Father, Where did we go wrong? Daryl Dixon Fanfic

7. Breaking Down

Daryl made his way back to Alexandria cursing himself, his daughter was lost to the darkness of Negan and his world of fear.

Daryl stopped his bike as he entered Alexandria and pushed past everyone and straight to Rick, before Rick could even turn Daryls fist was raised. The group that had followed Daryl watched as the strong man they had never seen break drop to his knees and slam the ground. Rick and Carol helped Daryl into his home. Carol made some soup while Rick tried to make sense of Daryls rambling.

Hearts.

Bloody white dresses.

Air vents.

Arrange marriages.

He couldn't understand what the man was saying. Daryl rarely cried, he could only remember two instances, his brothers death, and Sophia's. He knew he cried over his daughter, he had been told about it, but he had never seen it on his own.

"What is wrong" Carol asked setting the soup in front of Daryl. He looked at her with rage in his eyes. "My daughter...murdered some boy today...I watched her do it. Her..oh..she looked so pretty in that white dress.." he looked at the soup trying to understand what she was trying to do. "Blood..blood splattered it as she sta..stabbed him over..over and over again."

More tears covered the table.

Rage, pain, and anger bubbled within him as he tossed the bowl across the room. Carol's eyes grew wide. "She..she has no much rage. She.. she watched me care for your daughter Carol! She watched me spend time looking for your girl!" He screamed as he stood quickly, the chair behind him falling to the ground with a loud clatter.

Carol stood behind Rick as Daryl inched closer to them both. "She watched me as I cared for children that were not mine, she remembers that. You know that don't you! You know she probably cried every day over the idea that I had cared more about some little girl who didn't call me daddy and she knows that Lori was pregnant...I.. she has never met Judith... she..I."

He dropped to the floor again, he was spiraling. He was broken. He knew he was broken. His entire world had disappeared with the farm, the night he thought you died his world had been snuffed out. He sobbed raggedly on the floor. The idea of loosing you again killed him, when he saw you everything began to fall into place again, and then you shunned him. You told him that he was not worth your time, then he realized you were Negan's 'daughter' and everything came shattering down again. His body shook as he cried, Carol had never seen him like that.

"Daryl..Daryl. We will get her back." His head shot up to look at Rick, bloodshot eyes scanned the mans face for comprehension. He had to make sure he heard him correctly. "I made a mistake, I made a mistake to make you leave her. I spent so much time searching for Carl and making sure my daughter was okay, and I.I made you leave your daughter. I dragged you from that place, from your kid and that is on me Daryl. We will get your daughter back I promise. I swear."

"Thank you." He said when he finally managed to calm down.

Rick nodded and left the room making sure Carol would stay with him, he had been through a lot, he knew he had been through a lot. Carol stayed with him that night, she slept on the couch while he slept soundly after he finally managed to get to bed.

--

You were staring up at the ceiling, the eyes from within the vent keeping you up. You rolled over one more time, and finally managed to close your eyes. Your lips curled into a smile as your dreams took over. You were happy, eating your favorite meal with your father Daryl sitting across from you. Some days you would dream Negan sat across from you with your many mothers, but many times it was your father. Even though he had left you, he was still your father. Still your dad, he brought you into the world.

You hated Carol, Rick, Carol, and Sophia. If Lori had her baby you were sure the child was also happy and that Daryl had held her in his arms at least once.

You wanted to stab Rick a few times, just to make him realize that what he had done was wrong. That you were Daryl's child and he had not right to stop him from saving you. You were lucky, the fire didn't get to you and that the walkers had left the area.

Scars littered your legs and arms but unlike your fathers back, you were fine.

Daryl wanted to give yo a better life, even thought he apocalypse began he still had wanted to make you happy. He had hoped to protect you his whole life, and yet the failed.

--

That morning Daryl woke with a plan. He new they could use vents, but all he had to do was get inside the compound. All he had to do was get you away from there, and all he needed was a little bit of help.