Crossbow Lovers

The Final War

Tegan and Shiva ran behind a house that was on the far side of the town. They couldn't see the gate well from here, but should be protected from stray bullets. Shiva sank low into the ground, ready to pounce if anyone were to try and come around the corner. Tegan held her crossbow to her chest, feeling more comfortable with that than any gun. 

The gunshots started and her heart sunk thinking of Daryl being in the line of fire. She had to tell herself he was fine and he was going to be fine. All she needed to worry about was her and the child growing inside her. 

"Shiva," Tegan whispered as she heard banging on the giant walls next to them. Were people climbing over the walls? She remembered back to when she first arrived at Alexandria and the Wolves that followed her. 

The two went to the side of the house. Tegan watched as men and women started to climb down the other side of the walls. She aimed her arrow at the one man's head and shot it quickly. All the Saviors searched around, but didn't see the girl and the tiger hiding in the shadows. 

"Come on," Tegan whispered to Shiva as she started to make her way around the front of the house. Before she could take a step a man came up near her and neither had time to react before Shiva leaped over Tegan's head and ripped the man's head off. "Good girl! Come on!" 

The pair started running back up to the front where the others were. Tegan saw the front gate was smashed open and the Saviors were inside. Her eyes scanned the crowd for Daryl, but didn't see him. That was a good sign, however. At least she didn't see him dead.

"T!" Angie called from behind a car. Fang and Impala were huddled up next to her. They growled at the giant cat at Tegan's side.

"It's alright girl," Tegan said to Shiva as she snarled at the black dogs. "She won't hurt you." Angie nodded and got her wolves to settle down. Tegan and Shiva ran up and sat behind the car with Angie, Fang, and Impala.

"Are you alright?" Angie asked, panic in her voice. "Where did you get a fucking tiger?"

"I'm fine, Ang. Her name is Shiva. She is King Ezekiel's," Tegan sighed. She was getting real tired of everyone asking her if she was okay. Angie gave her a confused look about the king, but quickly shook it off.

"Explain later. We need to get you out of here," Angie sighed trying to find an opening for them to escape.

"Angie, don't you get it? I need to be here. Rick and Negan both have their minds made up. They each want the other dead and I need to stop it," Tegan told her. 

Shiva and the wolves let out a low growl as a group of people firing started to back up closer to them. Without a second thought Shiva jumped and took two down as the dogs handled the other two. Angie and Tegan smiled at each other as the animals killed the Saviors.

"Tegan!" Daryl yelled from the front of their house. 

"Daryl!" She screamed back jumping up. Angie yanked her down as bullets flew by them.

"Stay there!" Daryl called back. Tegan watched as he continued to shoot at the Saviors, hitting every target.

One Savior came around the back and tackled him. Tegan wanted to go help, but Angie held her back. Daryl rolled them around so the other man was on the bottom. Without even a second thought he ripped his hunting knife out of its holster and slit the mans throat. He waited for the man to die before he made his way over to the girls. However he didn't make it over to them before Rick started yelling.

"Everyone stop! This is over now!" Rick yelled. Tegan looked over at the man. On the ground next to him was a bloody Negan holding onto his throat that was gushing out blood.

"No!" Tegan screamed a blood curdling scream. Daryl ran after her as she tried to make it over to her dying brother, but he got to her first and pulled her down to the ground wrapping his arms around her.

"I gotcha," he whispered into her hair as she curled up into a tight ball gripping onto his shirt. She continued to scream as tears rolled down her face. Her only living family member was dying before her eyes. Her baby wasn't going to get to know it's uncle. The man he once was.

"Negan!" Angie yelled. She got past the two on the ground and slid over next to him. "Hold on, Negan. Just hold on." She removed her light weight jacket and applied pressure to his throat.

"Now you see. It always had to end this way. There was never another way!" Rick spoke to the crowd. "We aren't going to kill you. You will be sent to live in Hilltop, locked up in the prison we made there. Negan will stay with us. In a cell by himself. Over time we will rebuild. We will grow together. For now this is how it has to be. Somebody grab the doctor!" With that the doctor from Hilltop ran out and started helping Negan immediately. Angie stepped aside as a few men carried him into the medical house. 

"He's saving him?" Tegan choked out to Daryl. His calloused fingers ran through her hair over and over.

"He's saving him," Daryl whispered. He knew he had told Rick this was what he wanted, but he wasn't sure. He wanted Tegan to be happy, but he also wanted her safe. He needed her safe more than anything. 

The other Saviors lowered their weapons and held up their hands. The workers at the Sanctuary were being split up between Alexandria and the Kingdom. 

It was over. All the fighting between the communities was finally over. No one had suspected it to end the way it had. Everyone thought either Rick or Negan was going to die, that one of them had to die.

The next day Tegan sat at her brothers bedside with Shiva laying on the ground next to her. The girl didn't hear the door behind her open and shut as she held her brothers hand, hoping he would wake up soon.

"Tegan," a male voice whispered. She whipped her head around to see Ezekiel walking towards her. No wonder why Shiva didn't get startled.

"Oh, hey. You here for Shiva?" She asked wiping a single tear that betrayed her.

"Actually, she is what I am here to talk to you about. She seems to have taken an extreme liking to you. One I have not seen since I had saved her. She sees something in you. Why don't you keep her here just to keep you company and to keep you safe. At least until you have the baby," he said with a smile. Tegan stood up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Thank you, Ezekiel," she whispered. The king held her closely loving the scent that filled his nose.

"What are you doin'?" Daryl asked slamming the door shut.

"He's allowing Shiva to stay with me for protection and company," Tegan smiled, pulling away from Ezekiel.

"That best be why," Daryl snapped. Ezekiel held up both hands in a moment of defeat. He showed he had nothing to hide.

"You're crazy," Tegan chuckled at him. 

Out of the blue a croaking cough came and Tegan turned to her brother. His eyes fluttered open and she quickly helped him drink some water.

"Get Angie!" She hollered to Ezekiel. He listened rather quickly and brought her back within minutes. 

"Negan," Angie said stepping up next to Tegan. They each gripped a hand of his and smiled at each other.

This could work. It had to work.