Remember Me

Judith

With the Hilltop and the Kingdom siding with them, Rick finally, for the first time in a long time, had some hope. Hope that he would get back the life he had before the apocalypse, before he lost Negan. A life he kind of missed, if he was honest. Sure, he'd tried to move on, not only for the sake of his kids but for the sake of the group. When he'd found them, they'd all already formed bonds, and become friends. Losing Negan hurt them just as bad as it had hurt him. He was seated on his front porch, Judith on his lap, when Negan walked up to his house. Rick jumped up, immediately wanting to hide Judith, and Carl, who was inside in his room with Enid looking at comic books. He hadn't expected Negan to come, he was two days early. Simon was nowhere to be found, instead only Arat accompanied Negan.

"Rick! Hey!" Negan called, and Rick turned his body away from the steps leading up to the house just the slightest bit, as if Negan hadn't already seen Judith.

"Who do you have there?" Negan questioned, and Arat stayed at the bottom of the stairs, choosing to watch as Negan climbed up the steps and approached Rick. Rick wasn't sure if he wanted to answer, or if he wanted to call Carl down, tell him to take Judith. But Carl would ask questions, especially since Negan, who was supposed to be dead, was standing on their front porch.

"Negan. You're early." Rick muttered, but Negan's eyes were on Judith. He was staring at her, and Rick watched him warily. Before, he wouldn't have any issue with Negan seeing Judith. Before he lost him. Rick watched Negan's eyes, and he saw a flicker of familiarity, of uncertainty. Negan was studying Judith, brows furrowed. He recognized her. At least Rick thought he did. Rick felt a sliver of hope bloom in his chest. He hadn't even considered it. It made sense though. With patients that had memory loss, doctors tried to get things that would trigger their memory. Things that would make them remember. Rick kicked himself for not thinking of this. Negan had been very close with Carl and Judith, even before the apocalypse, and more so during the apocalypse.

"Who's this sweet little girl?" Negan asked softly, still in a dazed state as he stared at Judith. Rick could see in his eyes that he was trying to figure out how he knew her, how she was so familiar. He hadn't seen her before, thanks to Rick hiding her as best as he could.

"This is Judith..." Rick said quietly, looking at her, his gaze softening as she grinned at Negan. She recognized him.

"Judith..." Negan mumbled, and Rick looked at him once again. Negan wasn't even looking at her anymore, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, clearly in pain. Rick felt another set of eyes on him, and looked at Judith, but her eyes were on Negan. Then he saw Arat, staring at him curiously. She didn't say a word, but when he looked at her, she looked away instantly, looking down at the ground, almost in shame. He brushed it off, turning back to Negan.

"Do you need something, Negan?" Rick questioned, and Negan's gaze snapped back up to Rick's. He looked confused, and Rick felt a pang of guilt. Negan blinked a few times, not saying a single word.

"Negan. Let's get home, we don't need anything anyways." Arat spoke up, climbing up the stairs and putting her hand on Negan's arm. Negan hesitated, looking at Rick, then Judith.

"Negan." Arat repeated his name, and Negan nodded.

"Yeah. Let's go." Negan muttered, and walked down the steps, Arat following close behind. He didn't look back once, and Rick watched as he disappeared. What the hell had happened there? Did Negan remember him? Judith? Rick wondered briefly if he should get Carl to see Negan again, to see if it triggered Negan's memory at all. It wouldn't be a horrible idea. Maybe it would be better than attacking the Saviours. Rick sat back down, Judith perched on his knee, staring at the place Negan had once stood.

He'd left Lucille.