2. Never Tear Us Apart

-reunited-

At this point, it had been at least another week. Theo, Merle, Debbie, and Saint were struggling to keep moving. Being alone and trying to defend themselves was hard for large groups of walkers.

They hid under a large tree that had fallen perfectly on a bank, providing enough shelter as night fell.

She yawned as she stroked her new best friend, and then suddenly, Saint's ears went up, and he began to growl.

"Stay here", She told everyone. Merle looked at her, worried, but she assured him she would be okay. "It sounds like one." She sighed, grabbed her knife, and stayed down.

She was so tired, but she had to keep fighting.

She couldn't give up now. Not when she made a promise.

"Stay, " she demanded, only to hear one set off footsteps. A slight growl came from around the corner from her before she stood quickly and stabbed the walker straight in the head.

She breathed out exhausted, tired and in desperate need of rest.

She fell to the ground and her knees. Rubbing her head in tiredness.

Her lip shook as she was overwhelmed with everything, a few tears falling from the dehydration, her head dipped between her lap as she softly cried.

"Theo?" Someone spoke from behind her, causing Saint to bark three times.

Her head snapped up quickly.

"Saint," She said sternly as her eyes met her father's.

Merle and Debbie left their hiding spot at the sounds of voices looking up to see the man himself. 

"Dad?" She began to cry before running towards him, throwing her arms around his neck as he held her close. Just like the first time they had been reunited.

She looked over his shoulder to see Carl and Michonne.

"Oh my god" She laughed before running to her brother and hugging him before hugging Michonne.

"Here boy!" Theo called, so the dog ran to her.

"I thought, I thought you were all gone," She cried, holding her hand over her mouth.

"We thought you were, too," Rick said before hugging her again. Carl ran towards them again, and they held onto one another like there was no tomorrow.

Crying into one another.

This was one of her core memories that would last a lifetime. She wished she could take a photo and hold onto it forever.

"Have you seen anyone else?" Theo asked, hoping to hear that one name.

"None of our own," Rick admitted. We bumped into a gang and barely walked away." Rick nodded to the dog. Then, he looked at his daughter sadly. She looked exhausted, dirty, and dehydrated. 

He grabbed the water bottle from his bag, passing it to her. 

"Merle" Rick looked over to him then to the young girl that stood behind him. 

"I'll explain on the way" Theo smiled. 

"Where did you find him?" Rick asked, smiling, happy to see his eldest alive. 

"Before we get into that, where the hell is Judith?" She wondered, noticing the lack of baby whimpers or giggles as she sipped water from the bottle. 

No one said anything.

"No" She shook her head confidently, but as no one said anything more, it had to be true. 

Her eyes closed, hands covering her mouth as she burst into tears.