Save Me

68. Judge, Jury, Executioner

The morning of the trial has arrived. Molly must decide the fate of two former Hilltop citizens and the love of her life.

I tended to Lydia the whole night through.

Negan and I didn't sleep as we took turns changing her bandages and pressing cold compresses to her forehead.

Lydia fell asleep after some paracetamol.

We watched her sleep as we held her hand.

A tear rolled down my face as I whispered to Negan, 'I should have been there'.

He shook his head and said 'you couldn't have known about those assholes'.

'Daryl's told Michonne about everything and she'll be coming home tomorrow' I whispered.

Negan smirked and said 'does that mean the sleepovers have to stop?'.

I smiled at him and said, 'I told you already, screw everyone else but us'.

He smiled as we both fell asleep holding Lydia's hand.

The sun shone brightly through the window.

I felt the warmth against my eyelids as I opened my eyes and squinted.

Lydia was starting to wake and winced in pain.

'How are you feeling?' I asked softly, because Negan was still asleep.

'I ache all over, but I'll be fine' she said weakly as I stroked her forehead.

I changed her bandages and treated the wounds so they could heal.

Negan awoke shortly after and said 'morning kiddo, how ya feelin?' as he sat up in the chair.

'Like shit, but I'll be okay. I've had worse...' Lydia said sadly which made my heart sink.

'Thank you for saving me' she said to Negan as he just smiled.

'My mother never did this for me...you both have been better parents to me than my own' Lydia said hesitantly as she looked at both of us.

We both smiled and held hands as I said softly 'we both love you Lydia'.

She smiled and said weakly 'I love you too'.

I came to sit on the edge of her bed as Negan stood behind me.

'There are people here that care about you kiddo, not just Molly and I, you'll see...' Negan said softly.

Lydia smiled and nodded as she thanked us.

'I have to go to the discussion, but I'll back soon' I said as I kissed Lydia on the forehead as Lydia asked Negan to do a puzzle with her.

I smiled as I watched them at the door, laughing and playing together.

He would be a great dad, I could tell.

I left the house to see Daryl walking briskly towards me.

'Michonne is on the radio, she wants to talk to you' he said sternly.

'Do you believe him?' I asked him about Negan, 'If Lydia says he saved her, then he saved her' he answered.

'He ain't no hero Molly, he always has an agenda' he said warningly as he followed me into the room.

Sat at the table were Rosita, Gabriel, Aaron, Siddiq, Eugene.

Daryl and I joined their side as Gage and the highway man walked in to sit on the other side.

They told their bullshit story as we patiently listened.

'I have spoken to Michonne, she wanted me to be her proxy in the vote' I said to the others.

They nodded and voted either guilty or not for Negan.

With Daryl, Gabriel, Siddiq, Michonne and I voting not guilty and Rosita, Eugene and Aaron voting guilty, we had a majority.

I smiled as Daryl said 'with Michonne gone, the decision falls to you Molly'.

I sighed with my hands interlocked on the table.

'We all know grief, we know how it changes you. I don't believe that you are evil people, but simply misguided. The real threat is out there, they killed your friends and we will destroy them. But, we cannot turn on each other and believe it or not, Lydia is one of us. We protect her, like we do for everyone. So, as punishment, you both will have restricted rations for a month, you will apologise to Lydia but after that, you will not go near her. If you do, there will be no exceptions, you will be executed. I will not tolerate violence inside these walls' I said sternly.

We were all in agreement as the two men nodded and were taken out of the room.

I stopped Daryl before he left and asked him where Carol had went.

She usually took part in our Council meetings whenever she came down from the Kingdom.

Now that the Kingdom had fallen, I assumed she would stay here.

He said sadly that she had gone to Oceanside, she couldn't be around Lydia or Ezekiel.

I sighed and nodded, I didn't agree but I understood.

She had plans to go on one of their boats and live out on the sea for months.

No walkers, no killing.

It seemed perfect for her right now.

I thanked him for letting me know as he walked out but when I turned around, I saw that Rosita was waiting to speak to me.

'Why is Negan in your house Molly?' Rosita asked angrily once everyone else had left.

'We live there together. I know you won't like it, but I've put everyone else's happiness and comfort above mine for years. I won't do it anymore, he's part of our community so we live together. So, like it or hate it, I don't care' I replied sternly as I marched out of the room.

As soon as I walked out of the room, I saw people staring at me.

I could tell if it was in fear or awe, but either way, I liked it.

I walked past them to see Negan walking around the compound freely without any guards as he pushed Lydia in a wheelchair so she could get some air.

I smiled and waved at them as I ran over and reached out to Negan to hold my hand.

He looked around to see everybody wide eyed and watching as he smiled and intertwined his fingers with mine as we pushed Lydia.

We were finally a family.