Fandom One shots and Imagines

Fair Trade - Walking Dead

You were on watch but instead of guarding the outside of the walls, your gaze trailed Rick and Michonne as they walked down the street. They were all smiles and hand-holding and God it still hurt. There was a time that was you. When it was you tucking Judith in at night and trying to convince Carl he could be a kid on occasion without the world falling apart.

Then you'd gotten separated shortly after Terminus. The irony of living through all that other shit together and losing one another after the worst of it. Rick assumed you were dead. Rightfully so you guessed, but you'd never quit looking for him. As it turned out, it wasn't him you found. It was Daryl.

He'd been on a run and you were just trying to survive. You'd never been so happy to have a crossbow pointed at your face. There was a small piece of you that always wondered if they'd known you were alive and just left you but his reaction assured you that wasn't the case. Daryl had immediately lowered his weapon and wrapped an arm around you to pull you to him. He was near tears as he kissed your head. "We thought you were dead. That the walkers got you."

You pulled away from him with a smile. "I'm not that easy to kill, Daryl."

He huffed a laugh. "Thank fuck for that."

"How is everyone?" You might have said everyone but you really meant Rick and Daryl knew it.

"Rick's just fine, Y/N. He's going to be thrilled to see you. We got us a place now. A good place. Come home with me?" He sounded uncertain as if you'd maybe found another life without them.

You grinned. "Yes, please." You'd been on your own since you'd lost them. Your heart too tender to find another group only to lose them too. And you'd never lost hope you'd find your family again.

Daryl chewed on his thumb and kept glancing at you while he drove. He was nervous but you had no idea why.

"All right. What's up with you?" you finally asked.

"Nothing. Just..." He sighed. "Look, it's just been awhile okay? I mean, we all thought you were dead so you can't get mad if things aren't the way they were."

You swallowed past the sudden lump in your throat. "He's with someone else." It was a fear you had with everyday that passed but tried not to think about too much. You'd promised each other forever so he'd choose you, right?

Daryl glanced at you again and cringed. "Don't look like that, Y/N. He grieved. We all did, but him the longest. It was relief when he moved on instead of fading away like we all feared."

You turned your attention to the window as hot tears ran down your cheeks. "Of course, it was, Daryl. It's fine. No worries. It will be nice to be home even if it's not like I remember it."

And it was. Even if it did break your heart to see Rick and Michonne together. It was a little cliché if you did say so yourself. Your boyfriend and your best friend seeking comfort in one another. To be fair, they'd offered to split up but you'd turned them down. They weren't offering because Rick was so madly in love with you he wanted you back. No, it was just guilt, plain and simple. You gave them your blessing and moved in with Daryl. And if you cried so hard that first night that he'd heard you and crawled into bed with you to hold you while you wept, well the two of you kept that to yourselves.

You tore your eyes from the happy couple and turned your attention back to the road. Daryl was gone now and you were more alone than ever. He'd been taken by that asshole Negan. Thus far you'd avoided meeting the leader of the Saviors. You spent a lot of time on runs or hunting and always managed to be gone when he came for his supplies. As movement in the distance caught your eye, you got the feeling your luck might have just run out.