Madison Grimes

39

"Mai?" He practically yells as he pulls me into a hug. I just nod and start to cry into his chest. He runs his fingers through my hair and repeatedly kisses the top of my head. "Mai, I-I thought I'd lost ye." I let out a low laugh as I pull away from him.

"You can't get rid of me that easy." I watch as tears fall down his face as well.

"How did ye? When did-" He cuts himself short by pulling me into a hug once more. This time, I'm taken off guard and stiffen a little bit. I quickly try to rub it off but I already know he noticed. He pulls away again and starts to wipe the never ending river of tears coming from my eyes. "I'm going ta kill them." The look in his eyes is so fierce, I hardly recognize him.

"I'm okay, Dar, I really am." He shakes his head. "I'm with you now, that's all that matters." I look back at the crib and when I look back at Daryl, he's looking at the crib with a small smile. I can barely see it with how dark it is, but I still caught it. "Caught you again." I whisper out, scared to tell him about the burden on my shoulders. He just smiles and pulls me in for another hug. Once we pull away, I stand up.

"Where are ye going?" I take a good look at Judith in her crib before I start to step out of the cell.

"I need to see Belle." He just nods as I start to walk away. I hear him mumble something but I'm already too far away, as yelling right now would resolve in waking up the whole cell block. I take a step into Beths room and notice only Belle sleeping there. I smile as I crouch down to her lever and push her hair behind her ear. She starts to move but doesn't budge. This is definitely the Isabelle that Shane helped raised. "Hey baby, it's time to wake up." When that doesn't work, I gently shake her. "Moms here now."

"Mom?" Thats when she opens her eyes and wraps her arms around my neck. I smile as I fall onto the floor with my little girl. Well, not so little girl. I don't let go of her, not even after she falls asleep in my arms. I should have tried harder to come back. This is all my fault. I take a deep breath as I stand up and start walking back to our cell with a sleeping Belle in my arms. It's not all bad, at least I'm home now. Once I'm back, I find Daryl has several pillows and blankets on the floor for us. I smile and lay Belle between Daryl and myself. I soon fall asleep with the biggest smile on my face. I'm with my family again.

I wake up to soft cries. It takes a moment for me to realize what's happening before I remember where I am and that the baby crying is Judith. I slowly get up and pick the young girl up. I gently rock her as I walk out of the cell. I stand at the top of staircase as I see another makeshift crib with bottles, formula, and some water on a makeshift table beside it. I quietly make the bottle while I continue to rock Judith, keeping her cries to a minimum. Once I start feeding her, I look down to see Rick staring up at me. I smile as I start to go down the stairs, but he just starts to walk to the corridor where I delivered the wonderful girl in my arms now.

"Rick." I say as I'm a few feet behind him. "Rick!" I follow him into the corridor but something feels wrong. I know I shouldn't follow him with Judith. "Rick Andrew Grimes, if you don't stop right now!" I trial off, unsure of what to say. Once we round the corner, I see a door close behind him. I push it open but close it behind me, just in case. I look down and see where Lori's body once was.

"Go away." I feel a pain shoot through my heart and all I can do is look down at his child. My niece. "You're not here."

"I am here, Rick!" He just shakes his head as he stares where her body once laid. "Look at me."