When Daryl parked his bike, he and Maggie jumped off and practically ran inside the prison while I slowly got off and looked over to see Glenn walking towards me, unsure. I smiled at him as I took the poncho off, revealing the baby in my arms. “You’re alive,” he breathed out when he got closer then looked down at Diamond, “and you have a baby. Anna we all thought you were dead.” “I know Glenn,” I said smiling as a few tears ran down my cheeks as I hugged him.

“Come on let’s get you two inside,” he said as he slowly led the way into one of the prison’s cell blocks where everyone was sitting. Me, Glenn, and the two prisoners Axel and Oscar, walked into the common area for that cell block but no one noticed me as the guys walked down to join the others. All I heard was a baby crying and I knew it wasn’t mine. Everyone’s eyes were on Daryl and the baby he had in his arms, Lori’s baby. Where is Lori, I thought as I looked around at everyone but not seeing her or Rick. I didn’t see T-Dog, Shane, or Carol either.

“Come on,” I heard Daryl say and smiled when I saw he was trying to feed the baby in his arms after taking the bottle from Beth, “come on.” I continued to watch as he smiled after getting the baby to eat from the bottle. “She got a name yet,” he asked looking down at Carl who looked down at his feet sadly and started rambling off names of people we’d lost in the group as a possible name. I almost wanted to cry when he mentioned my name. I watched as everyone looked to Daryl, probably waiting to see if he’d frown or something from hearing my name. He must have had it hard while I was gone all this time, knowing that broke my heart.

“Yeah you like that,” Daryl cooed at the baby, “huh? Little Ass-Kicker. Right? That’s a good name right?” I watched as he looked around smiling at everyone while I just shook my head still smiling at the idiot, my idiot. “Little Ass-Kicker,” he said smiling back down at her, “you like that huh? You like that sweetheart?” I had been laughing quietly with the others, still unnoticed by the group. I finally had enough and wanted to be able to hug my family so I cleared my throat and all heads turned to me. “Anna,” Carl said immediately after realizing who I was and ran over to me. “Hey little buddy,” I said smiling as I stepped down the stairs and wrapped my free arm around his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around my waist in a hug.

While I was still being hugged by Carl, I watched as Daryl handed Lori’s baby over to Maggie then came and took Diamond from me. “There’s my little princess,” he whispered as he picked her up out of my arms. After he had her in his arms, I walked over to everyone else I knew that I hadn’t greeted already, which was Uncle Hershel and Beth. “Uncle Hershel what happened,” I asked looking down at his right leg after hugging him. “Got bit by a walker,” he said looking at me, “Rick cut it off to save my life.” “Where is Rick,” I asked and looked around, “and everyone else? Carol, T-Dog, Shane, and Lori?” “Lori died while giving birth to her baby,” Glenn said as I looked over to him and Maggie, “Rick’s down in the tombs where she died. I think he’s lost his mind or something, he’s not acting right.”

“Rick killed Shane,” Daryl said as I looked over to him holding our daughter, “the night we looked for Randall. Said he had no choice.” “What about T-Dog and Carol,” I asked him as he looked down. “Lost them the same day we lost Lori,” Beth said. “I don’t know what to say,” I said looking around at everyone with tears threating to spill over, “we were all basically family and we lost so many people.” “We got you back,” Uncle Hershel said, “and you managed to have your baby and nothing bad happen to either of you. For that alone I’m grateful.” I looked back and motioned for Daryl to walk over then looked back to Uncle Hershel and Beth when he was beside me. “Meet Diamond,” I said smiling as both me and Daryl looked lovingly down at our daughter.

“Come on let’s get Diamond a place to sleep set up,” Beth said as I took my baby from Daryl and followed her up the steps to a cell. After Beth left and Maggie brought me up a change of clothes, I had Diamond asleep in a little make shift bed while I was getting ready for bed. “What ya doin’ in here,” I heard Daryl say behind me as I had my shirt off but my jeans still on as I was changing. “I’m getting ready for bed,” I said smiling and looking back at him, “you gonna join me in here?” “No,” he scoffed, “I ain’t sleepin’ in no damn cage.” “Well sorry but I’m not sleeping on just a mattress on the floor,” I said, “I’m sorry Daryl, either in here or by yourself.” He scoffed again as he turned and walked out of the cell door, leaving me to finish changing.

Hey guys sorry that was longer than two or three days. Oops! Anyway I've recently gotten addicted to a Daryl Dixon story called Angel With Broken Wings by @walker_woman810 and I highly suggest y'all check it out! :) On another note would y'all check out my other Daryl Dixon story Family Ties? Please it seems like no one is reading it :(

-Kenz