The Fallen (Daryl Dixon fanfiction)

Chapter 21

The house was quiet. Fear and confusion quickly faded as she awoke in a sea of empty sleeping bags, as the events reminded her. Finding a pile of folded clothes by her side. Holding up a pink and white plaid shirt and jeans. She stayed in the shower longer than she needed because she could. Cleaned and now dressed, getting ready to go downstairs, but a groan catches her ear. Quickly backtracking until her head peeked into a room, Rick held Judith away from his body like a furious animal as white puke dripped down his chest. She couldn’t help, but laugh.

“Where’s everyone?” she asks.

“Explorin’,” he answers.

“Reese you comin’?” Carl’s voice echoes from his thundering feet until he stands in the doorway.

“Sure. Unless little Miss Grimes wants to use me as a target practice.” She baby talks, bouncing the baby on her hip, making her squeal and give a three tooth grin.

“I’ll go change.” Rick grimaces, taking a sniff of the mess on his shirt. “Have fun,” he smiles. “Stay safe,” he says over his shoulder. It was a habit. like, “I love you” or “talk to ya’ later.” With Carl leading the way stroller in hand, Reese stops as Judith grunts while holding her teething toy. Following the young girl’s gesture toward the archer, He sat in the corner of the porch, his knees drawn up to his chest. Crossbow ready at his side. He looked little—so small, so out of place, so sad.

“Hey,” she says, stepping over to him. “How’d ya’ sleep?” She tries to start a conversation. Wanting to pull him from his shell before he retreated too far.

He shrugs, giving a grunt while looking at the people scrolling past.

“We’re going to explore. C’mon.” She taps the side of his boot with her foot.

“I’m good. Thanks,” he snaps.

“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” she says to Judith, who smiles and waves her toy around. “You should come.” She offers her eyes, giving him one last chance.

“You go.” He shakes his head, nibbling his bottom lip. A nervous tick he had when he felt uncomfortable. In the past, she found it cute, but now all she wanted was to yank him to his feet and drag him on a walk around the sights of Alexandria.

“Reese, Let’s go!” Carl calls impatiently.

“Have fun.”

“Not as much fun if you’d come,” she adds, turning on her heel and seeing Rick with the same look she had when she spotted Daryl. She descends the steps, places Judith in the stroller, and they go for a walk, both giving each other a look.

“What do ya’ make of this place?” Carl inquires while looking around.

“I don’t know,” she sighs. “If they were bad, they would have done something by now,” she reasons. “Or they could just be playing the long game,” she shrugs, wanting to believe there were still good people in the world, but her cynical side nagged at her.

“They have a doctor, and you got better,” he reasons with naivety and hope, lighting his eyes. “They have to be good for that,” he adds.

“I really gave you guys a fright,” she realizes, stopping as Carl stops mid-stride to face her.

“You are like my best friend. My cool aunt who lets me cuss and calls me out on my bullshit,” he lists. “I didn’t sleep.” He exhales a breath. “Every time I took my eyes off of you, I was afraid to find you had turned in your sleep.” he realizes with a shaky breath. “It’s stupid,” he shrugs.

“Oh, Carl.” She reels him in with a hug. “That’s not stupid.” “I’m here now, and that’s what matters. Beside’s,” she says as they continue walking. “Someone has to look after your scrawny ass,” she teases.

“I know it’s been a while,” he says, “but you need to look in the mirror.”

“Nothing a hearty meal can’t fix. Then I’m back to Shakira.” she chirps.

“I thought her hips don’t lie.”

“Good one,” she had to say.

“What a beautiful baby girl,” a voice calls. Looking to see a couple of elderly people seated out on a porch. “What’s her name?” the frail woman points to the tot. 

“Judith.” Carl answers.

“What a precious name,” she compliments.

“Would you like to hold her?” Reese offers. Seeing the motherly longing in her eyes

“Could I?” 

She walked up the three steps, untying Judith from her stroller and placing her in the woman’s lap. “We haven’t seen a little in ages,” she chuckles, running her thumb over Judith’s small hand.

“You’re much too young for them to be yours.” An elderly man, presumed to be her husband, laughs.

“Oh, no.” Reese chuckles awkwardly. “More like an aunt,” she says, slinging her arm around Carl’s shoulder and pulling him in close.

“Can’t have too much family nowadays,” the elderly man points out.

Judith begins to whine. Carl took his sister into his arms to calm her down.

“Hello.” Rick greets the old couple.

“Jessie has invited you over to her home to meet her sons,” he starts. Pointing to the blonde woman a few paces away.

“Why?” Carl groans under his breath.

“I think it would be good for you. To hang around kids your own age.” 

“But Reese and I—”

“It’s okay.” She jumps in, taking Judith from Carl’s arms. “I think I’ve had enough fresh air for one day,” she says as she waves goodbye.

“Say bye-bye.” She waves Judith’s little hand at the elderly couple.

“Have fun, Carl,” she says. “I’ll take her home,” she informs Rick.

~.~

Welcoming the empty home with the shrill screams of Judith. 

“S’wrong with Lil’ ass kicker?” Daryl asks, coming from around the corner. 

“I don’t think she liked being bounced around,” Reese says.

“Give her to me,” he says, reaching out, and she does so. Watching the archer place her on his hip showed expertise. “What do you have to cry about?” he playfully scolds. “Huh?” Her bawls soften to breathy whimpers. Resting her head into the crook of his neck, her bottom lip still poked out. Reese watched the scene unconsciously, imagining Daryl with their child on his hip. His hard exterior always seemed to melt away when handling Judith. “I’mma put her to bed,” he says, looking at Reese as she snaps from her internal battle. 

“Okay.” She nods, watching him turn on his heel with Judith’s tiny fingers playing with the fraying stitching that held his wings to his vest.